An inquiry into the nature and causes of epilepsy : with the function of the spleen; and the use of the thyroid body ... / John Jackson.

  • Jackson, John, -1855.
Date:
1842
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An inquiry into the nature and causes of epilepsy : with the function of the spleen; and the use of the thyroid body ... / John Jackson. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    ment au sang presse par la rate d’y penetrer. La rate doit d’autant plus facilement expulser le sang qu’elle contient, que non-seulement elle est tres elastique, et tend ainsi physiquement a revenir sur elle-meme, mais qu’en outre elle est douee d’une force contractile d’une genre particulier, et qui se met en evidence sous 1’influence de certaines sub- stances, la noix vomique, par exemple.” From the preceding quotation it appears that Magendie was of opinion, that the spleen, by its elasticity and peculiar contractile power, assists in propelling the blood along the trunk and branches of the portal vein; but he would not have confined himself to this single observation had he been aware of the importance of his opinion, and had he not supposed that this was merely a subordinate, and not its chief, use ; indeed the expression “les fonctions” is sufficient to prove that he did not regard the spleen as an assistant circulatory organ, simply. The little importance which has been attached by others to this remark of Magendie’s is shewn by the fact that it is passed over unnoticed in all the sub- sequent systematic treatises on physiology. The resemblance of the spleen in “ texture and phenomena to the erectile organs is ceitainh ie- markable; but it has a stronger and more important resemblance to another organ, namely, the I la- centa, in structure, in properties, and also, as will be attempted to be proved, in function, and in dis- ease, which it is singular should have hitherto es- caped observation. Take a spleen in one hand, and