490 THE SOLIDS. 



Each villus is copiously supplied with blood-vessels ; an 

 artery ascends one side of the villus, a vein descends along 

 the opposite side, and between these two principal vessels a 

 very complicated and beautiful plexus of capillaries is ex- 

 tended. (See Plate LI. Jigs. 3, 4, 5.). 



The lacteals are described as originating in the villi in a 

 plexiform manner. 



In the rabbit I have observed a very curious construction 

 of the villi, their surfaces being studded with numerous 

 mucous follicles; the portion of intestine exhibiting these 

 characters was most probably taken from near the junction 

 of the large and small intestines; and I have little doubt 

 but that the villi of the human intestine, in a corresponding 

 position, would exhibit the same combination of the structural 

 peculiarities of both small and large intestines. 



The anatomical characters of the mucous membrane of 

 the stomach, and large intestines, have already been de- 

 scribed. (See page 393. et seg.) 



