28 
Mr. Abernethy on some Particulars 
had a less portion been taken away, the parts which I am 
about to describe would have been left with the body, for 
they are situated upon the origin of the blood vessels belong- 
ing to the intestines ; and this, perhaps, is the reason why 
they have not been observed before. 
When I threw a red-coloured waxen injection into the me- 
senteric artery, I saw it meandering in the ramifications of 
that vessel ; but at the same time I observed it collecting in 
several separate heaps, about the root of the mesentery, which 
soon increased to the size of eggs. At the time, I imagined 
that the vessels had been ruptured, and that the injection in 
consequence had become extravasated ; but I was conscious 
that no improper degree of force had been used in propelling 
the injection. 
I next threw some yellow injection into the vein, when si- 
milar phsenomena occurred ; the branches of the vein were 
filled, but at the same time the masses of wax near the root 
of the mesentery were increased by a further effusion of the 
injection. These lumps had now acquired a spherical form, 
and some of them were of the size of an orange. 
After the injection had become cold, I cut into the mesen- 
tery, in order to remove these balls of wax ; when I found 
that they were contained in bags, in which I also observed a 
slimy and bloody-coloured fluid. On the inner surface of 
these bags a great number of small arteries and veins termi- 
nated; from the mouths of which the injection had poured 
into their cavities. There were seven of these bags in that 
piece of mesentery which I had to examine ; but I am not able 
to determine what number belonged to the animal; for I do 
not know whether the portion of mesentery that I possessed 
