" They then rather descend to the third and fourth ribs to enter another set of absorbent glands, which are placed between the third and fourth ribs and second and third intercostal spaces, and they then ascend to the second rib.
" Here they form a large and elaborate plexus upon the axillary vein, from one to two inches below the clavicle, and reaching the first rib they again enter absorbent glands.
" From these glands, situated upon the first rib, an absorbent trunk is formed, of the size of a large crow-quill, which is placed close to the inner side of the axillary vein and between the first rib and the clavicle, and this absorbent trunk terminates at the angle formed between the right jugular and right subclavian vein, where the absorbents of the right arm and those of the right side of the neck also end in the veins.
" There is an opening formed for this vessel under the costo•clavicular ligament with a distinct margin on each side.
" The place of termination of the absorbents in the vein is a little above and behind a line drawn from the middle of the clavicle above the first rib.
" On the left side the absorbents of the breast form a similar absorbent trunk, which terminates at the angle of the left jugular and subclavian veins, at which angle the thoracic duct also ends.
" Besides this course of the absorbents from the breast and through the axilla there are other absorbent vessels which pass behind the axillary vein, artery, and axillary plexus of nerves to join the absorbents of the arm. They also pass through several absorbent glands, and ascending before the axillary plexus of nerves, they mount behind the clavicle and before the axillary bloodvessels, to terminate on each side at the angle of the jugular and subclavian veins.
" Thus there are two courses of the absorbents froth the breast through the axilla; one internal to the bloodvessels and between them and the ribs ; the other, which is more external, joins the absorbents of the arm, and passing behind the vessels and nerves of the arm, then crosses the nerves and the axillary artery to enter the angle of the jugular and subclavian veins.
" If, therefore, the absorbent glands in the axilla are obstructed by disease of the breast, other absorbent vessels carry their fluid into the absorbents from the arm, and when their glands are obstructed other absorbent or lymphatic vessels are found to pass behind the scapula from the axilla to enter the cervical glands above and behind the clavicle.
" The absorbents of the sternal side of the nipple principally take two courses.
"The first accompany the vein and the artery to the second intercostal space between the second and third cartilages of the ribs, and penetrating the intercostal muscles, they pass to the anterior mediastinum, where they accom pany the internal mammary artery and vein, and enter some absorbent glands.
" A set of absorbent vessels from the sternal side of the breast, placed lower down, enter the intercostal muscles between the fourth and fifth cartilages of the ribs, and join the former in the anterior mediastinum.
" After entering the anterior mediastinum a part of those which pass from the right breast join some vessels from the convex surface of the liver, and are continued into the angle of the right jugular and subclavian veins, whilst those absorbents of the left breast which enter the anterior mediastinum pass to the angle of the left jugular and subclavian veins.
"The deep-seated absorbent vessels which can be best injected from the ducts and milk eel lules whilst the breast is in a state of lactation, arise from the mucous membrane of the lacti ferous tubes and milk-cells, and form a plexus of great beauty in the interior of the gland.
" These numerous absorbents, as seen in the preparation, unite into two principal vessels, which pass into the axilla, and there enter the same absorbent glands as those which receive the superficial absorbents.
" Those on the sternal side of the nipple pass into the anterior mediastinum, though some of them turn round above the nipple and enter the axillary glands.
" The deep-seated absorbents, many of them, join the superficial upon the convex or cuta neous surface of the breast, and after passing through the glands in the axilla terminate with them at the angle of the jugular and subclavian veins.