228 Dynamic Theory. 



Even in the large intestine and in the rectum itself, there is reason to 

 believe, still further digestion takes place, or at any rate from these 

 parts of the intestinal tube such digested matters as may still remain 

 in the food, are absorbed and carried into the blood. Food injected 

 into the rectum will be absorbed into the circulation and afford effectual 

 nourishment to the tissues. But the greater part of the absorption of 

 the nutritive matters from the reduced and fermented food takes place 

 through special organs in the mucous membrane of the small intestines. 



This membrane is full of transverse corrugations or folds by which its 

 surface is increased, and upon this surface are set numerous small pro- 

 jections called viUi, each of which contains a vein and an artery from 

 the general system, and also the blind end of a lacteal vessel which con- 

 nects with the general Lymphatic system. The chyle is in large part 

 absorbed by these lacteal vessels perhaps in part by the blood vessels- 

 themselves and thus directly or indirectly gets into the circulation. 



The ferments are in part re-absorbed and soon find their way back to 

 the organs from which they were derived, but in part they remain with 

 the products of their fermentation, and pass with them into the circula- 

 tion and follow it to distant parts of the system. Thus pepsin has been 

 found in the blood, in the muscles, and in the urine. 



In like manner the Emulsion, after penetrating the lacteal vessels, 

 continues to experience the effects of the ferment, which undoubtedly 

 goes along with it, producing the so-called saponification even in the 

 tissues of the system. This "saponification" consists of "resolution 

 of trimargarin, triolein, tristearin, &c. , by hydration into glycerine and 

 fatty acids. (Schutzenberger.) 



Trioline 4- water is split into Glycerine -|- Oleic Acid. 



Tristearine -f water is split into Glycerine -f Stearic Acid. 



Tributerine -j- water is split into Glycerine -j- Butyric Acid. 



The emulsive ferment possesses the property of casein, of being pre- 

 cipitated in the cold by magnesium sulphate. It is coagulated by heat. 

 The effects of the emulsive ferment can be obtained from the extract of 

 the pancreatic gland itself. 



There are said to be three substances concerned in the production of fibrin. These 

 are fibrinogen, which exists in the blood; paraglobulin, a fibrinoplastic substance 

 which is formed by the disintegration of white blood corpuscles and other cells; and 

 third, is the fibrin-ferment, also formed from white blood corpuscles and perhaps 

 other cells. The coagulum, or fibrin, is formed by the union of the first two, which 

 takes place in the presence of the fibrin ferment. The latter does not enter into the 

 combination itself, but enables the other two to do so by causing some sort of chemi- 

 cal action.probably a preliminary split in one or both, enabling the parts to enter into a new 

 combination. (Flint.) 



The liver is an organ competent to form glycogen from the blood pass- 

 ing through it. And its tissues are themselves apparently composed of 

 it in part, at least. Glycogen is an amyloid substance resembling 



