OF THE ABSORBENT VESSELS. 



263 



contended for from the effects of particular injections, 

 nutrient, inebriating, &c. and also from the circumstance 

 that the faeces, if retained for any length of time, 

 become hard and dry. Although these arguments do 

 not demonstrate the absorption of genuine chyle below 

 the valve of Fallopius, nevertheless it is rendered pro- 

 bable by the visible existence of an abundance of 

 lymphatics, in the large intestines,* having the same 

 structure and function with the lacteals ; for these 

 absorb lymph from the intestines,f during the absence 

 of chyle. 



But the very different structure of the internal coat 

 of the large intestines from that of the villous coat of 

 the small, strongly argues that they are not naturally 

 intended to absorb chyle. 



427. There is another question more important and 

 difficult of solution, whether all the chyle absorbed 

 from the small intestines passes through the thoracic 

 duct, or whether some enters the blood by more secret 

 passages ? 



The latter opinion rests upon very unstable argu- 

 ments. Thus the assertion of Ruysch, that the me- 

 senteric glands become, in advanced life, indurated 

 and unfit for continuing their functions, was long since 

 disproved ; and affections of these glands, swellings, &c. 

 are improperly called obstructions, :t as the glands 

 remain pervious, readily allowing a passage to quick- 

 silver. The well-known phenomenon of tepid water, 



* Mascagni, Tab. xvi. 



t Sec Nuck, DC inventis novis ep. stnatomica. p. 146 sq. 

 J v. J. Rczia, Sjiccim. Observat. jiuatomicar, et Pathologic^. Tyifl 

 Cvo. p. 18 



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