114 THE STRUCTURE OF THE SPLEEN. 



naked eye ; whereas when contracted, they require a magnifying 

 glass to be distinctly seen. These observations appear to have 

 been made upon quadrupeds.* 



Professor Soemmering appears to unite in the general senti- 

 ment of the British anatomists, that the spleen is simply vascu- 

 lar. He says, that the tuberculi which sometimes appear in it, 

 when examined with a magnifying glass, appear to be composed 

 entirely of vessels. 



There are, therefore, two questions not perfectly decided 

 respecting the spleen. 



First. Whether its general structure is simply vascular ; or 

 whether there is any other structure either cellular or more sub- 

 stantial, which composes its general bulk. 



Second. Whether the small transparent vesicles, originally 

 described by Malpighi are to be regarded as essential parts of 

 the structure of the spleen. 



With respect to the first question, the injections of Ruysch, 

 and of the British anatomists in general, and even of Mr. Hew- 

 son, as well as of Haller and Soemmering, seem to afford posi- 

 tive facts in opposition to those of a negative kind adduced by 

 M. De La Sone, and render it highly probable that the general 

 structure is simply vascular. 



But the second question stands on different grounds. The 

 existence of small transparent vesicles, although denied by 

 Ruysch, and neglected by the British anatomists in general, 

 was asserted as d. positive fact by Malpighi and De La Sone ; 

 and their assertions have been confirmed, not only by most of 

 the French anatomists, but also by Hewson and Home among 

 the British. 



The sentiments of physiologists respecting the functions of 

 the spleen, are more discordant than those of anatomists respect- 

 ing its structure ; although the subject has been considered by 

 many authors of great ingenuity .f 



* See the London Philosophical Transactions for 1808. 



t See M. Lieutaud, Elementa Physiologise ; Hewson's Experimental Inquiries, 

 vol. iii. ; Dr. Rush, Medical Museum, vol. iii. ; and Haller, Elementa Physi- 

 ologiae, torn. vi. page 414. 



