SPLEEN. 



65 



extreme emaciation always accompanies a disease of this 

 organ. 



The mucous membrane secretes a peculiar fluid 

 which undoubtedly bears some part in the process ol 

 digestion. Haller called it the intestinal juice, and 

 thought that eight pounds of it were secreted in the 

 course of twenty four hours. It has not been carefully 

 analyzed, and we are rather ignorant of its properties. 



It may be well to mention here the spleen, which, 

 though it is generally classed with the digestive organs, 

 has at one time or another, been imagined to have a share 

 in almost every function of the body. Some of the 

 theories which have been made to explain the use of the 

 spleen, are truly rather calculated to excite a smile than 

 invite a serious examination. One old physiologist hav- 

 ing observed it uncommonly large in persons addicted to 

 immoderate laughter, forthwith concluded that the spleen 

 was the seat of that propensity ; others on the contrary, 

 were confident that it was the seat of that moral affec- 

 tion whose name it bears. Some have supposed that it 

 acted as a sort of wastegate, to receive the superfluous 

 blood of the stomach when not required by that organ ; 

 while others have thought it was the liver for which it 

 served this purpose. One thought its office was to form 

 the red globules of the blood, and another, as if to give it 

 an extent of influence proportioned to the trouble and 

 vexation which it had occasioned to inquisitive physiolo- 

 gists, declared that its sole use was to secrete the wax in 

 the ear. Another, after a deliberate examination of the 

 subject, came to the sagacious conclusion, that it had no 

 particular use at all, but an empty space being left after 

 the formation of the other organs, this was puf in to keep 

 every tiling snug and tight. Its use, whatever it may 

 be, does not seem to be essential to life. It has beea 

 removed from dogs,|without any particular inconvenience, 

 and in one instance it was taken from a man in conse- 

 quence of a wound, who recovered and did very well. 

 6* 



