GENERAL ANATOMY OF THE GLANDULAR SYSTEM. 81 



passing off from the blood-vessels, is commonly taken up by 

 the absorbent vessels of the kidneys : for in two cases in which 

 he found the absorbent vessels obstructed, a diabetes existed, 

 which he considered as the effect of the inactivity of the 

 absorbents. He asserts, that in the liver, pancreas, mammae, 

 and also in the salivary and lachrymal glands, the minute 

 arteries and veins are also distributed upon the surfaces of 

 cells ; and that very small canals arise from these cells, and 

 unite to form the small branches of the excretory ducts. 



This great anatomist appears to have been much occupied 

 with microscopical observations, and has gone largely into the 

 discussion of this subject.*' 



The opinions of the distinguished anatomists which have 

 been detailed above, conflict, as has been seen, considerably 

 with each other. They were, however, legitimate deductions 

 from their own experiments and observations, and each 

 entitled to credit, since every one of these great men has added 

 considerably to the knowledge of this interesting and intricate 

 department of general anatomy. Since their time, other 

 observers have contributed much to the elucidation of the 

 structure of different glands, of whom we shall hereafter have 

 occasion to speak ; and lastly, Professor Miiller has published a 

 work, ex professo^ upon the subject, which has reconciled many 

 of these conflicting opinions. This observer has extended his 

 investigations into the comparative anatomy of all the glands, 

 and to their development at the different stages of foetal life, and 

 having a full acquaintance with all that had been previously 

 discovered, his researches may be looked upon as classical upon 

 this subject. 



* The late Dr. "W. Hunter, in his Medical Commentaries, (p. 40,) avowed 

 his belief, that the fluids which appear occasionally in the various cavities of 

 the body, transude through the coats of the blood-vessels. Mr. Hewson, (Ex- 

 perimental Inquiries, Vol. II. Chap. 7,) suggested several reasons for dissenting 

 from this opinion j but Mascagni has endeavored to support it. See a long 

 note to the above mentioned section of this work, page 74. 



f De Glandularum Secernentium Structura Penitiore, earumque prima for- 

 matione, etc. Leips. 1830. p. 



