Sect. XXIX. 2. 3. ABSORBENTS, 241 



I was induced to repeat this experiment* and having accurate- 

 ly tied the ureters and neck of a freih o^:'s bladder, I made an 

 opening at the fundus of it ; and then, having turned it infide 

 outwards, filled it half full with water, and was furprifed to fee 

 it empty itfelf fo haftily. I thought the experiment more ap- 

 pofite to my purpofe by fufpending the bladder with its neck 

 downwards, as the lymphatics are chiefly fpread upon this part 

 of it, as fhewn by Dr. Watfon, Philof. Tranf. v. 59. p. -392. 



3. In fome difeafes, as in the diabetes, and fcrofula, it is prob- 

 able the valves themfelves are difeafed, and are thence incapable 

 of preventing the return of the fluids they fhould fupport. Thus 

 the valves of the aorta itfelf have frequently been found fcirrhous, 

 according to the difiecTions of Monf. Lieutaud, and have given 

 rife to an interrupted pulfe, and laborious palpitations, by fufFer- 

 ing a return of part of the blood into the 1 heart. Nor are any 

 parts of the body {0 liable to fcivrhofity as the lymphatic glands 

 and vefTels, infomuch that their fcirrhofities have acquired a dif- 

 tincT name, and been termed fcrofula. 



4. There are valves in other parts of the body, analogous to 

 thofe of the abforbent fyftem, and which are liable, when difeaf- 

 ed, fo regurgitate their contents : thus the upper and lower orifi- 

 ces of the ftomach are clofed by valves, which, when too great 

 quantities of warm water have been drunk with a defign to pro- 

 mote vomiting, have fometimes refilled the utmofl efforts of the 

 abdominal mufcles, and diaphragm : yet, at other times, the up- 

 per valve, or cardia, eafdy permits the evacuation of the contents 

 of the ftomach *, whilft the inferior valve, or pylorus, permits the 



; bile, and other contents of the duodenum, to regurgitate into 

 the ftomach. 



5. The valve of the colon is well adapted to prevent the re~ 

 trograde motion of the excrements •, yet, as this valve is poflefT- 

 ed of a living power, in the iliac paiiion, either from fpafm, or 

 other unnatural exertions, it keeps itfelf open, and either fufTers 

 or promotes the retrograde movements of the contents of the 

 interlines below ; as in ruminating animals the mouth of the 

 firfl ftomach feems to be fo eonftruCted, as to facilitate or aiLit 

 the regurgitation of the food ; the rings of the cefophagus after- 

 wards contracting themfelves in inverted order. De Hacn, by 

 means of a fvringe, forced fo much water into the recVum intei- 

 tinum of a dog, that he vomited it in a fall dream from Ins 

 mouth 5 and in the iliac paffion above mentioned, excrements 

 and clyfter are often evacuated by the mouth, See Section 

 XXV. 15. 



6. The puncla lacrymalia, with the laerymal fack and nafal 

 duel, compote a complete gland, and much refemble the in) 



v r °L- li H tina! 



