208 THE DUCTLESS GLANDS 



purpose of moistening and bathing all the parts of the larynx 

 and the passage of the throat." Morgagni also quotes the 

 following, which shows that Galen was informed of the absence 

 of a duct : " Now, the neck has two glands in which a mois- 

 ture is generated. But from the two glands which are in the 

 neck there come forth no vessels by which the moisture may 

 flow out, as those do from the glands of the tongue." 



Wharton, in 1656, gives a good account of the anatomy of 

 the thyroid and notes that "it is much more full of blood 

 than any other gland, also more viscid and solid, and more 

 resembling muscular flesh. This is the only difference, that 

 it is not of a fibrous structure but rather of a glutinous nature." 

 He allots four functions to the gland: "(1) The first and 

 principal use of these glands appears to be to take up certain 

 superfluous moistures from the recurrent nerve, and to bring 

 them back again into the vascular system by their own lymph 

 channels. (2) To cherish the cartilages to which they are 

 fixed, which are rather of a chilly nature, by their own heat ; 

 for they are copiously supplied with arteries, and abound with 

 blood, from whence they may conveniently impart heat to the 

 neighbouring parts. (3) To conduce by their exhalations 

 to the lubrication of the larynx and so to render the voice 

 smoother, more melodious, and sweeter. (4) To contribute 

 much to the rounded contour and beauty of the neck ; for 

 they fill up the empty spaces about the larynx, and make its 

 protuberant parts almost to subside and become smooth, 

 especially in the female sex, to whom on this account a larger 

 gland has been assigned, which renders their necks more even 

 and beautiful." 



The third function, it will be noted, is only Galen's view 

 more definitely formulated. This theory, in one form or 

 another, long remained in vogue. 



Verheyen, in 1720, says : " This gland, beyond doubt, 

 serves also to moisten the neighbouring parts ; but, because 

 it is very large, there is an apparent reason why it should 

 have rather large excretory ducts, or one at least very con- 

 spicuous, which yet hitherto has not been discovered." 



Morgagni is undecided whether or no the gland has a duct. 

 He describes vesicular cavities in enlarged thyroids, and these 

 he correctly supposed to be the normal vesicles (" natural 

 cavities ") distended by the accumulation of their secretion. 



