Gastric and Intesthml Mucous Membranes. 393 



that he seems everywhere to confound the true epidermis with 

 the villous coat of these parts.* 



" Since Haller, many able anatomists, particularly M . Doe- 

 linger, have seen the epidermis of the stomach and intestines ; 

 and M. Doelinger has made the following very just remark : — 

 That the villosities of the intestine are enveloped by this 

 epidermis, as the fingers of the hand are by the fingers of a 

 glove .+ 



" Of all the anatomists whom I have just cited, Lieber- 

 kuhn is the first who has fully recognised the epidermis of the 

 gastric and intestinal mucous membranes. He is, farther, the 

 first who, in order to detach this epidermis from the villous 

 coat, has proceeded in a regular mamier : that is, by a skilfully 

 conducted maceration. 



" It is also by the aid of a skilfully conducted maceration, 

 and conducted, too, with precautions not observed by Lie- 

 berkuhn, that I have succeeded in detaching the epidermis of 

 the stomach and intestines ; and in detaching it, not by frag- 

 ments and shreds, nor by a sort of good fortune and chance ; but 

 by entire and continuous laminae, in a sure and steady manner. 



" I have the honour of placing before the Academy, two por- 

 tions of the small intestine, which present, in their whole extent, 

 the epidermis of the villous coat, everywhere distinct and de- 

 tached from this coat. 



" This epidermis forms a fine, transparent, continuous mem- 

 brane. The external surface is rough, with small projections; 

 the internal surface presents a multitude of small depressions. 

 These external projections and internal depressions, mark the 

 points of the epidermis which correspond to the papillae of the 

 dermis, and which serve as sheaths to their papillae. 



" But it is not only an epidermis, a proper and continuous 

 membrane, which is seen on the two pieces now placed before 

 the Academy. You see also, and particularly on the piece 

 No. 3, a true mucous body, interposed between the papillae of 

 the dermis and the epidermis, a little thicker than the epider- 

 mis, and forming the first sheath of the papilhe of the dermis, 

 whose epidermis forms only the second. 



• Haller, Ekm. PItyg. t. vii. j). 22. 

 t Doelinger De wtu »au(j*<feri», ^c. 



