LECT. III. OF LIQUIDS IN MOTION. 79 



this case we must admit that endosmose takes place through 

 the capillary vessels of the intestine, from the serum of the 

 blood to the saline solution introduced into the alimentary 

 canal. 



Endosmose of Liquids in Motion. But to remove all doubt 

 of the propriety of Poiseuille's applications of this fact, it 

 was necessary to demonstrate that endosmose takes place 

 when one of the liquids is in motion, and is being con- 

 tinually renewed. This has been recently done by Dr. 

 Bacchetti, who has shown that the rapidity of endosmose is 

 considerably augmented when one of the liquids was con- 

 tinually renewed. This result, moreover, is in accordance 

 with the principles of the theory of endosmose : the inter- 

 change of liquids, constantly going on through the mem- 

 brane, leads to the suspension of the action of endosmose ; 

 or, in other words, the conditions for the production of the 

 phenomenon are so much the better preserved, as the liquids 

 remain longer without mixing. Poiseuille has also shown 

 that endosmose ceases to take place in a membrane after a 

 certain time of action, but that the membrane re-acquires 

 this property by submitting it to the action of other liquids. 



Remarkable Influence of Morphia. The most remarkable 

 fact discovered by Poiseuille is, that of the influence ex- 

 ercised by hydrochlorate of morphia. This substance, 

 when added to saline solution, very considerably weakens 

 the endosmose from the serum to the solution ; and ulti- 

 mately changes the direction of the current. This fact has 

 been confirmed by Dr. Bacchetti. How can we make an 

 entire abstraction of this fact in the explanation of the action 

 of morphia, and of the preparations of opium in diantea, 

 as well as of the constipation which they produce ? 



