232 PROFESSOR TURNER'S ACCOUNT OF THE GREAT FINNER WHALE 



character of the tube visible externally was an index of important internal 

 arrangements. Numerous branches, into which an injection was readily thrown, 

 arose from the moniliform tube, and passed directly into the subserous coat of 

 the gut. They were about the size, at their origin, of the human brachial artery, 

 and ran straight and parallel to each other for some distance, giving off but 

 few branches ; then they altered their direction, and formed, by anastomosing, a 

 series of arches from which numerous branches arose, which ran towards the 

 free margin of the intestine, again to anastomose, and give rise to still smaller 

 branches, which penetrated the muscular and mucous coats of the gut. 



In connection with the exterior of some of the dilatations of the moniliform 

 tube a peculiar structure was dissected. It consisted of a number of closely 

 crowded lacunae, varying in size from a pea to a walnut (Plate VIII. fig. 34), 

 separated more or less perfectly from each other by septa formed of a delicate 

 smooth membrane, similar to that which also lined the interior of the lacunae. 

 The arrangement to some extent corresponded with that of a multilocular cyst, 

 the loculi of which communicated with each other. In one spot a distinct tube, 

 the size of the stem of a common tobacco pipe, was seen to open into a group of 

 these lacunae. In some places, more or less elongated, and sometimes ovoid, bodies 

 of a dark brown colour, were situated immediately beneath the delicate semi- 

 transparent lining membrane. These bodies had the appearance of lymphatic 

 glands, and this view of their structure was confirmed by a microscopic examina • 

 tion, for, notwithstanding that the specimen had been for sometime in spirits 

 of wine, distinct, pale, circular, lymphoid corpuscles were seen to enter in large 

 numbers into the structure of these bodies. I did not succeed in tracing out 

 any connection between this lacunary system and the wall of the intestine, 

 though it is possible that the small tube, just referred to, may have proceeded 

 from or to the wall of the gut. 



It was unfortunate that in the portions of intestine, with the moniliform 

 tube attached, which were sent over to the Anatomical Museum for examination, 

 none of the expanded part of the mesentery had been preserved. I was con- 

 sequently unable to trace the branches which proceeded from the proximal 

 surface of this tube to their origin. I have little doubt, however, but that they 

 were derived from the mesenteric artery. 



In the foetus the intestine was, as a rule, so softened by putrefaction that it 

 could not be preserved. One or two coils were, however, somewhat more per- 

 fect, and after being hardened in strong spirits of wine, I was enabled to effect a 

 partial examination. 



The mesenteric artery did not possess that complete series of arterial 

 arcades, which we are familiar with in man. It branched comparatively seldom, 

 and its branches ran towards the border of the intestine. Those which arose 

 nearest the gut did not enter directly the intestinal wall, but passed to an 



