Mr John Goodsir on the Intentiiial rUli In Man, 165 



^vie can partly explain the valleys of erosion of the molasse, 

 which would thus be hollowed out by the retreat of the waters, 



A long period of repose undoubtedly followed this retiring 

 of thejwater ; and during this time all the low regions of the mo- 

 lasse were covered by the Alpine alluvial matters which are 

 designated by the term ancient diluvium. The level of the 

 ancient diluvium streams which, in many places, is about 200 

 feet above the present level of the rivers, is in favour of a more 

 elevated level of the lakes into which these rivers flowed. 

 This period was terminated by the deposition of the recent 

 diluvium, and the dispersion of the large erratic blocks. If 

 we attribute this dispersion to the movement of the ice which 

 transported the blocks and gravel that surround them to great 

 distances, we must also admit that during all this period, neces- 

 sarily of very long duration, the surface of Switzerland, and 

 consequently that of a large portion of Europe, were subjected 

 to a climate nearly such as is presented to us by Terra del 

 Fuego or the Antarctic continent. 



At a still later period, intermittent movements of the surface 

 produced the relative depression of the basins Avhich receive 

 our rivers, and the currents of water hollowed out their beds 

 down to their present level, in the two diluviums and the mo- 

 lasse. 



On the structure of the Intestinal Villi in Man and certain of 

 the Mammalia, with some observations on Digestion, and 

 the Absorption of Chyle. By John Goodsir, Esq., M. W. S. 

 Surgeon, and Conservator of the Museum of the Roy. 

 Coll. Surgeons, Edinburgh. Communicated by the Au- 

 thor. 



Mr Cruikshank, in treating of the orifices of the Lacteals 

 and Lymphatics,'^ states that he and Dr William Hunter ob- 

 served the openings by which the lacteals communicated with 

 the cavity of the gut in portions of the intestine of a woman 

 who died after eating a hearty supper. The two preparations 

 of the intestine on which these celebrated anatomists made 

 their observations came into the possession of the College of 

 Surgeons in Edinburgh, as part of the collection of the late 

 Sir Charles Bell. When employed lately in removing these 



* William Cruikshank. The Anatomy of the Absorbing Vessels of the 

 Human Body, 2d YA 1790; page 5C. 



