THE SPLEEN 81 



ried into the portal vein and thence through the liver, 

 indicating that it effects some changes in the blood 

 which the liver must perfect; yet its removal neither 

 causes the death of the animal nor effects any perma- 

 nent changes in the character of the blood. 



That it is associated with digestive processes is shown 

 by the fact that it slowly increases in size after a meal 

 for about five hours and then returns to its normal size. 



Its activity is supposed to be directed to 



I. The formation of new red blood corpuscles, a work 

 which it certainly does during fetal life. 



II. The destruction of old and damaged red blood cor- 

 puscles, a supposition founded largely on the spleen's 

 richness in iron. 



III. The production of uric acid, an inference from 

 the presence of other bodies from which uric acid can be 

 the presence of other bodies from which uric acid can be 

 formed. 



