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<rdf:Description rdf:about="https://catalogues.royalsociety.org:443/CalmView/record/catalog/AP/26/4" xmlns:rdf="http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns#" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/">
  <dc:title>Unpublished paper, 'On the general and minute structure of the spleen in man and other animals' by William Julian Evans</dc:title>
  <dc:description>Evans details the results of his investigations on the structure of the spleen. According to his analysis, the following are the component parts of this organ: first, a reticulated fibro-elastic tissue; secondly, a pulpy parenchyma, containing the Malpighian glands and the splenic corpuscles; thirdly, distinct cellular bodies; fourthly, the usual apparatus of arteries veins, lymphatics and nerves; fifthly, certain fluids; and lastly, the membranes or tunics by which it is invested. He describes the cells of the spleen as being formed of a lining membrane, continued from that of the splenic vein, and strengthened by filaments of the fibro-elastic tissue. The splenic vein communicates with these cells, at first by round foramina, then by extensive slits resembling lacerations; and it ultimately loses itself entirely in the cells. The cells themselves communicate freely with one another, and also with the veins of the parenchyma; and may therefore be considered as in some measure continuations of the veins, This structure constitutes a multilocular reservoir of great extensibility, and possessing great elastic contractility ; properties, however, which exist in a much less degree in the human spleen than in that of herbivorous animals; in which animals the cellated structure itself is much more conspicuous, and predominates over the parenchymatous portion. 

Annotations in pencil throughout. Marked on back as 'Archives 1 June 1843 S H C [Samuel Hunter Christie]'.

Subject: Anatomy / Physiology

Received 2 March 1843. Communicated by P M Roget.

Whilst the Royal Society declined to publish this paper in full, an abstract of the paper was published in volume 4 of Abstracts of the Papers Printed in the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London [later Proceedings of the Royal Society] as 'On the general and minute structure of the spleen in man and other animals'.</dc:description>
  <dc:date>February 1843</dc:date>
</rdf:Description>