550 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [anNO I768. 



XXXJII. j4 Letter from Mr. J. R. Forster, F.A.S., containing some Account 

 of a new Map of the River fVolga. Dated Warrington, Oct. 1A, 1768. p. 214. 



This letter states that the map of the river Wolga, which Mr. Forster sent to 

 the B. s. was constructed from measurements chiefly taken by himself, when he 

 was formerly in that country. He says he first presented it to the Academy of 

 Sciences at Petersburg, where it was much admired ; but yet no use was made 

 of it. 



XXXI J^. An Account of the Lymphatic System in Birds.* By Mr. IVm. Hew- 

 son,^ Reader in Anatomy, p. 217' 



Having been so fortunate, in a series of experiments made with that view, as 

 to trace out the lymphatic system in birds, Mr. H. ventured to offer the follow- 

 ing account of it, to be presented by Dr. Hunter to the r.s.; and he flattered 

 himself this discovery would be considered as some acquisition to physiology. 



The lymphatic system has been supposed to be wanting in birds ; and absorp- 

 tion in that kind of animals to be carried on by branches of the common veins. 

 Physiologists were led into this opinion by observing, that though the lacteals 

 and mesenteric glands were easily seen even in the smallest quadruped, yet the 



* The chief part of this paper is inserted in the 2d vol. of Mr. Hewson's collected works, but is 

 there unaccompanied by the plate : on this account it is reprinted in this Abridgment. 



f This celebrated demonstrator of anatomy (as we are informed in a letter addressed by his widow 

 to Dr. Simmons) was born at Hexham in Northumberland in 1739- He received the rudiments of 

 his education at a grammar-school in his native town, where his father practised as a surgeon and 

 apothecary. With him Mr. H. acquired his first medical knowledge; being ambitious to increase 

 that knowledge, he placed himself first under an eminent surgeon (Mr. Lambert) in Newcastle, and 

 afterwards resided some time at London, Edinburgh, and Paris, then settled in London, and entered 

 into a partnership, as dissector and lecturer in anatomy, with the late Dr. Hunter, with whom his 

 connexion continued until 1770, when a disagreement arose, and a separation was the consequence. 

 On this occasion Mr. Hewson's place wjs supplied by Mr. Cruikshank. 



Mr. H. died in 1774- His father having had a numerous family, and himself having married a 

 lady whose recommendations were a good understanding and amiable disposition, without wealth, 

 he owed his advancement in life wholly to his own industry. A better son and husband (such are 

 the words of his widow), or a fonder father never existed. He was honoured with the friendship of 

 many respectable scientific characters; and the late Sir John Pringle showed him particular marks of 

 regard. From the same authority we learn, that his manners were gentle and engaging) that hit 

 ambition was free from ostentation ; that his prudence was without meanness ; and that he was more 

 covetous of fame than of fortune. 



Mr. Hewson's name will be associated with the names of the first anatomisu and physiologists, of 

 which this country has to boast. His papers on the lymphatics in birds, fishes, and amphibious ani- 

 mals, as well as those on the blood, were first published in the Phil. Trans., and have since been 

 reprinted in a collected form, amounting to 3 vols. 8vo, under the title of Experimental Inquiries. 

 The Appendix to the 1st vol. relates to the dispute between him and Professor Monro of Edinburgh, 

 concerning the priority of discovery of the lymphatics in birds and certain amphibious animals. 



