The external surface of the liver, P, lies in contact with the diaphragm, N, the costal cartilages, M, and the upper and lateral parts of the abdominal parietes; and when the liver becomes the seat of abscess, this, according to its situation, will point and burst either into the thorax above, or through the side between or beneath the false ribs, M. The hepatic abscess has been known to discharge itself through the stomach, the duodenum, T, and the transverse colon, facts which are readily explained on seeing the close relationship which these parts hold to the under surface of the liver. When the liver is inflamed, we account for the gastric irritation, either from the inflammation having extended to the neighbouring stomach, or by this latter organ being affected by "reflex action." The hepatic cough is caused by the like phenomena disturbing the diaphragm, N, with which the liver, P, lies in close contact. When large biliary concretions form in S, the gallbladder, or in the hepatic duct, Nature, failing in her efforts to discharge them through the common bile-duct, into the duodenum, T, sets up inflammation and ulcerative absorption, by aid of which processes they make a passage for themselves through some adjacent part of the intestine, either the duodenum or the transverse colon. In these processes the gall-bladder, which contains the calculus, becomes soldered by effused lymph to the neighbouring part of the intestinal tube, into which the stone is to be discharged, and thus its escape into the peritoneal sac is prevented. When the hepatic abscess points externally towards M, the like process isolates the matter from the cavities of the chest and abdomen. In wounds of any part of the intestine, whether of X, the caecum, W, the sigmoid flexure of the colon, or Z, the small bowel, if sufficient time be allowed for Nature to establish the adhesive inflammation, she does so, and thus fortifies the peritoneal sac against an escape of the intestinal matter into it by soldering the orifice of the wounded intestine to the external opening. In this mode is formed the artificial anus. The surgeon on principle aids Nature in attaining this result. DESCRIPTION OF PLATE 24. A. The thyroid body. B. The trachea. C C*. The first ribs. D D*. The clavicles, cut at their middle. E. Humeral part of the great pectoral muscle, cut. F. The coracoid process of the scapula. G. The arch of the aorta. G*. Descending aorta in the thorax. H. Right bronchus. H*. Left bronchus. I. Oesophagus. K. Vena azygos receiving the intercostal veins. L. Thoracic duct. M M*. Seventh ribs. N N. The diaphragm, in section. O. The cardiac orifice of the stomach. P. The liver, in section, showing the patent orifices of the hepatic veins. Q. The coeliac axis sending off branches to the liver, stomach, and spleen. The stomach has been removed, to show the looping anastomosis of these vessels around the superior and inferior borders of the stomach.