DISTRIBUTION OF THE LYMPHATICS. 173 



their course forward, along with the cutaneous external tho- 

 racic veins of the thorax, unite with the superficial lymphat- 

 ics of that part, and proceed to the axillary glands. The 

 deep-seated vessels of the belly run in company with the epi- 

 gastric vein, and go to the inguinal glands, or else they 

 accompany the pectoral vein, and pervade the glands in front 

 of the thorax. 



" The superficial or subcutaneous lymphatics of the loins 

 join either those of the croup or those of the flanks : the 

 deep-seated, which spring from the peritoneum, muscles, or 

 spinal canal, perforate one of the lumbar glands, and pass on- 

 ward to terminate in the main pelvic branch. 



"4. ABSORBENTS OF THE MESENTERY. 



" The mesenteric branches, ordinarily two or three in num- 

 ber, the most considerable of which is constantly united to 

 the great mesenteric artery, receive all the vessels continued 

 from the mesenteric glands, as well as those coming from the 

 mesentery and intestines. 



" The mesenteric absorbents, extremely numerous, are sus- 

 tained between the layers of the mesentery, where they form 

 a vascular network : many of them issue from the exhalent 

 surface of the mesentery and intestinal tube ; others take their 

 rise from the interior of the intestines, from which they im- 

 bibe chyle. All these vessels converge towards the lymphatic 

 reservoir, clinging in their passage around the mesentric veins ; 

 some, however, taking a solitary course at a greater or less 

 distance from any blood-vessel : having arrived at the root of 

 the mesentery, they pass through one or two, sometimes 

 three, of the mesentric glands, and afterwards join the prin- 

 cipal lumbar lymphatics. The absorbents of the coecum and 

 coecum caput coli run to the glands set at intervals along the in- 

 testinal tube, whence they proceed to the receptaculum chyli. 



"5. LYMPHATICS OF THE LIVER, STOMACH, SPLEEN, AND OMENTUM. 



" The hepatic trunk comprises the lymphatics issuing from 

 the above viscera. This branch of the receptaculum chyli 

 not uncommonly consists of two divisions, and receives in 



