Page:Reflections upon ancient and modern learning (IA b3032449x).pdf/269

 lage of the Joints, which lubricates them, and the Muscles, in their Motions. The Discovery of the Lympha, which was made about Forty Years ago, is contended for by several Persons. Thomas Bartholine, a Dane, and Olaus Rudbeck, a Suede, published their Observations about the same Time: And Dr. Jolliffe, an English-Man, shewed the same to several of his Friends, but without publishing any Thing concerning them. The Discoveries being undoubted, and all Three working upon the same Materials, there seems no Reason to deny any of them the Glory of their Inventions. The Thing which they found was, that there are innumerable small, clear Vessels in many Parts of the Body, chiefly in the Lower Belly, which convey a Colourless Juice, either into the common Receptacle of the Chyle, or else into the Veins, there to mix with the Blood. The Valves which Frederic Ruysch found and demonstrated in them, about the same Time, manifestly shewed, that this is its Road; because they prove, that the Lympha can go forwards from the Liver, Spleen, Lungs, Glands of the Loins and Neck, or any other Place, whence they arise, towards some Chyliferous Duct, or Vein; but cannot go back from those Chyliferous