382] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1796. 
ofie of these is through those lateals, 
which pours the absorbed chyle into 
bags, in which it receives an addi- 
tion of animal fluids. The other pas- 
- sage of the chyle is through those 
laéteals which form a plexus on the 
inside of the bags; through these 
tessels it passes with somedificulty, 
en account of their communications 
with each other ; and it is conveyed 
by them to the thoracic du, in 
the same state that it was when 
first imbibed from the intestines. 
The la¢teals, which pour the chyle 
into the bags, are similares to those 
which terminate in the cells of the 
mesenteric glands of other animals : 
there is also an analogy between 
the distribution of the  latteals 
on the inside of these bags, and 
that which we sometimes observe 
on the outside of the lymphatic 
glands in general. In either case, 
a certain number of the wasa 
inferentia, as they are termed, com- 
municate with one another, and 
with other vessels, named wase 
efferentia. 
By this communication, the pro- 
egress of the fluids contained in 
these vessels is in some degree 
checked; which impediment in- 
creases the effusion into the cavities 
of the gland made by the otker 
Ja¢teals: but should these cavities 
be obstruéted, from disease, or other 
causes, an increased determination 
of fluids into the communicating 
absorbents must happen, which 
would overcome the resistance pro. 
duced by their mutual inosculta- 
tions, and the contents of the vessels 
would be driven forwards towards 
the trunk of the system. In the 
whale, as in other animals, we 
find that the impediment, occasi- 
oned by this communication of lac. 
teals, is greatest in the first glands 
at which they arrive after having 
left the intestines. 
The ready termination of so 
many arteries in the mesenteric 
glands of the whale, makes it ap- 
pear probable that there is a copi- 
ous secretion of the fluids mixed 
with the absorbed chyle; and, as 
I have before observed, a slimy 
blood-coloured fluid was found in 
them. As the orifices of veins. 
were open, it appears probable that 
the contents of the bags might 
pass in some degree into those 
vessels. 
Theeminent anatomists, Albinus, 
Meckel, Hewson, and Wrisberg, 
wete of opinion, that the lym- 
phatic glands were not cellular, 
but were composed of convoluted 
absorbing vessels. This notion 
seems, however, to have been gra- 
dually declining. 
Mr. Cruikshank -has of late 
publicly maintained a contrary 
opinion; and has shewn, that the 
cells of these glands have transverse 
communications with each other ; 
which it is not likely they would 
have, if they were only the sections 
of convoluted vessels. Some addi- 
tional observations have occurred 
to me confirming this opinion, 
and which, as I be clieve they have 
not been publicly noticed by others, 
I beg leave to reiate to this society. 
I have injefted the lymphatic 
glands of the groin and axilla of 
horses with wax, and afterwards 
destroyed, the ~ animal substance, 
by immersing them in muriatic 
acid. In some of these glands the 
wax appeared in very small por- 
tions, and irregularly conjoined ; 
which is a convincing proof, that 
it had acquired this irregular form 
from having been impelled into 
numerous minute cells, But in se- 
veral 
