106 THE FUNCTION 



the spleen, rapidly diminishes, and subdivides into twigs, which 

 cannot be traced, and appear to be distributed on the sides of the 

 cells. The cellular structure of the spleen enables us to inflate 

 it by the veins. Winslow, a century since, did this ; and when in- 

 flated, it has a great resemblance to the lungs with large cells of 

 certain reptiles. 



The spleen of brutes has been removed, from the most remote 

 period, without effect. 8 



At least twenty hypotheses respecting the use of the spleen 

 have been advanced. In some, it has been regarded as a diverti- 

 culum to the blood. h 



Above a century ago, Dr. Stukely *, considering the spleen to 

 consist entirely of complications and inosculations of arteries, 

 veins and cells, nerves, and (as Malpighi asserted) " a muscular 

 net-work of fibrillae," supposed that it contracted and propelled 

 its blood through the splenic vessels into those of the stomach, 

 when this organ required a larger supply during digestion. 

 He maintained, likewise, that it accelerated the motion of the 

 blood in the mesenteric veins when the circulation in the vena 

 porta3 was sluggish, and that it answered various other purposes. 

 The whole is an hypothesis now forgotten. 



Some have thought it a diverticulum for the blood whenever 

 this fluid is obstructed in any part of the body, as in the cold 

 stage of fever, great efforts, &c. To prevent too much from being 

 thrown upon organs which might be injured, the spleen, they con- 

 tend, is formed to allow an accumulation in its substance. This 

 is ingeniously defended by Dr. Rush. k 



Dr. Haighton (Lectures at Guy's Hospital), and Mr. Saumarez 

 (Neiv System of Physiology), have explained its operations as a 

 diverticulum in a very different manner. When the stomach is 

 full, the compression experienced by the spleen impedes its cir- 

 culation, and the blood makes its way the more copiously into the 

 arteries of the stomach, liver, &c. But we have no proof that 

 the repletion of the stomach compresses the spleen materially, 



e " J. H. Schulze, De splene canibusexciso. Hal. 1735. 4to." 



h " Vine. Malacarne, Memorie detta Soc. Itatiana, t. viii. P. 1. p. 233. 

 A. Moreschi, Del vero eprimario uso detta milza. Milan, 1803. 8vo." 



1 Of the Spleen, its description and history, uses and diseases, particularly the 

 vapors, with their remedy. Being a lecture read at the Royal College of Physicians. 

 By Wm. Stukely, M.D. C.M.L. and S.R.S. London, 1722. folio. 



k Cox's Medical Museum, Philad. 18O7. 



