Some observations on the structure of the mesenteric glands in the balaenoptera rostrata / [John Reid].

  • John Reid
Date:
[1835]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Some observations on the structure of the mesenteric glands in the balaenoptera rostrata / [John Reid]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    pea. They varied in number from two to more than a dozen. In all the cases in which I have examined them, they seemed to be placed loose in dilatations of the veins, allowing suffi¬ cient space for the blood to pass between them and the coats of the vein. Some of these veins were of very small size in the undilated portions, and required a careful examination to be convinced that they were placed in veins ; while others were of sufficient size, as to render this apparent almost atthefirst glance. The subjects in which I found them were all advanced beyond the middle period of life. Beclard and Cloquet describe them as being most frequently inclosed in layers of fibrinous matter or coagulated blood ; but in all, except in the present case, I have found them without any covering whatever, and in nearly all of them of a bony hard¬ ness throughout. In the preparation before you a very large one may be ob¬ served with a clot of blood. Several smaller ones were also ob¬ served enveloped in coagulated blood. The spermatic veins in this case, in the branches of which these were deposited, were much enlarged. According to Cloquet and Beclard, they have been also found in the haemorrhoidal veins, in the spermatic veins of the male, in the saphenae veins, and twice in the vena cava inferior. In one of the cases described and delineated by Cloquet, he states, that the smaller ones were formed of a little soft clot of blood ; that those of a larger size contained in the centre a nucleus of white fibrinous matter ; that the largest had in their centre an osseous-looking nucleus, upon which the white fibrinous matter was arranged in concentric layers, the internal very hard, the others becoming gradually softer as they approached the surface. He also gives a drawing of a round fibrinous mass taken from the vena cava iiiferior, containing an ossific-looking matter in the centre, from which a number of rays of the same substance passed through the fibrinous matter towards the circumference. Another specimen similar to this was seen by Cloquet in Soem¬ mering’s museum, and was said to have been taken from the vena cava inferior of a child. I am not aware that the chemical composition of these bodies has been accurately ascertained. Cloquet speaks of them as composed of phosphate of lime, but he does not state that they were analyzed. Mr Kemp had the kindness to analyze two of them taken from different subjects. He has not yet been able to obtain accurate results; but he states, that he is certain that both were principally composed of phosphate of lime, of carbo¬ nate of lime, and of animal matter, and that it appeared to him that these earthy salts and animal matter were nearly in the pro-
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