THE SPLEEN. 107 



like the ducts of the salivary glands, and is rather larger in 

 diameter than a crow's quill. In its progress towards the right 

 extremity of the gland, it gradually enlarges, and commonly 

 receives a branch from the part called the lesser pancreas^ It 

 most commonly unites with the biliary duct before it opens 

 into the duodenum : sometimes these ducts open separately, but 

 very near to each other. They penetrate the coats of the in- 

 testine, rather obliquely, and between four and five inches from 

 the pylorus, see fig. 135, p. 32. This canal is sometimes called 

 Ductus Virsungiij after an anatomist who published a plate 

 of it. 



The pancreas has an irregular surface, and no coat which 

 covers it uniformly. It is invested by cellular membrane, which 

 also connects its different lobes to each other. Absorbent ves- 

 sels and nerves are traced into it. 



The portion called the lesser pancreas adheres to the duode- 

 num, and when it is enlarged by disease, the passage of aliment 

 through that intestine is much impeded, and sometimes com- 

 pletely obstructed.* 



It is now generally believed that the fluid secreted by the 

 pancreas is nearly similar to that which is produced by the sali- 

 vary glands. 



Size of the Spleen. 



The spleen is a flat body of a bluish color, and an irregular 

 oblong form, with thick edges, which are indented in some 

 places. 



It is various in different subjects, both in size and form. Its 

 most common size is between four and five inches in length, 

 and about three or four inches in breadth ; but it has often 

 been found of more than four times this size ; and it has also 

 been seen not much longer than an inch. Its ordinary weight 

 is between six and nine ounces ; but it has varied in different 



* In several cases where examination after death evinced that the pancreas 

 had become enlarged and indurated, particularly at the right extremity, the 

 principal symptoms were jaundice ; great uneasiness after taking food ; vomiting 

 some time after eating, but not immediately ; and extreme acidity of the matter 

 rejected. 



