ARTERIES, VEINS. 



joints, and where they must come near the surface. 

 We should be careful about these parts, as many 

 accidents have happened from boys playing care- 

 lessly with penknives. 



When we put our finger upon an artery, it is 

 found to beat, or pulsate ; and if one is pricked, 

 the blood springs from it in jets, and is of a bright 

 florid vermilion colour. 



Arteries, when they have divided into the small- 

 est branches, and reached the extreme parts of the 

 body, end, by inosculating, or meeting mouth to 

 mouth, with the beginnings of veins. These carry 

 the blood back to the heart, as it has become chang- 

 ed in its qualities during its progress through the 

 system, and requires to be renewed. 



The coats of veins are much thinner than those 

 of arteries, and they are provided with valves to 

 assist the blood along them. The blood passes 

 along veins slowly, and is of a dark colour. When 

 one is opened, its contents escape in a quiet stream, 

 and not in jets or leaps, like those of an artery. 

 The blue lines which we see under our skin are 

 veins. These continue to enlarge as they approach 

 the heart, and end in very large vessels, which 

 pour the blood into one of its parts. 



Questions. 



What proof have we that our bodies are full of vessels ? 

 Mention the names of some of these vessels. 

 What are arteries, and what is it they do ? 



