I2fl On the Organs of Alsorption^ 



in considerable proportion in the milky juice of the Ascle- 

 pias Fincetoxmim. 



Several SLiininers ago, on breaking off a leaf from this 

 plant, 1 remarked the exudation of a large drop of milky 

 fluid; and being desirous of tastinc, it, with a view to ascer- 

 tain whether it possessed the narcotic flavour of poppy, or 

 lettuce, or the acrimony of Eupiiorbium, I found that it 

 left in the mouth n tasteless and very elastic substance. 

 On rubbing a drop •>' the milk also between the fingers, as 

 the aqueous part became dissipated, the substance in ques- 

 tion adhered strongly to them, and was capable of being 

 drawn out into long and very elastic threads. I collected 

 about two drachms of thisjuice in a phial. On immersing 

 the bottle containing it in hot water, the n)ilk had its 

 fluidity increased, but no separation of ils parts took place. 

 When dropped into distilled water, it sunk to the bottom; 

 and if diffused by agitation, it separated by repose into white 

 flocculi ; this separation is immediately effected by heating 

 the mixture. An instantaneous coagulum is formed on 

 dropping the juice into deaquated alcohol, and the substance 

 so separated is readily soluble in naphtha. It is also very 

 inflammable. These are all the observations that I have 

 yet had opportunity of making. If they have not already 

 been noticed, I shall be obliged by an early insertion of 

 them in your useful work. 



I am tiot aware whether this principle is common to all 

 the AsclepiadecB , having only tried the vincetoxkum and 

 fruticosa. 



I am, sir, 



Your very obedient servant. 



River Terrace, Islington, J. WoODCOCK. 



August 6, 1812. 



XXV. A Memoir Upon the Organs of Absorption in Mam- 

 miferous Animals. By M. Magkndik, Doctor of Me- 

 dicine of the Faculty of Paris, Professor of Physiology , 

 (Sc. The Experiments condticted by Doctors Magendie 



a7iiDELILE*. 



Among the facts which I had the honour to report to the 

 Class, in a memoir up.on the upas ticnte, the nj/x vomica, 

 and the bean of St. Ignatius, there is one which appeared 

 to me worthy of more particular attention; I n)ean the 

 readiness with which those poisonous matters are absorbed 



* Read at the Institute qu the 7th of August, 1809. 



and 



