STRUCTURE AND USES OF THE SPLEEV. 377 



state have found invariablj, that the corpuscles of Cuvier, 

 which Avere the glands of Malpighi, are distinct cells, con- 

 taining a fluid, which escapes when the cells are punctured, 

 and renders their membranous coat visible; so that it would 

 appear, that the distension of these cells is connected with 

 the state of the stomach, and therefore only takes place 

 occasionally ; and that the clastic capsule, by which the 

 spleen is surrounded, adapts the organ to these changes ia 

 its volume. 



On examining further into the structure of the spleen, in Farther exami- 

 ^hich I have been materially assisted by Mr, Brodie, the"^'','^°^^ °^ ^**® 

 following facts have been ascertained. 



In the spleen of the bullock, horse, and hog, the cells, Arteries ramify 

 when the arteries and veins are injected with coloured size, ^^^ celi'T^ 

 are seen to have numerous arterial branches ramifying in 

 their coats, but no venal ones, which confirms the state- 

 mcjit of Malpiglii; and when the cells are empty and con- 

 tracted, and the blood-vessels filled to a great degree of mi* 

 nut.mess, the appearance of cells is entirely lost, as stated 

 hy Cavicr; 



When the cells were in a distended state, their cavities in Intermediate 

 a great many instances Avere very distinct, having been laid a^Yeriss? 

 open in making a section of the spleen. The intermediate 

 parts of the spleen are but sparingly supplied with arterial 

 branches, and the smaller ones do not appear to have any 

 particular distribution. 



When the veins only are injected, their branches appear Veins more 



, , . ^1. /? ^1. • • 1 numerous than 



more numerous, and larger than those or the arteries, mak- tke arteries, and 



ing the whole substance of the spleen of a red colour, radiate from the 

 They appear to arise from the outside of the cells, going off 

 at right angles to their circumference, like radii. Where 

 the injection has not been very minute, they are seen to 

 arise at so many points of the capsule ; but where the in- 

 jection has got into smaller branches, their number is so 

 much increased, that they appear to form plexuses round the 

 cells. 



The trunk of the splenic vein, compared with that of the [j^'^"'^*; J*;"/,^ 

 artery, when both are filled with wax, is found to be in the ^^e arterj. 

 proportion of five to one in its size. This was ascertained 

 both by an accurate measurement of their diameters, and 



by 



