THE SPLEEN 31 



evidence of it can be made out, but it is said that after 

 severe loss of blood, red cells are to be seen in process of 

 formation. When the spleen is removed, there occurs 

 a diminution in the red cells of the circulating blood — a 

 fact which indicates either that the spleen does normally 

 form these cells, or that it provides a hormone which stimu- 

 lates this function elsewhere. 



The high content of purine bases which occurs in the 

 spleen is incidental to the metabolism of leucocytes. There 

 is no evidence that, apart from this, the spleen has a special 

 function of purine formation. 



The slow rhythmic contractions which the spleen under- 

 goes by virtue of its unstriated muscle-fibres, are evidently 

 for the purpose of propelhng the blood through the organ. 

 The spleen cannot form a reservoir for excess of blood. 



From the fact that hfe can be continued normally after 

 removal of the spleen, it is clear that whatever function 

 it performs can be transferred to other organs. Of these 

 the most important are probably the hcemolymqjh glands, 

 which, scattered throughout the abdomen, are intermediate 

 in form between the spleen and the lymphatic glands. 



