2/2 SITUATION AND STRUCTURE 



(which in this animal enter the spleen at its upper part) and 

 tied, the lymphatic vessels which accompany the artery and 

 vein were also included in the ligature, and as absorption con- 

 tinues so long as the animal remains irritable, the lymphatic 

 vessels, over the whole surface of the spleen, soon became 

 turgid, and were distinctly seen filled with a red fluid, so 

 highly coloured as equal parts of claret and water ; the larger 

 lymphatic vessel was then opened, and a quantity of the fluid 

 it contained was received into a teacup, which, on being ex- 

 posed to the air, soon coagulated. 



EXPERIMENT III. 



SECT. 71. A portion of this fluid was diluted with pure 

 serum, when the red colour seemed evidently owing to a 

 quantity of red particles, which were distinctly seen in very 

 considerable numbers. 



SECT. 72. But lest it should be objected, that the red par- 

 ticles were contained in the serum, this experiment was care- 

 fully repeated. 



EXPERIMENT IV. 



SECT. 73. Another portion of the fluid received from the 

 lymphatic vessel was diluted with a weak solution of the 

 Glauber's salt, when exactly the same appearances were ex- 

 hibited as were formerly mentioned in experiments upon the 

 blood; so that there can be no doubt but that the red colour 

 of the lymph from the spleen is communicated to it by a 

 quantity of red particles of the blood. 



SECT. 74. It may be objected to Experiment n, that the 

 animal, in being driven to the slaughter-house, might have re- 

 ceived some blow on the spleen, by which blood was extrava- 

 sated, or that extravasation might happen in the very act of 

 killing, and that this newly extravasated blood might be ab- 

 sorbed and found in the lymphatic vessels in the form of red 

 particles. $%< 



SECT. 75. To these objections we answer : first, that the 

 spleen is so well defended from external injuries, that it is 

 very improbable such an accident could happen. And secondly, 

 that if such an accident had really taken place, the lymph at 

 the greatest distance from the ligature should be of a redder 



