Franklin P. Mall | 279 
a cross section of a group of lobules is shown in Fig. 1. It is here shown 
that the shortest course between the terminal portal and hepatic veins 
is taken by perfectly straight capillaries, and as the region away from the 
straight course is approached the general direction of the capillaries be- 
comes more and more bent. It is thus seen that the deflected capillaries 
from several adjoining lobules come together, forming points which can 
easily be seen in the sections of any liver. In general the picture is 
sharper in the rabbit’s liver than in that in any other animal I have 
examined, especially when it is taken immediately under and parallel with 
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Fic. 45. 
Fic. 44. Terminal distribution of a portal twig entering three portal units. 
x 85. The capillaries all arise from the tips of the vein. 
Hic. 45. Terminal hepatic vein with the capillaries arising from it. 
Xx 85. 
the surface of the liver in order to strike the lobules at right angles. 
Thus we have in the liver lobule two sets of capillaries, long ones and 
short ones, while according to 'Thoma’s first law they should all be of the 
same length. This stumbling block caused me a great deal of trouble, 
for at first I saw no way to overcome the difficulty. An elaborate model 
of the vascular system of the lobule seemed to show that as much fluid, 
