404 THE SOLIDS. 



and mostly simple ; those of the oesophagus are small, find not 

 unfrequently divided into branches near their extremities ; 

 the follicles of the vagina resemble somewhat those of the 

 oesophagus, but are much more branched, very many of the 

 follicles terminating in several offsets, and becoming in fact 

 perfect multilocular glands : the follicles of the Schneiderian 

 membrane are the largest hitherto noticed, and appear to be 

 simple inversions of the membrane. 



It has been stated that the mucous membrane of the uterus 

 and Fallopian tubes is simple, in which respect there is a 

 difference between the observations of the author and those 

 of Mr. Bowman. Considerable pains have, however, been 

 taken to arrive at the truth ; and it is conceived that the 

 mucous membrane of the parts cited affords one of the best 

 examples which could be given of a simple and delicate mucous 

 membrane. The membrane covering the lips of the uterus 

 and lining the orifice of that organ is, however, like that of 

 the vagina follicular, the follicles in the latter situation being 

 particularly large ; and it is these follicles which yield the 

 thick and tenacious mucus which usually more or less com- 

 pletely plugs up the uterine orifice. 



Mucous glands occur in very many and different localities, 

 in several of which they have received distinct names taken 

 from the parts or situations in which they have been found. 

 Thus we have labial, buccal, tonsillitic, lingual, and tracheal 

 glands : following up a similar kind of nomenclature for these 

 glands, we might add to this list Eustachian, palatine, pha- 

 ryngial, and bronchial glands, also glands of the uvula. 



In the roof of the mouth the mucous glands are very 

 numerous, forming almost one continuous glandular layer, 

 provided with many orifices disposed at tolerably regular dis- 

 tances from each other : they are also numerous in the tonsils, 

 but much less so in the uvula : on the dorsum of the tongue 

 mucous glands occur but very sparingly, and mostly near the 

 root of this organ. 



There are some few situations in which mucous glands 

 have been described as present, in which they would appear 

 to be entirely absent ; as on the margins of the gums, where 



