REVIEW. 



TJie Anatomy of the Lymphatic System. By E. Klein, M.D., 

 Assistant-Professor at the Laboratory of the Brown Insti- 

 tution, London. Part I. The Serous Membranes (with 

 ten plates). London:. Smith and Elder. 1873. 



This valuable memoir is doubtless one of the most impor- 

 tant contributions made to histology within the past year. 

 We are, however, relieved from the necessity of giving a very 

 elaborate notice of the contents, since a portion of the work 

 has already appeared in our journal (' Quar. Jour. Micro. 

 Sci.,' 1872, p. 142). 



It deals partly with the normal, partly with the patho- 

 logical conditions. As regards the normal conditions the 

 following summary is given by Dr. Klein : — " The attention 

 of histologists has been chiefly, if not wholly, directed to 

 three questions — (1) the distribution of the lymphatic vessels 

 in the serous membranes; (2) the origin of the lymphatic 

 capillaries from the lymph-canalicular system of Reckling- 

 hausen ; and (3) the free communication between the 

 lymphatic vessels and the serous cavity by means of stomata. 

 The description refers to the minute structure of the omen- 

 tum, the centrum tendineum of the diaphragm, and the pleura 

 mediastini." 



The first chapter treats of the endothelium of the free sur- 

 face of the serous membranes. The most noticeable point 

 here is the normal germination of endothelium observed by 

 Dr. Klein in the peritoneum of guinea-pigs, cats, dogs, and 

 monkeys. In the fenestrated portion of the omentum are 

 seen on the surface of the trabeculse " small groups of club- 

 shaped or polyhedral granular cells, projecting from the 

 surface of the trabeculae like buds." These appearances are 

 seen in healthy organs, though they become more abundant 

 and strongly marked in acute or chronic inflammation.^ 



' Similar features in the humaa omentum were described in a paper 



