Magendie on Absorption. 289 
No study is therefore, at the same bene more curious, and 
more important than that of absorptio 
The first step to be taken, after establishing the reality 
of the phenomenon, was to discover the instruments ; ie or in 
other words, which are the organs that exercise the 
ing faculty. {have had the honour to present to she-Acad- 
emy several memoirs on this subjects which have paamre- 
— with approbatio 
lowing g ei ponenpenaces result from my for- 
pes sesearches; 
. The veins are endowed with the eet eet ; 
vessels w 
sorb ae chyle a ble of absorbi 
roe these general facts may he dcdoceden 
ber of secondary facts ; we may here Sean sn for ex- 
ample, why the absorption is slow in some cases, and very 
rapid in others; why certain substances appear to produce 
greater effects when absorbed in certain points than when 
absorbed in others; why certain Serb entirely deprived 
ie boca ors vse such as the eshert b re hl 
UNverin 
some importance ; but the main enagen n was not yet ag agit 
ted; it was not known by what mechanism the shsorption 
was effected. 
The most accredited books contain no satisfactory solu- 
tion on this point; their authors have proceeded as the hu- 
man mind generally does in. most cases where it is in a state 
of com ignorance, 0 
ly important for it to be enlightened. It begins spammer 
beings an aye Denene 
sing certain” d then endows them with the faculu 
npnessary to o procs oo effect observed; and it generally 
that it one its own nme €1 
wen of 
~ ing, of a 
2 3 
