OF THE GLANDS. 315 



CHAPTER V. 



OP THE GLANDS. 



478. The name of gland,* glandula, oS^u, is derived, ac- 

 cording to Nuck, from the similitude the ancients thought to 

 perceive between the lymphatic ganglions or glands, and the 

 fruit of the oak. 



Objects so different have been comprised under the name of 

 gland, that much difficulty is experienced in defining it. 



Hippocrates had announced that the glands were formed of 

 a peculiar granular and spongy flesh, not dense, having the 

 colour of fat, the consistence of wool, easily mashed between, 

 the fingers, provided with numerous veins, and when cut 

 emitting whitish and serous blood. He comprehended many 

 parts under this name, and especially the brain. 



Anatomists for a long time also had a vague idea of the 

 glands, they have ascribed to them a rounded form; they 

 then have comprehended with the glands and the vascular 

 ganglions, the pineal gland, and hypophysis of the brain, the 

 synovial adipose bodies, and even the tongue. 



Another definition, founded on the texture, and in which 

 there entered the idea of a mass of follicles or an aggregate of 



* Warton, adenographia. Lond. 1656. M. Malpighi, de viscerum strue- 

 turdy in op. omn. et de struct. glanduL eonglob. 6?e. in op. posth. Lossius 

 and Pielow, JDisq. de glandulis in Genere. Viteb. 1683. A. Nuck, Adeno- 

 graphia curiosa. L. B. 1691. G. Mylius, de glandulis. L. B. 1698 L. 

 Terraneus, de Glandu. universim, &c. L. B. 1729. Boerhaave and Ruysch, 

 de Fabrica glandular, &c. in Ruyschu op. omn. A. L. de Hugo, comment, de 

 glandulis in genere, &c. Gotting. 1746. Th. de Bordeu, Recherches ana- 

 torn, sur les glandcs, 6fc. Paris, 1751. G. A. Haase, de glandularum de/i- 

 nitionc. Lips. 1804. Leonhardi, op. cit. 



