238 RETROGRADE SECT. XXIX. i. i. 



SECT. XXIX. 



ON THE RETROGRADE MOTIONS OF THE ABSORBENT SYSTEM. 



I. Account of the abforbent fyft em. II. The valves of the abforbent 

 vejjels may fujfer their fluids to regurgitate in feme difeafes. III. 

 Communication, from the alimentary canal to the bladder by means 

 of the abforbent vejjels. IV The phenomena of diabetes explained. 

 V. i. The phenomena oj dropftes explained. 2, Cafes of the ufe 

 of foxglove. VI, Ofcoldfweats. VII. Tranjlations of matter > 

 of chyle, of milky of urine ', operation of purging drugs applied ex- 

 ternally. VIII. Circumftances by which the fluids , that are ef- 

 fufed by the retrograde motions of the abforbent veffels, are dijlin- 

 guijhed. IX. Retrograde motions of vegetable juices. X. 03- 

 jeclions anfwered. XL The caufes 9 which induce the retrograde 

 motions of animal vejfils, and the medicines by which the natural 

 motions are rejlored. 



N* B. The following SecJion is a tranflaticn of apart of a Latin the- 

 Jis written by the late Mr. Charles Darwin, which was printed 

 with his prize- differtation on a criterion between matter and mu- 

 cus in 178. Sold by Cadell y London. 



I. Account of the Abforbent Syjtem. 



i. THE abforbent fyftem of veflels in animal bodies confifts 

 of feveral branches, differing in refpedl to their fituations, and 

 to the fluids, which they abforb. 



The inteftinal abforbents open their mouths on the internal 

 furfaces of the imeftines ; their office is to drink up the chyle 

 and the other fluids from the alimentary canal ; and they are 

 termed la&eals, to diftinguim them from the other abforbent vef- 

 fels, which have been termed lymphatics. 



Thofe, whofe mouths are difperfed on the external fkin, im- 

 bibe a great quantity of water from the atmofphere, and a part 

 of the perfpirable matter, which does not evaporate, and are 

 termed cutaneous abforbents. 



Thofe, which arife from the internal furface of the bronchia, 

 and which imbibe moifture from the atmofphere, and a part of 

 the bronchial mucus, are called pulmonary abforbents. 



Thole, which open their innumerable mouths into the cells 

 of the whole cellular membrane ; and whofe ufe is to take up 

 the fluid, which is poured into thofe cells, after it has done its 

 office there ; may be called cellular abforbents. 



Thofe, which arife from the internal furfaces of the mem- 

 branes, 



