DIRECT PASSAGE FROM THE STOMACH TO THE BLOOD. jr^^ 



in the cellular membrane of the posterior mediastinum. 

 Above the ruptured part the thoracic duct was entire, much 

 distended with chyle; and on tracing it upvvards, the termi- 

 nation of the duct in tl)e vein was found to be completely 

 secured by the ligature. The lacteal and lymphatic vessels 

 had given way in several parts of the abdomen, and chyle 

 and lymph were extravasated underneath the peritoneum. 



In this and the following experiments the infusion of rhu- Infusion of 

 barb was employed in preference to the prussiate of potash, "j^'"*'" 

 in consequence of its having been found in those I formerly semiWe test, 

 made, that one drop of tincture of rhubarb could be de- 

 tected in half an ounce of serum, and nothing less than a 

 quarter of a grain of prussiate of potash in the same quan- 

 tity could be made to strike a blue colour when the test was 

 added. 



JExp. 2. The experiment was repeated upon a dog. In Exp. 2, ^n a 

 this I was assisted by Mr. Brodie, Mr. William Brande, Mr. '^"^S* 

 Clift, and Mr. Gatcombe. After the thoracic duct hadbeea 

 secured, two ounces of strong infusion of rhubavb were in- 

 jected into the stomach, and in an hour the dog was killed. 

 The urine in the bladder, on the addition of potash, became 

 deeply tinged with rhubarb. The bile in the gall bladder, 

 by a similar test, was found to contain rhubarb. The lacteal 

 ressels in several parts of the mesentery had burst, and 

 chyle was extravasated into the cellular membrane; the tho- 

 facic duct had given way in the lower part of the posterior 

 mediastinum, and chyle was extravasated. Above the rup- 

 tured part the thoracic duct was much distended with chyle; 

 it was readily traced to the ligature, by which it was com- 

 pletely secured. 



These experiments appeared to establish the fact, that the The thorack 



thoracic duct was not the channel through which the infu- '^"^^ "'^^^^^ 



" passage, 



sion of rhubarb was conveyed to the circulation of the blood, 

 and it now became easy to ascertain, whether it passed through 

 the spleen, by extirpating that organ, and repeating the last 

 experiment. 



On the 21st of October, 1810, the following experiment 

 was made with the assistance of Mr- Brodie, Mr. Glift, Mr. 

 Gatcombe, and Mr, Money. 



i?xp. 3. 



