208 FUNCTIONS OF THE SPLEEN. 



diminution of the coloured blood-corpuscles and their haemoglobin, after extirpa- 

 tion of the spleen.] 



(3.) Other observers (Kolliker and Ecker) regard the spleen as an 

 organ in which COLOURED BLOOD-CORPUSCLES ARE DESTROYED, and they 

 consider the large protoplasmic cells containing pigment granules (p. 1 6) 

 as a proof of this. According to the observations of von Kusnetzow, 

 these structures are merely lymph-corpuscles, which, in virtue of their 

 amoeboid movements, have entangled coloured blood-corpuscles. [Such 

 corpuscles exhibit similar properties when placed upon a warm stage.] 

 Similar cells occur in extravasations of blood (Virchow). The coloured 

 blood-corpuscles within the lymph-cells gradually become disintegrated, 

 and give rise to the production of granules of hsernatin and other 

 derivatives of haemoglobin. Hence, the spleen contains more iron than 

 corresponds to the amount of blood present in it. When we con- 

 sider that the spleen contains a large number of extractives derived 

 from the decomposition of proteids, it is very probable that coloured 

 blood-corpuscles are destroyed in the spleen. Further, the juice of the 

 spleen contains salts similar to those that occur in the red blood- 

 corpuscles. 



The blood of the spleen is said to undergo other changes, but the following 

 statements must be accepted with caution : The blood of the splenic vein contains 

 more water and fibrin ; its red blood-corpuscles are smaller, brighter, less flattened, 

 more resistant, and do not form rouleaux ; its haemoglobin crystallises more easily, 

 and there is a larger proportion of O during digestion. 



[It would thus appear that the spleen has a very direct relation 

 to the blood; that coloured blood-corpuscles undergo disintegration, 

 and that colourless corpuscles are manufactured within it.] 



(4.) Contraction. In virtue of the plain muscular fibres in its 

 capsule and trabeculse, the spleen undergoes variations in its volume 

 (Kolliker). Stimulation of the spleen (Rud. Wagner, 1849) or its 

 nerves, by cold, electricity, quinine, eucalyptus, ergot of rye, and other 

 " splenic reagents " (Hosier) causes it to contract, whereby it becomes 

 paler, and its surface may even appear granular. After a meal, 

 the spleen increases in size, and it is usually largest about five 

 hours after digestion has begun i.e., at a time when the digestive 

 organs have almost finished their work, and have again become less 

 vascular. After a time it regains its original volume. For this reason 

 the spleen was formerly regarded as an apparatus for regulating the 

 amount of blood in the digestive organs. 



[The congestion of the spleen after a meal is more probably related 

 to the formation of new colourless corpuscles than to the destruction of 

 red corpuscles. It may be, however, that some of the products of 



