The anatomy of the absorbing vessels of the human body / by William Cruikshank.

  • Cruickshank, William, 1745-1800.
Date:
1790
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The anatomy of the absorbing vessels of the human body / by William Cruikshank. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by University of Bristol Library. The original may be consulted at University of Bristol Library.

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    ample, arises in the back, between the scapulae, soon after the glands behind, the mamillary processes of the temporal bones, swell and become tender, shewing, that the absorbents of this part of the skin, run upwards, to some distance from their origin, and that they pass through these glands. In pulmonary consumption I have frequently applied a plaister made of powdered gum ammoniac dissolved in vinegar of squills, to the skin, over the sternum. This plaister ulcerates the skin, and every now and then in- the absorbents and their glands: in this way I learned that the absorbents of this part of the skin went partly into the axillae, partly under the clavi- cles, and partly with the jugular veins, for the glands in all these places swelled, and became tender. The same plaister applied to the integuments of the abdomen, or those of the hypochondriac regions have also occasioned swellings and tenderness in the glands of the groin, pointing out the course of the lymphatics, long before I actually saw them running this way; I have seen the glands of the groin also become swelled and tender from inflamed piles, round the verge of the anus and thence inferred that some of the absorbents of these parts came round the inside of the thighs to the groins, I have not, how- ever, described any of these, excepting such as I have actually injected. CHAP. X. Origin of the Lacteals and Lymphatics. From the several facts already mentioned, it is evident that the lacteals, taking up whatever is thrown into the cavity of the intestines, must arise from their internal surface; that the lymphatics of the lungs, absorbing blood from the air-cells, must have their origin from these cells; as well as that those absorbing bile from the gall-bladder, must have orifices opening into that cavity. That mercury is absorbed from the skin, cannot be doubted; for, when rubbed on the skin, it produces a brassy taste in the mouth, stimulates the salivary