206 EPITHELIAL GLOBULES. 



We find besides every transition between the lymphatic 

 ganglions and the connective tissue properly so called : the 

 connective tissue of the intestinal mucous, which is formed 

 of loose trabeculae, surrounding spaces abounding in white 

 globules, and into which numerous lymphatic capillaries 

 open (lacunae, lymphatic sinus), according to His (adenoid 

 tissue), represents the rudimentary tissue of a lymphatic 

 ganglion stretched out and diffused; this tissue becomes 

 compact in places, taking more decided shapes, and forming 

 what are called closed follicles, either detached, or joined as 

 in Peyer's patches; their structure has long been recognized 

 as identical with that of the lymphatic ganglions. 



The spleen is itself a lymphatic ganglion, though of a 

 peculiar kind ; it, too, is formed of connective tissue (sheaths 

 of the splenic arteries) changed into adenoid tissue; this 

 tissue, however, is not furrowed by lacunaB or lymphatic 

 sinus ; the blood here, is itself diffused through the spaces 

 in the tissue, drawing with it the white globules which are 

 constantly being developed. The particulars of the form 

 assumed by this tissue in order to produce both the Malpi- 

 ghian corpuscles, and the substance of the pulp of the spleen, 

 may be found in treatises on histology ; but, thanks to the 

 labors of Gray, Billroth, Schweigger-Seidel, and W. Miiller, 

 in the midst of all its varieties, the adenoid (lymphoid) con- 

 nective tissue may always be recognized : it is a collection of 

 lymphatic ganglions or glands, more or less united together, 

 and in which blood-vessels take the place of lymphatic ducts : 

 the spleen is, in short, a lymphatic sanguineous gland (II. 

 Frey). 



Thus, if the spleen be destroyed or taken away, we observe 

 general hypertrophy of the other lymphatic glands, which 

 appear to prepare themselves to take the place of the spleen, 

 for forming the white globules : this hypertrophy of the lym- 

 phatic ganglions has been observed in animals after ablation 

 of the spleen, and in man after it has become degenerate or 

 has been destroyed (Fuhrer). 



This rapid anatomical sketch shows us very plainly what 

 are the physiological functions of the spleen ; we shall study, 

 later, the indirect and not well understood influence which 

 it exercises on the digestive functions ; but in the mean while 

 we must look upon that, as well as all the lymphatic glands, as 

 essentially a centre of formation for the white globules: the 

 venous blood of the spleen is also remarkably rich in lymph 

 globules; while the arterial blood which enters it contains 



