370 THE ABSORBENT VESSELS. 



were arranged as in the former experiment ; and poison was introduced into 

 the foot. Three minutes after the introduction of the poison, the blood of the 

 crural vein was passed into the jugular vein of another animal and transfu- 

 sion was continued five minutes without producing any effect upon the animal 

 receiving the blood ; it was then stopped, and the crural vein was so arranged 

 that the blood flowed from it into the animal to which it belonged. This 

 animal very soon exhibited symptoms of the operation of the poison.* 



From these very interesting experiments the authors infer that "foreign matters 

 do not always proceed through the Lymphatic or Absorbent Vessels, when they 

 enter into the Sanguiferous system" 



This memoir was referred by the Institute to four of its members, who are 

 particularly distinguished by their profound knowledge of anatomy and phy- 

 siology. These gentlemen, after stating their belief that the functions of the 

 lymphatic or absorbent system have been completely ascertained by the ex- 

 periments and observations of Hunter, Cruikshank, Mascagni, &c., say far- 

 ther, that in their opinion, the above mentioned inference ought to be a little 

 modified, and that facls are not sufficiently numerous, or applicable to the 

 point in question, to justify the inference that foreign matters do not always 

 proceed through the Lymphatic or Absorbent Vessels, when they enter the Sangui- 

 ferous system. But they also add, that as the author is still engaged in a 

 series of experiments on the subject, they will suspend their judgment 

 respecting the inferences to be deduced from the present statement. 



The most extensive account of the absorbent system is contained in the " His- 

 toria et Ichnographia Vasorum Lymphaticorum Corporis Humani" of Mas- 

 cagni, " The Anatomy of the Absorbing Vessels of the Human Body, by 

 "W. Cruikshank ;" and " The Description of the Lymphatic System, by 

 William Hewson," (the second volume of his Experimental Inquiries,) are 

 also very interesting publications. 



* An account of these experiments was published by M. Magendie in a pamphlet. A 

 statement of them is also contained in the report made to the Institute by the committee to 

 whom the memoir was referred, which is published in the Journal de Physique, for March, 

 1813. In that statement this last mentioned experiment is omitted. 



A most interesting series of inquiries and experiments in regard to the laws of absorption 

 will be found in Professor Chapman's Journal of the Medical and Physical Sciences, No. 6, 

 in a report of a Committee of the Academy of Medicine, signed by Doctors Lawrence and 

 Coates, of this city. And a continuation of the same will be found in No. 10 of the same 

 Journal, signed by Doctors Lawrence and Coates. Since the publication of the latter, to 

 the regret of all who knew him, and to the great loss of Anatomy and of Physiology, the 

 indefatigable and excellent LAWRENCE is no more. H. 



