30 ABSORPTION AND CIRCtJLATION. 



lies a long time in the tubes of these small glands, a general languishmcnt of 

 the beast takes place (called lentor by the old farriers) ; he perspires upon the 

 least exertion, becomes unnerved, shows a rough hide, and refuses his meals. 

 This constitutes " low fever," when the whole animal system is affected. This 

 state of things, which is very common, points, out the impropriety of now re- 

 sorting to diaphoretics (sweating powders) ; for it has been neglected so long, 

 that tired nature, being offended thereat, refuses to part with those particles 

 which occasion the greatest injury. "By the urine," be it said. I'his way 

 offers the same difficulty, and the answer resolves itself into my plan of open- 

 ing the principal evacuations first. (See what I shall offer concerning bleed- 

 ing and purging in a subsequent page.) So much, however, seemed necessary 

 to be advanced here, that the reader, who reads straight an end, should be at 

 no loss as to what lately passed between us concerning secretion and effusion 

 at sections 21 and 23. Of all the smaller glands, the best recognised are those 

 termed salivary, situated near the jaws for the secretion of spittle, wherewith 

 to moisten the food while descending into the stomach, and thus assisting di 

 gestion in its first stage. The strangles and vives are disorders of these 

 glands: the swelling at this part is a corresponding symptom of glanders, and 

 sometimes attends farcy. But the largest of these minor glands is situated in 

 the solids, and lies within the buttock, concealed near its centre, into which 

 passes an immense quantity of blood for its size, since it is found in the dead 

 subject most disposed to putrify, especially when the animal has been driven 

 hard, as is the case with all the cattle killed in London for food. 



29. Lymphatics are one of two species of absorbing vessels ; the other 

 species (the lacteals) being reserved for description under the head of "diges- 

 tion," at sect. 44. They are small tubes, with mouths that suck up or absorb 

 the thin watery particles of the solids, one or more being placed on each gland 

 of these parts. Some idea of the important nature of this part of the animal 

 system may be formed from the circumstance that mercury applied to a glan- 

 dular part of the body undergoes immediate absorption by the lymphatics, and 

 is conveyed by this means through the jugular vein to the blood. Persons 

 who may be unfortunately ordered to rub in mercurial ointment on the thighs 

 will feel a fulness under the left ear in the course of a few minutes, according 

 to the previous state of their bodies. How mercury acts upon the second spe- 

 cies of absorbents — the lacteals, remains to be seen hereafter. The tendency 

 of both is towards the heart, or rather the left collar-bone ; increasing in size 

 and diminishing in number, until the lymphatic duct meeting with the milky 

 juices of its co-absorbent in the thorax, the mixture soon becomes blood by 

 the action of air in the lungs, as described at sect. 39. As the lacteals, it will 

 be seen, absorb only nutritious juices, so the lymphatics absorb none but of- 

 fensive ones, as the matter of diseases, wounds, spavins, broken bones, ulcers, 

 and the useless part of the deposite made by the arteries as said at section 

 27 ; these being mixed, pass through the heart, there receive fresh vital pow- 

 ers, as hereafter is described, and thence to the liver, there to be purged of its 

 bad qualities, which, passing incessantly into the intestines is soon eliminated 

 with the dung. At least, such is the natural course in health ; a change takes 

 place when these organs do not perform their functions aright, and we can 

 perceive this misfortune in the dung, when the absorbents are at fault, par- 

 ticularly in the yellows! The importance of stimulating the lymphatics in 

 all disorders of the outer surface, as mange, surfeit, farcy, &c. must be evi- 

 dent : as it is, also, in cases of tumours, as poll-evil, fistula, &c. 



30. The NERVES, like the glands, run in pairs, mostly, to all parts of the 

 body ; they are the organs of sense, communicate immediately with the brain, 

 and are thus principally concerned in the function of voluntary motion. That 

 Uie horse entertains likes anc^ dislikes is certain ; he has a memory too, botb 



