THE DUCTS OF THE HUMAN SUBMAXILLARY GLAND. 



JOSEPH MARSHALL FLINT, M. D. 



From the Hull Anatomical Laboratory, University of Chicago ; and the Hearst Anatom- 

 ical Laboratory, University of California. 



With 9 Text Figukes. 



The ducts of the salivary glands have a peculiar interest because they 

 represent the paths of development followed by the more highly organ- 

 ized secretory portions of the organ. Excepting possibly certain parts 

 of the intralobular system comparatively little work has been done on 

 the ducts of the human submaxillary gland. Owing to the important 

 embryological relations of the ducts and the interest associated with 

 their functions of providing a channel for the secretion, accurate in- 

 formation concerning their course and structure should be obtained. 

 With this end in view, therefore, the following work was undertaken. 



Methods. 



Studies of the gross anatomy of the ducts and the gland were carried 

 on in the dissecting rooms during the regular work of a class in sys- 

 tematic anatomy. The material was embalmed with a bichloride, gly- 

 cerine and alcohol fluid and injected with red lead and starch. On the 

 whole the cadavers were in very good condition so that the relations 

 and structure of the tissues under investigation and those about them 

 were very well preserved. Entirely outside of the value of the study 

 itself, the pedagogical effect of demonstrating to a working class of 

 students some of the simpler research methods is not to be underesti- 

 mated. We are indebted to Schwalbe, Cunningham and Mall for the 

 extensive use of dissecting-room material for the purposes of research.' 

 The material for the corrosions on which this study of the ducts is 

 largely based was likewise obtained from the cadavers. The sub- 

 maxillary gland was carefully dissected from its bed with a portion of 

 the D. sul)maxil]aris and injected. Corrosions of the ducts can be 

 easily obtained with the ordinary celloidin carriers, colored with chrome 



' Bardeen : Bulletin of the Johns Hopkins Hospital, Vol. xii, 11)01. 



