140 THE MUCOUS MEMBRANE. 



Again, this same anatomist universally found the sur- 

 faces of the villi polished, and not presenting any foramina, 

 while many of the follicles were found passing obliquely 

 into their bases. In a word, the gastro-enteric follicles, 

 situated in the venous intertexture above described, and 

 considered as identical with its meshes, are regarded as 

 the absorbing agents of the chyle, which conduct it into 

 the lacteals. 



The functions of the mucous membrane are, like those of 

 the skin, sensation, secretion, and absorption. Besides the 

 common sensation of the whole membrane, and the special 

 sense of taste as belonging to it, and seated in the tongue, 

 the feelings or appetites of hunger and thirst are also re- 

 ferred to this membrane. Its secretions are those of serum 

 and mucus, &c., and it absorbs, as already stated, the chyle 

 with other matters. 



The relations of the mucous membrane are as fixed as 

 those of the skin, and are, chiefly the physical, chemical, 

 and organic. 



The principal physical relations are those it has with 

 food and water. 



It is well known that our food and drink enter the sys- 

 tem mainly through this structure, and if we attempt, in 

 the healthy state of this membrane, to substitute any thing 

 else in place of the natural stimuli, there will certainly 

 be more or less lesion and disturbance of its functions. 

 For instance, if we swallow poison, in place of food, there 

 is the greatest danger not only of disturbance, but of com- 

 plete destruction to both structure and function, by the 

 most rapidly violent and destructive inflammation. And 

 this example further shows the chemical relations of this 

 membrane to be equally fixed, and necessary to be observed, 

 for the preservation of its integrity. 



Its organic relations are most important, both in health 

 and disease, as it sympathizes with, and is the channel of 

 intercourse to every other part and organ of the body. 



Now, these several relations, as in the case of the skin, 

 constitute so many fixed laws obedience to which, we 



