CH. xiv. FURTHER PHYSIOLOGICAL DISCOVERIES. 115 



carries the fluid into the principal vein, and so to the 

 heart; and finally, in 1649, a Swede named Olaiis Riidbeck 

 discovered an immense number of fine thread-like tubes 

 running from all the principal parts of the body, and carrying 

 nourishing matter to the thoracic duct, and so through the 

 great vein to the heart. He called these tubes lymphatics-, 

 but in reality the lymphatics and lacteals are the same 

 vessels, coming from different parts of the body and supplying 

 the material for new blood. You will easily understand that 

 when physiologists knew not only how the blood circulates 

 through the body, but also how a fresh supply of blood is 

 being constantly provided, they had made a great step 

 towards tracing out the working of a living body. 



Chief Works consulted. Sprengel, 'Hist, de la Medecine,' 1815; 

 Harvey's 'Anatomical Exercises,' 1673; Aikin's ' Biog. Mem. of 

 Medicine till the Time of Harvey,' 1780; Huxley's 'Elementary Phy- 

 siology ; ' Carpenter's ' Physiology ; ' Kirke's ' Physiology ; ' Cuvier, 

 'Hist, des Sciences, &c. ;' D'Orbigny, 'Diet, des Sciences.' 



