Abstract
I. The large positive and negative velocities in the 21-cm line profiles near the galactic centre have indicated the presence of substantial departures from circular motions in the central parts of the Galaxy. The Leiden astronomers (Oort and Rougoor 1958; Rougoor and Oort 1960) have interpreted these observations in terms of an “expanding arm” at a mean distance of about 3 kpc from the centre. It is not clear how these arms or arcs are related to the regular spiral structure, if the Galaxy is an ordinary spiral similar to M31 as commonly assumed. If, on the other hand, the Galaxy is similar to the SAB(r) or SAB(rs) systems, as suggested by the multiplicity of the spiral pattern discussed in another communication, a different interpretation of the velocity distribution is possible.

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