212 THE SPLEEN. 



animal which has been subjected to the operation ; and life may be 

 prolonged for an indefinite period without any serious disturbance 

 of the nutritive process, after the spleen has been completely 

 extirpated. 



We must accordingly regard the spleen, not as a single organ, 

 but as associated with others, which may .completely, or to a great 

 extent, perform its functions after its entire removal. We have 

 already noticed the similarity in structure between the spleen and 

 the mesenteric and lymphatic glands ; a similarity which has led 

 some writers to regard them as more or less closely associated with 

 each other in function, and. to consider the spleen as an unusually 

 developed lymphatic or mesenteric gland. It is true that this 

 organ is provided with a comparatively scanty supply of lymphatic 

 vessels ; and the chyle, which is absorbed from the intestine, does 

 not pass through the spleen, as it passes through the remaining 

 mesenteric glands. Still, the physiological action of the spleen 

 may correspond with that of the other lymphatic glands, so far as 

 regards its influence on the blood ; and there can be little doubt 

 that its function is shared, either by them or by some other glan- 

 dular organs, which become unnaturally active, and more or less 

 perfectly supply its place after its complete removal. 



