LYMPHATIC SYSTEM. 163 



leave to transcribe from his notes the following circumstances 

 of the case : 



" Mr. J , who had for some time been subject to palpita- 

 tions of the heart, and who (perhaps from another cause) hap- 

 pened to die apoplectic, was carefully opened after death, and 

 two ounces of water were found in the ventricles of the brain. 



" The heart was large, and adhered in some places to the 

 pericardium in such' a manner as parts adhere from recent in- 

 flammation, that is, by an exudation of coagulable lymph. In 

 the pericardium was found a small quantity of bloody serum, 

 of a dark brownish cast. There were marks of inflammation 

 on the surface of the heart, and some part of the coronary 

 artery was ossified. In the right ventricle and in the pul- 

 monary artery was a large concretion of the kind erroneously 

 supposed a polypus, the upper part being white and sizy, whilst 

 the lower had only the appearance of a dark coloured con- 

 gealed blood. It was obvious that this concretion was formed 

 after death (LXXIII). On the external surface of the left 

 ventricle, near the septum, was a tumour, which on being cut 

 into was found to contain above half a spoonful of a dark, 

 reddish-coloured matter, of the consistence of pus, nor was 

 there any doubt of its being produced by suppuration. This 

 abscess would have broken into the left ventricle, had not the 

 opening through the septum been covered and shut up on the 

 side next that ventricle by a crust or polypus of the shape 

 and about the size of half a large pigeon's egg, divided long- 

 wise, so that the flat side lay towards the mouth of the ab- 

 scess, whilst the convex side was turned towards the ventricle, 

 and occupied a space in it. This," adds Sir John Pringle, " was 

 a true polypus ; it cut tough, or like the coagulated blood of 

 aneurisms of old standing, nor was there any doubt, from its 

 appearance, of its having existed there for a considerable 

 time." 



Now this crust or polypus, lying over an inflamed surface, 

 had probably been formed by a secretion of the lymph from 

 the inflamed vessels, and being formed in the cavity of the 

 heart where there was a constant current of blood, the lymph 



(LXXIII.) On the relative position of the red and white parts in these 

 clots, see Note xin, p. 24. 



