Par exemple. — By the way. Literally : For example

It lias, hnwever, a great variety of meanings.

303. Aux courses ! aux courses ! — A race ! a race ! See note 198.

301. Vous êtes donc dératé. — So, you hâve had your spleen extracted.

As the grandfather does not explain, though he corrects this notion of Margaret's, we Tenture to oifer the following as the origin of the vulgar opinion, which is probably as old as Pliny, who says that the extirpation of this organ was practised on runners, to render them more swift.

Kings, in early times, used to hâve attendants to run by the side of their carriages. Making running a profession, thèse men acquired an astonishing celerity, which naturally excited the wonder of the common people, who would as naturally seek to account for it.

The function of the spleen has always been a matter of doubt, though it is now thought to be determined. In the uncertainty which has existed on this point, it has even been suggested that its purpose in the human economy was simply to fill a cavity which would otherwise exist in the body.*

This organ, then, being deemed superfluous, it was natural to suppose that its removal would not otherwise affëct the individual upon whom the opération was performed than to render his body lighter, and therefore better fitted for running.

It may not be irrelevant to add, as the grandfather subsequentjy affirms that the opération alluded to would cause certain death, that there are several cases on record where the removal of the spleen from the human system has been attended with no serious results, and that it has often been removed from animais without apparent injury to them.