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5. The secretions are identified by the properties derived or sepa- 

 rated from blood, and by those of secreting organs, which combine 

 with, in order to act upon, to separate, to modify them, and finally 

 to extend their relations. The vital properties themselves of the 

 secreting organs have also a history: we have been content to state 

 that the efficient ones belong either to the assimilating or the regu- 

 lar dependent life. Such is the history of secretion furnished by 

 close analogies with our experience. 



27. The minuter mode of inquiry into these processes would 

 require that, being informed of the general laws of the properties 

 which yet remain to be decided upon, we should then specify the 

 properties themselves; as, What are the properties which hold the 

 affinity with secretions contained in the blood? or, what properties 

 combine with these materials iu blood] what properties are so re- 

 lated with, as to separate the secretions from their alliances? what 

 properties combine with the secretions and help to constitute them, 

 and remaining perhaps latent, multiply their relations? what proper- 

 ties are furnished by the organ, and what from a distant sphere? 

 with many other questions which it will be time enough to propose 

 when our chances of settling them are improved; at present I fear 

 we require additional senses for this work. 



28. The objects to which inquiry might be applied with this 

 view are, secreting surfaces, and glands. The first comprehend the 

 mucous, the serous, and the synovial, membranes, and the surfaces 

 produced by wounds or ulceration ; the second, the cutaneous, the 

 salivary, the mucous, the biliary, the pancreatic, the uriniferous, and 

 the seminal glands. Some of these glands concur with the mem- 

 branes, as the mucous ones of the intestines, and the salivary of the 

 mouth and fauces: perhaps the instances of glandular structure 

 are not to be accurately enumerated or distinguished. The last- 

 mentioned or seminal glands may be taken as an example, and the 

 processes, in agreement with the general view, described thus, or in 

 the following order : 



1. Secreting tubuli, communicating with arterial blood. 



2. Properties of life, belonging to, or conjoined with, the struc- 

 ture of these tubuli, related with a part of the constituents of 

 arterial blood. 



3. History of these properties: they live by assimilation in the 

 glands where their action is exerted ; or they are communicated 

 from other seats. 



4. -Effect of these properties, related with a part of the consti- 

 tuents of blood, to produce the seminal secretion. 



5. The seminal secretion consists either wholly of the substances 

 and properties which before existed in other combination in the 

 blood; or, 2nd, it is made by the combination of the properties of 

 the glandular structure with blood, or with a portion of its consti- 

 tuents. The alternatives differently "stated are, Is the secretion 

 withdrawn by an ageut which does not combine with it ; or, changing 

 its form, only adds to its properties, which are not exhibited in any 

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