114 DIGESTION. LECT. V. 



the contrary, they became compressed, and diminished in 

 size."* 



Evidently these facts, which nevertheless require to be 

 varied and extended, belong to the phenomenon of endos- 

 mose, and cannot be comprehended without admitting the 

 cellular formation. Here, then, is a physico-chemical ope- 

 ration, which -may lead to the discovery of the formation of 

 elementary 'granulations. Fatty substances, and combina- 

 tions of proteine, are constantly introduced into the or- 

 ganism: they are met with in all animal tissues; the glo- 

 bules of fat, which ,pass into the chyliferous tubes, and are 

 there found in an albuminous liquid, must soon become 

 enveloped by analogous membranes; and ought, for this 

 reason, to form vesicles resembling those which microscopic 

 observation discovers in the ^hyle, the lymph, and the 

 blood. 



Gases in the Stomach and Intestines. In concluding this 

 lecture, I have only to add a few words on the gas contained 

 in the stomach and intestines, as well as on the inorganic 

 substances, which form, more or less directly, an integral 

 part of the animal organism. 



Observation has proved, that oxygen is scarcely ever met 

 with in the gases of the stomach, and more especially in 

 those of the intestines ; but that these are principally com- 

 posed of azote, carbonic acid, a certain quantity of car- 

 buretted hydrogen, and sometimes traces of sulphuretted 



* Ascherson's hypothesis of the formation of cells is quite inadmissible. 

 "Caseine, albumen, and fibrine, in solution, may have the property of se- 

 parating fat into globules ; they may form a layer or membrane around 

 a drop of oil, and so prevent the oil from running together. This pro- 

 perty is possessed by gum arabic also, and, even though it were possessed 

 by no other substance whatever, & passive laverofa solid substance around 

 a fluid is entirely different from an active membrane, from which manifold 

 actions proceed in organic nature. Such theories tell us nothing more 

 than does the formation of froth in soap water." (Mulder.) J. P. 



