INTERNAL. 685 



observed the lymphatics of the liver containing a bitter, and those of 

 the kidneys a urinous, lymph. Sommering detected bile in the lymph- 

 atics of the liver; and milk in those of the axilla. M. Dupuytren relates 

 a case, which M. Magendie conceives to be much more favourable to the 

 doctrine of absorption by the lymphatic vessels than any of the others. 

 A female, who had an enormous fluctuating tumour at the upper and 

 inner part of the thigh, died at the H6tel Dieu, of Paris, in 1810. 

 A few days before her death, inflammation occurred in the subcutaneous 

 areolar tissue at the inner part of the tumour. The day after dissolu- 

 tion, M. Dupuytren opened the body. On dividing the integuments, he 

 noticed white points on the lips of the incision. Surprised at the ap- 

 pearance, he carefully dissected away some of the skin, and observed 

 the subcutaneous areolar tissue overrun by whitish lines, some of which 

 were as large as a crow's quill. These were evidently lymphatics filled 

 with puriform matter. The glands of the groin, with which these 

 lymphatics communicated, were injected with the same matter. The 

 lymphatics were full of the fluid, as far as the lumbar glands; but 

 neither the glands nor the thoracic duct presented any trace of it. 1 On 

 the other hand, multiplied experiments have been instituted, by throw- 

 ing coloured and odorous substances into the great cavities of the 

 body ; and these have been found always in the veins, and never in the 

 lymphatics. 



To the experiments of Mr. Hunter, objections have been urged, simi- 

 lar to those brought against his experiments to prove the absorption of 

 milk by the lacteals ; and sources of fallacy have been pointed out. The 

 blue colour, which the lymphatics seemed to him to possess, and which 

 was ascribed to the absorption of indigo, was noticed in the experiments 

 of Messrs. Harlan, Lawrence, and Coates ; 2 but they discovered that 

 this was an optical illusion. What they saw was the faint blue, which 

 transparent substances assume, when placed over dark cavities. Mr. 

 Mayo 3 has also affirmed that the chyliferous lymphatics always assume 

 a bluish tint a short time after death, even when the animal has not 

 taken indigo. The cases of purulent matter, &c., found in the lymph- 

 atics, may be accounted for by the morbid action having produced dis- 

 organization of the vessel, so that the fluid could enter the lymphatics 

 directly; and, if once within, its progression could be readily under- 

 stood. 



M. Magendie 4 asserts, that M. Dupuytren and he performed more 

 than one hundred and fifty experiments, in which they submitted to the 

 absorbent action of serous membranes different fluids, and never found 

 any of them within the lymphatic vessels. These fluids produced their 

 effects more promptly, in proportion to the rapidity with which they 

 were capable of being absorbed. Opium exerted its narcotic influence; 

 wine produced intoxication, &c., and M. Magendie found, from nume- 

 rous experiments, that the ligature of the thoracic duct in no respect 

 diminished the promptitude with which these effects supervened. The 



1 Magendie, Precis, &c., 2de edit, ii. 195, et seq.; and Adelon, art. Absorption, Diet, de 

 Med., 2de edit., i.239, and Physiologie de rHomme, 2de edit., iii. 65, Paris, 1829. 



2 Harlan's Physical Researches, p. 459, Philad., 1835. 



3 Outlines of Human Physiology, 3d edit., Lond., 1833. 4 Op. cit., ii. 211. 



