OF THE ACINI. 97 



It is asserted by several microscopical observers, that a minute 

 branch of each of the aforesaid vessels can be traced into each 

 of the acini. It is also declared, that if each of these vessels 

 be injected separately with mercury, oil of turpentine colored, 

 or a saturated aqueous solution of gutta gamba, there is no part 

 of the glandular mass as large as a grain of mustard seed in 

 which those vessels will not be found. 



Several anatomists of the first character have likewise declared, 

 that a fluid properly injected into one of these vessels, will occa- 

 sionally pass into all of them. Thus an injection will not only 

 pass from the vena portarum to the biliary duct, but to the hep- 

 atic artery and veins also. It will likewise pass, in a retrograde 

 course, from the biliary ducts to the vena portarum, and to the 

 hepatic artery and the hepatic veins ; or from any one of the 

 four orders of vessels into the three others. 1 * 



The great peculiarity of the liver is, that venous blood, 

 instead of arterial, is brought to it for the purpose of secretion. 

 Thus the great vein of the chylopoietic viscera, instead of 

 passing to the cava, enters the liver by the transverse fissure, 

 and takes on the office of an artery ; its coats, on this account, 

 being much thicker and stronger than those of the hepatic 

 veins.f 



The acini, when isolated from the surrounding granulations, 

 and examined with a simple microscope, appear evidently to be 

 ovoid or rather polyhedrical bodies, with five or six facets, so 

 arranged as to fit exactly to the facets of the surrounding acini, 

 leaving no interval between them, except that occupied by the 

 intervening delicate cellular tissue, which is an extension from 

 the capsule of Glisson. 



Muller, in a few cases succeeded in injecting the biliary 

 canals from the hepatic duct, with size colored with vermilion 



* I have tried the experiment, and find the assertion to be correct. H. 



f A case is related by Mr. Abernethy. in the London Philosophical Transac- 

 tions, in which the vena portarum terminated in the vena cava below the liver, 

 without communicating with it. The hepatic artery was the only vessel which 

 carried blood to the organ, and was unusually large, the liver being nearly of 

 the natural size. Some bile was in the gall-bladder, but it was less acrid than 

 usual. 



VOL. II. 9 



