CUTANEOUS. 687 



well as carbonic acid in its way outwards. Aromatic substances, such 

 as spirit of turpentine, breathed for a time, are detected in the urine ; 

 proving that their aroma has been absorbed; and it is by absorption, 

 that contagious miasmata probably produce their pestiferous agency. 

 Dr. Madden, 1 however, thinks that the lungs do not absorb watery 

 vapour with the rapidity, or to the extent, that has been imagined ; 

 whilst Dr. A. Combe 2 hazards the hypothesis, that owing apparently 

 to the extensive absorption of aqueous vapour by the lungs, the inha- 

 bitants of marshy and humid districts, as the Dutch, are remarkable 

 for the predominance of the lymphatic system. 



Not only do the tissues, as we have seen, suffer imbibition by fluids, 

 but by gases also : the experiments of Chaussier and Mitchell astonish 

 us by the rapidity and singularity of the passage of the latter through 

 the various tissues; the rapidity varying according to the permeability 

 of the tissue, and the penetrative power of the gas. 



a. Cutaneous Absorption. 



On the subject of cutaneous absorption, much difference of sentiment 

 has prevailed; some asserting it to be possible to such an extent, that 

 life may be preserved, for a time, by nourishing baths. It has also been 

 repeatedly affirmed, that rain has calmed the thirst of shipwrecked 

 mariners who have been, for some time, deprived of water. It is 

 obvious, from what we know of absorption, that, in the first of these 

 cases, the water only could be absorbed; and even the possibility of this 

 has been denied by many. Under ordinary circumstances, it can hap- 

 pen to a trifling extent only, if at all ; but, in extraordinary cases, where 

 the system has been long devoid of its usual supplies of moisture, and 

 where we have reason to believe, that the energy of absorption is 

 increased, such imbibition may be possible. Sanctorius, 3 Von Gorter, 4 

 Keill, 5 Mascagni, 6 Madden, 7 R. L. Young, 8 Dill, 9 and others believe, 

 that this kind of absorption is not only frequent but easy. It has been 

 affirmed, that after bathing the weight of the body has been manifestly 

 augmented ; and the last of these individuals has adduced many facts 

 and arguments to support the position. Strong testimony has been 

 brought forward in favour of extensive absorption of moisture from the 

 atmosphere. This is probably effected rather through the pulmonary 

 mucous surface than the skin. A case of ovarian dropsy is referred to 

 by Dr. Madden, 10 in which the patient, during eighteen days, drank 

 692 ounces of fluid ; and discharged by urine and paracentesis 1298 

 ounces, being an excess of 606 ounces of fluid egesta over the fluid 

 ingesta. Bishop Watson, in his Chemical Essays, states, that a lad at 

 Newmarket, having been almost starved, in order that he might be 

 reduced to the proper weight for riding a match, was weighed at 9, 

 and again at 10, A. M., when he was found to have gained nearly 30 



1 Experimental Inquiry into the Physiology of Cutaneous Absorption, p. 64, Edinb., 1838. 



2 Principles of Physiology applied to the Preservation of Health, 5th edit., p. 72, Edinb., 

 1836. 



3 De Static. Medic., Lugd. Bat.* 1711. 4 De Perspirat. Insensib., Lugd. Bat, 1736. 

 6 Tentatnin. Medico-Physic., Lond., 1718. 6 Vas. Lyrnphat. Hist., Senis, 1783. 



' Op. cit, p. 58. 8 De Cutis Inhalatione, Edinb., 1813. 



Edinb. Medico-Chir. Transact., ii. 350. 10 Op. cit., p. 55. 



