ABDOMINAL VISCERA OF THE HORSE. 25 
being comprehended under the same term, “ lymphatic/' because 
both absorb the fluid known as lymph. But since the lymph¬ 
atics of the small intestine additionally contribute to the 
function of chyliferous absorption, they have been distinguished 
as lacteals, in conformity with the colour of the fluid which they 
take up during the digestive process. 
The lacteals of the small, and lymphatics of the large intes¬ 
tine, enter a set of lymphatic glands, by no means numerous, 
and of small size, situated along the attached border of the gut. 
From these the lacteals ascend to about twenty-five or thirty 
lymphatic glands of larger size than the others, situated at a 
short distance from the spine, between the folds of the mesen¬ 
tery, from which the lymph is then conducted into the recep- 
taculum chyli. From the large intestine the lymphatics enter, 
in addition to the intestinal set of glands, others situated in the 
lumbar region, partly between the folds of the meso-colon and 
meso-rectum, from which the lymph is carried into the common 
reservoir. 
The receptaculum chyli receives the fluid from the lymphatic 
vessels of all the abdominal viscera, as well as from other 
parts. It is a membranous pouch of various caliber, lying in 
contact with the right crus of the diaphragm, and right psoas 
muscle, corresponding in situation to the second and third 
lumbar vertebrae. It gradually constricts anteriorly, and, cross¬ 
ing the aorta to get on its left side, enters the thorax, and here 
becomes known as the thoracic duct, which empties itself into 
the right axillary vein. 
Spleen* 
The spleen, although, possibly, not bearing any physiological 
connexion with the digestive process, still, from its anatomical 
relations, conveniently admits of description here. It is a sin¬ 
gularly elastic organ, of a purplish grey colour; smooth on its 
outer surface, and composed of a spongy texture, enclosed in 
fibrous tissue. The colour of the spleen is generally darker in 
herbivora than in carnivorous quadrupeds, as in the latter it is 
more of a red colour. 
It is situated in the left hypochondrium, and partly in the 
epigastrium, being attached by its outer tunic to the stomach, 
left kidney, and transverse colon. 
It is scythe-shaped, being small and pointed anteriorly, but 
broad posteriorly. It is smooth, and somewhat convex on its in¬ 
ferior surface, whilst its superior one is divided into two unequal 
halves, b}' a fissure termed the hilum. The anterior division is 
narrow, but the posterior one is broad and triangular in shape. 
VOL. XXV. E 
