After Mrs. Hemans
The Thyroid Gland
“WE hear thee speak of the thyroid gland,
But what thou say’st we don’t understand;
Professor, where does the acinus dwell?
We hashed our dissection and can’t quite tell.
Is it where the mascula lutea flows,
And the suprachordial tissue grows?”
“Not there, not there, my class!”
“Is it far away where the bronchi part
And the pneumogastric controls the heart?
Where endothelium encardium lines,
And a subpericardial nerve intertwines?
Where the subpleural plexus of lymphatics expand?
Is it there, Professor, that gruesome gland?”
“Not there, not there, my class!”
“I have not seen it, my gentle youths,
My myxoedemia, I’m told, it soothes.
Landois says stolidly ‘functions unknown;’
Foster adopts an enquiring tone.
Duct does not lead to its strange recess,
Far below the vertex, above the pes,
It is there, I am told, my class!”
R. M.