112 DIGESTION. LECT. V. 



solution as of the milky liquid, formed by the action of the 

 alkali on the fatty bodies. 



The phenomena of endosmose, of which I have spoken, 

 may also be admitted, with great probability, as one of the 

 causes which produce absorption by the chyliferous vessels. 

 It is certain, that absorption could not take place, if the 

 inner sides of the intestines were not bathed with some 

 liquid, for which the fatty bodies had some affinity. 



It is easy to demonstrate, by experiments, that the alka- 

 line condition of the intestinal coats favours this absorption. 

 Fill two funnels with sand, equally shaken down in each. 

 Pour into one, pure water, into the other, an alkaline 

 solution ; when the liquids have filtered through, pour an 

 equal quantity of oil on each filter. For several hours, the 

 oil will remain upon the surface of the sand, which has been 

 moistened with pure water; whilst in the other funnel, in 

 which the sand has been moistened with the alkaline solu- 

 tion, the oil will rapidly disappear by imbibition. 



The neutral azotised substances which pass into the 

 blood, after having been dissolved by the gastric juice; 

 would rapidly destroy the neutral or slightly alkaline con- 

 dition necessary to the preservation of the qualities of the 

 blood ; but the alkali of the chyle, of the lymph, of the bile, 

 and of the pancreatic fluid, preserve the neutrality of it. 



Origin of Cells. The chyle and the lymph hold in sus- 

 pension a great number of small grains, which are from 1 

 to 2 thousandths of a line in diameter, and which appear to 

 be formed of a fatty substance, enveloped in a membrane, 

 which is supposed to consist of la substance analogous to 

 proteine. These same granulations exist in yolk of egg, in 

 the milk, chyle, lymph, and in all the liquids exuded in 

 pathological cases, or destined for new formations. These 

 elementary granulations have been seen to unite and form 

 a globule, a cell analogous to blood-cells ; hence, they have 



