Page:Philosophical Transactions - Volume 002.djvu/109

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been validated.

(507)

and with his fingers to break the Receptacle; and sometimes on the left side the Ductus Thoracicus, a little under the Subclaviar; whereby it hath come to pass, that Dogs, well fed all the while, have thrown out all the Chyle into the opened part of the Thorax, and, though plentifully fed, were starved within three daies: there appearing mean time in the Veins opened a crass blond, destitute of Serum, but not any mixture of transmitted Chyle.

Having rejected the Lacteous and Lymphatick vessels from this office, he declareth, that we must rest in the Ancient Doctrine, which layeth the task of conveighing the Succus nutritius, to the Breasts and Womb, upon the Arteries; unless the Nerves be call'd in for aid, for conveighing some of the Spirtuous Juyce, to be mixed with the Nutritious, to give life and vigour; And having proved this, he takes notice of the Anastomoses, remarkable in the womb of pregnant Creatures; and subjoyns a discussion of the way how the Alimental Juyce is in the womb severed from the mass of the bloud: whether by meer Percolation, or by some Ferment, working upon the Bloud, and thence precipitating what is proper for the use of that part.

In the Second Chapter he treats of the Placenta's and Glandules, and shews, How many waies the Juyce is derived from the Womb to the Fœtus: First, simply from the Membrane of the Uterus to the Membrane of the Fœtus, as in all Oviparous Creatures; and among Viviparous, in a Sow all the time of her bearing; in a Mare, for half the time; and in a Woman, the first month only. Secondly, by a Mass of flesh, filtring the Juyce; as in all Cake-bearing (called by the Latines, Placentifera) and in all Kernel-bearing (called Glandulifera) or Ruminating Animals. Where he giveth a particular account of the double Placenta or Cake, to be found in Rabbets, Hares, Mice, Moles, &c. and examines the learned Dr. Whartons Doctrine, assigning a double Placenta to at least all Viviparous Animals, so as one half of it belongs to the Uterus, the other to the Chorion: shewing how far this is true, and declaring the variety of these Phænomena, together with a very ingenious assignation of the Cause of that variety. Where do occur many uncommon Observations concerning the difference of Milk in ruminating and other Animals; the various degrees of thickness of the Uterin liquor in Oviparous and Viviparous creatures; the property of the humour, turning into Eggs, with a hint of the cause of their being excluded, and not quickned and formed within; as also, of the cause of Moles in the womb, and of many kernelly and fleshy substan-

E e e 2
ces