chap, xxii.] THE LEG. 455 



use of garters especially affects the long saphenous vein, 

 which lies close to the bone at the spot about which 

 these contracting bands are usually applied. Between 

 the two layers of the muscles of the calf Yerneuil 

 describes a venous plexus, which he believes to be 

 more often the seat of varices than are the vessels of 

 the surface. A varicose condition of these deeply- 

 placed veins may explain the "aching legs" complained 

 of by those who stand a great deal. The intra-mus- 

 cular veins are very large. Callender 

 showed that the six chief veins which 

 pass from the soleus muscle alone to I 

 enter into the posterior tibial and pero- 

 neal trunks have a united diameter of 

 not less than one inch. Yarix would 

 appear to commence most often at points 

 where the deep veins join the superficial 

 vessels. There is good reason for this, Fig. 51. 

 for at these points three forces meet, 

 the general directions of which are shown in the 

 annexed diagram (Fig. 51). There is the weight 

 of the superincumbent column of blood (a) acting 

 from above, the resistance offered by the next 

 valve below the point of entry of the deep vein 

 acting from below (6), and the force with which 

 the blood is driven by the contracting muscles out of 

 the deep vein into the superficial trunk acting at an 

 angle to both these lines of force (c). Unfortunately for 

 the subjects of varices, the two principal veins (the 

 saphenous) are accompanied by sensory nerves, and 

 there is no doubt that much of the pain incident to 

 varicose veins in the leg depends upon pressure on 

 these nerves. 



With reference to pain in the leg it must be re- 

 membered that the nerves that bring sensation to the 

 part arise at a considerable distance from their points 

 of termination, and that the causes of pain in the limb 



