14(2 Mr. Home’s further Experiments , See. 
the spleen have not been discovered ; but if it is proved that 
the colouring matter of the contents of the stomach, is met 
with in greater quantity in the spleen and in the vein which 
goes from that organ to the liver, than in the other veins of 
the body, there appears to be no other mode in which it can 
arrive there, but by means of such vessels ; and the two diffe- 
rent states of the spleen, which correspond with the quantities 
of liquids that pass from the stomach, are strongly in favour 
of the existence of such a channel. 
This communication between the cardiac portion of the sto- 
mach, and the spleen, will explain the circumstance of those 
who are in the habit of drinking spirituous liquors having the 
spleen and liver so frequently diseased, and the diseases of 
both organs being of the same kind. 
This organ is not essential to life, its office being of a se- 
condary kind ; but when it is materially diseased, or entirely 
removed, digestion must be disturbed. The extent to which 
this takes place, cannot be accurately known from experi- 
ments on quadrupeds, and the instances in which the human 
spleen has been removed have not been attended to with 
sufficient accuracy to afford an explanation of the effects that 
were produced on the stomach. 
From the Press of 
W. BULMER er Co. 
Cleveland- Row, St. James’s . 
