Die Grosshirnrinde des Menschen in ihren Massen und in ihrem Fasergehalt, by Prosektor Dr. Theodor Kaes / reviewed by Henry H. Donaldson.

  • Donaldson, Henry Herbert, 1857-1938.
Date:
1908
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Die Grosshirnrinde des Menschen in ihren Massen und in ihrem Fasergehalt, by Prosektor Dr. Theodor Kaes / reviewed by Henry H. Donaldson. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    Probably, therefore, they are based on drawings which are skillful after a manner, but not at all accurate. This conclusion is supported by two other observations. In bis tables ICaes gives tbe number of bundles of radiating fibers found in strips of cortex 1 mm. wide. With tbe en- largement used, the illustrations correspond to original strips approxi- mately 1.5 to 2.2 mm. wide. There should then always be shown in the illustrations more radiating bundles than were found in 1 mm., which is the standard width used in the table. The fact is quite the reverse. Jn 72 cases examined, the number of bundles shown in the illustrations is never more than that given in the tables, and for the most part is from % to % that number. Moreover, the numbers shown in successive illus- trations do not bear any regular relation to the numbers given in the tables. In many of the illustrations, very thick fibers are represented. When these are reduced to the size which they would have in the cortex before enlargement, it appears that they must represent fibers 25/x-50/x in diame- ter, quite an impossible caliber. Finally, no sections of blood-vessels appear. All these facts taken together justify us in stating that the illus- trations in the plates do not in any proper sense represent thr appear- ances or relations of the medullated fibers in the human cortex. At best and in a general way, they give a notion of the local abundance of these fibers, and show whether they are coarse or fine, so that to present and discuss Kaes’ ideas of the changes in medullation with age, would hardly be satisfactory in view of the condition of his data. To many of the observations recorded in this book we have made no allusion, but it is not necessary to go further, for the plates which we expected to find the important and fundamental feature, turn out to be nearly worthless either as evidence for the author’s views or as standards for comparison. We began the examination of this book with high hopes; we leave it depressed. At every point where it could be tested, it has failed to stand the test, and it is fair to assume that the tables, which we cannot test, are no better than the rest of it. These things are unpleasant to write and disagreeable to read, but it was necessary to warn and caution those who might be over-impressed by this array of tables, charts, and plates against an uncritical use of them, for such use can bring confusion only as a consequence. Yet, by his studies, Kaes has emphasized a very important method for the investigation of the cortex, and recognizing this, it is with genuine