676 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [aNNO 17y6. 



structed, from disease or other causes, an increased determination of fluids into 

 the communicating absorbents must happen, which would overcome the resist- 

 ance produced by their mutual inosculations, and the contents of the vessels 

 would be driven forward towards the trunk of the system. In the whale, as in 

 other animals, we find that the impediment, occasioned by this comnumication 

 of lacteals, is greatest in the first glands at which they arrive after having left 

 the intestines. Tiie ready termination of so many arteries in the mesenteric 

 glands of the whale, makes it appear probable, that there is a copious secretion 

 of fluids mixed with the absorbed chyle; and, as I have before observed, a slimy 

 bloody-coloured fluid was found in them. As the orifices of the veins were open, 

 it appears probable that the contents of the bags might pass in some degree into 

 those vessels. 



The eminent anatomists, Albinus, Meckel, Hewson, and Wrisberg, were of 

 opinion, that the lymphatic glands were not cellular, but were composed of con- 

 voluted absorbing vessels. This notion seems however to have been gradually 

 declining. Mr. Cruikshank has of late publicly maintained a contrary opinion; 

 and has shown, that the cells of these glands have transverse communications 

 with each other; which is not likely they would have, if they were only the sec- 

 tions of convoluted vessels. Some additional observations have occurred to me, 

 confirming this opinion, and which, as I believe they have not been publicly no- 

 ticed by others, I beg leave to relate to this Society. I have injected the lym- 

 phatic glands of the groin and axilla of horses, with wax, and afterwards de- 

 stroyed the animal substance, by immersing them in muriatic acid. In some of 

 these glands the wax appeared in very small portions, and irregularly conjoined; 

 which is a convincing proof that it had acquired this irregular form from having 

 been impelled into numerous minute cells. But in several instances I found one 

 solid lump of wax after the destruction of the animal substance: and it appears 

 sufficiently clear, that the glands which were filled in this manner were formed 

 internally of one cavity, and were not, as is commonly the case, composed of 

 many minute cells. I have also filled glands of this structure, in the mesentery 

 of a horse, with quicksilver: I have then dried them, cut open the bags, and 

 introduced a bristle into them through the vas inferens. And in the human me 

 sentery, after having injected the artery, I have filled a bag resembling a gland 

 with quicksilver ; which being opened, a mixture of injection and quicksilver 

 was fo^und in its cavity. 



That the lymphatic glands in most animals are cellular, may not perhaps be 

 hereafter doubted: that they are sometimes mere bags, analogy and actual ob- 

 servation induce me to believe. It might be said, that in those instances which 

 I have related, the cells were burst, or that the glands were diseased; to which 

 I can only reply, that there was no appearance to lead me to such a conclusion. 



