520 OF ABSORPTION AND SANGUIFICATION. 



Spleen has its maximum volume, at the time when the process of chymifica- 

 tion is at an end, namely, about five hours after food is taken ; and that it 

 is small and contains little blood seven hours later, when no food has been 

 taken in the interval. Hence he inferred, that this organ is the receptacle for 

 the increased quantity of Blood, which the system acquires from the food, and 

 which cannot, without danger, be admitted into the blood-vessels generally ; 

 and that it regains its previous dimensions, after the volume of the circulat- 

 ing fluid has been reduced by secretion. This view is confirmed by the fact 

 noticed by several observers, that the Spleen rapidly increases in bulk after 

 the ingestion of a large quantity of fluid, which is absorbed rather by the 

 Veins than by the Lacteals. It has been further stated in support of this 

 theory, that animals from which the Spleen has been removed, are very lia- 

 ble to die of apoplexy, if they take a large quantity of food at a time ; but 

 that, if they eat moderately and frequently, they do not sutler in this manner. 

 The use of the Spleen as a diverticulum for the internal Venous circulation, 

 is further borne out by its liability to become enlarged in consequence of in- 

 termittent fever ; during the cold stage of which, a great quantity of blood is 

 driven from the surface towards the internal organs ; and it may be easily 

 imagined that, if there were no such reservoir, the congestions in these would 

 be much more dangerous than those which actually do occur. The perma- 

 nent enlargement of the organ is of course, on this idea of its use, a result of 

 its frequent distention. But besides this safety-valve function, there can be 

 little doubt that the Spleen performs another, in virtue of the parenchymatous 

 portion of its structure ; and that this function corresponds with that of the 

 Absorbent Glands in general. The identity in structure between its Malpi- 

 ghian bodies and the ordinary Lymphatic glands, is such as clearly points to 

 this inference ; which is confirmed by the remarkable fact, determined by the 

 recent experiments of Prof. Mayer, that, after the Spleen has been extirpated, 

 the lymphatic glands of the neighbourhood increase in size, and cluster toge- 

 ther as they enlarge, so as to form an organ which at least equals the original 

 spleen in volume.* This circumstance explains the reason of the almost in- 

 variable negative result of the extirpation of the Spleen ; for although the 

 operation has been frequently practised, with the view of determining the 

 functions of the organ by the symptoms presented by animals after its removal, 

 no decided change in the ordinary course of their vital phenomena has ever 

 been observed ; and the health, if at all disturbed for a time, is afterwards re- 

 gained. Now if the functions of the Spleen, putting aside the safety-valve 

 action of its distensible cavities, be the same with that of the Lymphatic 

 Glands in general, it is easy to understand, how its loss may be at once com- 

 pensated by an increased action on their part, and how it may be permanently 

 replaced by an increased development of some of those bodies. Thus, then, 

 we may fairly regard the Spleen as concurring in function with the glands of 

 the Absorbent system, in the Assimilating process, by which the crude nutri- 

 tive materials are rendered fit to circulate through the system ; the diiTerence 

 between them appearing to be chiefly this, that, whilst the latter operate upon 

 the nutritive substances taken up by the Lacteals, the Spleen exerts its influ- 

 ence upon those which have been received into the Veins ; separating them 

 from the mass of the blood, and delivering them to the lymphatic system to 

 be further elaborated. 



686. The Supra-Renal Capsules seem to correspond with the Spleen in 

 their general structure, and in their connection with the Lymphatic system ; 

 whilst, in the arrangement of their component parts, they bear more resem- 

 blance to the Kidney. 



Medical Times, March 29, 1845. 



