4Q6 philosophical transactions. [anno 1741. 



bottom of the bag was very thick, and composed of several lamellae half de- 

 stroyed, which fell off in bits or scales, and in slime, at the least touch. 



It appeared plainly on the inspection of these remains of the bottom of the 

 bag, that that was the source of the hydatids ; and, on considering what sort 

 of parts are found on the surface of the viscera, under their integuments, it 

 seems evident, that these lymphatic globules were nothing else but the glandu- 

 lousand lymphatic grains of the surface of the spleen, dilated into excrescences 

 by the disease, and puffed up by the lymph, which the distemper caused to ac- 

 cumulate there. 



He had proved, in his Physiology, then in the press, that these glandulous 

 grains are nothing but the ends of the nerves, or nervous papillae, which receive 

 the ends of the lymphatic vessels into their spongy texture : and he had, among 

 others, instanced in the papillae of the tongue, called glandulous papillae, which 

 are at the same time the organ of taste,* and the receptacle of the salival 

 lymph. 



A part of the nerves, which are distributed into the substance of the liver 

 and spleen, terminate in the surface of those viscera, under the form of glan- 

 dulous or pulpous grains. This same surface is the seat of a great number of 

 those lymphatic vessels. And it is not to be doubted but those glandulous grains 

 are as necessary for those lymphatics, as the parotid gland is necessary for the 

 lymph of the salival duct, and the glandulous papillae of the tongue for the liquor 

 that distils from them. In quality of glands, they are the receptacle of those 

 liquors : as nervous papillae, they furnish the spirits necessary for the functions 

 of those liquors. All these truths are proved in the work, above cited. Let us 

 now come to the consequences of this structure. 



As long as the glandulous papillae are sound, their excretory pores pour 

 forth the lymph according as their cavities receive it from the lymphatics ; but 

 if these pores happen to be obstructed by a disease; if the surface of these 

 grains be altered by any erosion ; or if the natural tone of these solids be per- 

 verted; the lymph brought into these grains will be retained there: it will 

 stretch these globules ; their substance having lost its elasticity, will easily give 

 way; the nutritious juice, which they will not be able to drive further, will be 

 there assimilated, and will contribute to the dilatation. In fine, a vesicle 

 will be formed filled with lymph, or an hydatid, such as those we have ex- 

 amined. 



This congestion of lymph, or hydatids, will not fail to soften, relax, and 

 raise up the membrane that covers them ; and thus a bag will be formed. 



* See his Traite des Sens, Rouen, 1742, 8vo.— Orig. 



