2 1 8 Spleen, and Pancreas or Swtetlread. [Book IX. 



admit of no defcription ; it is fome what oblong, how- 

 ever, but is convex on the fide which is applied to the 

 ribs, and concave on that which is turned inwards to- 

 ,!s the other vifce; a of the abdomen, and where it; 



- receives its biood-velTds. It is placed on the left fide, 

 in the left hypochondrium, and is oppofite to the two 

 kft ofthefalferibs. 



The fplcen is connected to the flomach by blood - 

 veflels and a 'ligament, to the omentum, to the left 

 kidney, to the pofterijr part of the diaphragm by the 

 peritoneum, to the pancreas by veffels, and 4 to the 

 colon by a ligament. The fpleen has only one coat, 

 which can be diflinclly perceived, and which is derived 



- from the peritoneum. The fpleen is extremely vafcu- 

 lar, and when macerated feems wholly conftituted of 

 numerous blood-vefTels. It has no excretory duel:, and 

 it is remarkable, that though an organ of fuch confider- 

 able fize, its ufe is entirely unknown. 



The pancreas is a glandular organ, of a pale red 

 colour, and is called in certain animals the fweetbread. 

 The pancreas is fituated in the epigaftric region, be- 

 hind the flomach, in the triangular fpace furrounded by 

 the windings of the duodenum. In form it referable? 

 the tongue of a dog, the narrow termination of which 

 is placed towards the fp'een, and is connected to that 

 organ by blood-veffels. The pancreas in the human 

 fubjecl: is eight or nine -inches in length but very nar- 

 row x and its fituation in the body is very nearly tranf- 

 v./fe. The liquor prepared by this gland is remark- 

 ably fimilar to that prepared by the glands which 

 furnifli faliva to the mouth; fo that the pancreas may 

 be confidered as the largeft falivary gland in the 

 body. Lik^ the falivary glands, the pancreas is a 

 conglomerate gland, or confifts^pf a number of fmall 



ghndular 



