592 LYMPHATICS OF THE STOMACH. 



rant to an almond, and mostly of an oval or round form. 

 Their consistence is firm, each being surrounded with a 

 fibrous capsule. They generally run in chains or clusters. 



The division of the absorbents into lacteals and lymphat- 

 ics, is founded on the color of the respective fluids ; the chyle 

 of the lacteals resembling milk, while the lymph of the ab- 

 sorbents looks like serum or water. 



The lacteals are limited to the abdomen, and have their 

 origin in the numerous villi of the small intestine, espe- 

 cially its upper portion,- which converge to the mesenteric 

 glands, through which they pass, and thence proceed, after 

 being reduced to one or more trunks, along the superior 

 mesenteric artery to its root, where they enter the thoracic 

 duct. The mesenteric glands are situated between the lam- 

 inse of the mesentery, and are estimated at about one or two 

 hundred in number. 



The lymphatics are found in every part of the body, ex- 

 cept the interior of the brain, spinal cord, cartilages, ten- 

 dons, and ligaments, and though they are not as yet 

 demonstrable in these parts, there is, nevertheless, the 

 strongest reason, from analogy, for believing that they 

 exist there. Their function is to absorb from every tissue 

 all the particles of matter that have become effete,, useless, 

 and as it were, worn out, and. to conduct these into the 

 thoracic duct, there to mingle with the chyle from the lac- 

 teals, and thence into the circulation, or as in the right 

 head and neck, and right upper extremity, to go more di- 

 rectly into the venous system. The lymph then, like the 

 chyle, is carried into the venous circulation, is mingled 

 with the venous blood, and conducted to the lungs, where 

 the purification and conversion into arterial blood occurs, 

 so that it is fitted to enter the system, and perform the 

 same office of nutrition as before. 



THE LYMPHATICS AND GLANDS OF THE STOMACH. 



The lymphatics of the stomach are superficial and deep . 

 The former present a plexiform arrangement beneath the 

 peritoneum ; the latter, a similar appearance in the mucous 



