LYMPHATIC ABSORBENTS. 
GOT 
larging , or building up the body? If the common labourers, the 
absorbents , act more slowly in conveying the materials to form and 
build up the edifice than the agents, or arteries, and which are those 
which are considered as the active agents, who not only commence 
but complete the building, where are they, if the absorbents act as 
already described, to obtain their materials ? All such questions 
as these will appear in their proper light hereafter ; but, first of 
all, let us endeavour to come to a proper understanding as re¬ 
gards the conjoint nature and f unctions of the real venous and 
absorbent system; and as there are those who contend, that the 
veins are the proper absorbents , while, on the other hand, there 
are others wdio contend only for the lymphatics , let us, I say, out 
of these different opinions, and from what has come under our 
own observations, endeavour to form one clear and indisputable 
system of absorption. If, therefore, it can clearly be shew 7 n that 
our first positions are indisputably true, then our reasoning, if 
properly conducted, will be true also. If, on the other hand, 
they are false, then all our reasoning, if ever so judiciously con¬ 
ducted, will, by some one or other at some distant period, be 
found to be erroneous also. 
[To be continued.] 
EXTRACTS FROM MY CASE-BOOK. 
By Mr. W. Simpson, V. S., Southampton. 
No. III. 
Effects of Digitalis. 
On Monday, June 11th, I attended a horse belonging to a 
gentleman a few miles from Southampton, which exhibited all 
the. usual symptoms of pneumonia : I pursued the ordinary treat¬ 
ment, in the course of which the animal took six doses of fever 
medicine, each containing digitalis 3ss. Great and satisfactory 
improvement was the result, and I fancied I should very soon 
dismiss my patient in a state of convalescence. Upon paying my 
visit, however, on the following Thursday, I was told the horse 
was worse; that he was extremely dull, and quite off his appe¬ 
tite, &c. On proceeding to examine him, I found the legs and 
ears very cold ; skin considerably colder than natural; mucous 
membranes not exhibiting the pink hue of health, nor the scarlet 
colour of inflammation, but a dingy, dirty appearance. These 
were startling and unlooked-for circumstances betokening no 
good ; but, on the other hand, I found the breathing was not in 
