Sect. I.] Anatomij, 269 



blood, pnd that they terminate on all surfaces and 

 cavities. He contends that the use of the lympha- 

 tic glands is for the separation of the lymph I'rum 

 the blood j and that the lymphatic vessels are ex- 

 cretory ducts to the lymphatic glands. For the im- 

 portant function of absorption he provides in tlie 

 following manner : he supposes that, aUhough the 

 lymphatic vessels convey fluids from the blood, they 

 also occasionally possess the power of absorption. 

 This office, he imagines, they perform after accom- 

 plishing their first purpose— that is to say, after 

 conveying the lymph to the various parts of the 

 body, they become mere empty tubes, and absorb 

 whatever is applied to any surface. According, 

 therefore, to the degree of inanition or repletion of 

 the lymphatic vessels, in his opinion, will the body 

 be more or less susceptible of the absorption of 

 any fluid applied to the skin or any other surface 

 or cavity. 



These, however, and many other objections to 

 the generally received doctrine of the absorbent 

 system, have gained little credit among tlie most 

 respectable anatomists. The arguments by wliich 

 they are attempted to be supported have been 

 shown to be founded on injections unskilfully made, 

 on observations inaccurate, and conclusions altoge- 

 ther illogical. 



In the oarly part of the controversy on this sub- 

 ject, it was urged, that, before the doctrine of the 

 lymphatics being a system of absorbents could 

 be established, it was necessary first to determine 

 whether this system is to be found in other animals 

 beside man and quadrupeds. Mr. Ilewson claimed 

 the merit of having proved the alTinnative of tliis 



