Mass distribution and mass-luminosity ratio in galaxies

. The observational data bearing on the mass distribution and mass-luminosity ratio in galaxies are rediscussed and assembled. The observations on the mass distribution indicate, contrary to earlier suggestions, that the data now available permit the assumption of identical spacial distribution of mass and luminosity. The results for the mass-lumi- nosity ratio are summarized in Table 7. In agreement with earlier investigations, the elliptical galaxies are found to have a mass4uminosity ratio much larger than that of pure population I systems. The Andromeda nebula is found to have an intermediate mass-luminosity ratio, suggesting that the body of the Andromeda nebula may consist of a mixture of population II and old population I stars.