SECT. XXIX. 2. 3. ABSORBENTS. 241 



I was induced to repeat this experiment, and having accurate- 

 ly tied the ureters and neck of a frefh ox's bladder, I made an 

 opening at the fundus of it ; and then, having turned it infide 

 outwards, rilled it half full with water, and was furprifed to fee 

 it empty itielf fo haftily. I thought the experiment more ap- 

 pofite to my pur,pofe bv fufpending the bladder with its neck 

 downwards, as the lymphatics are chiefly fpread upon this part 

 of it, as fhewn by Dr. Watfon, Philof. Tranf v 59 p. 392. 



3. In fome difeafes, as in the diabetes, and fcrofuia, it is prob- 

 able the valves themfelves are difeafed, and are thence incapahle 

 of preventing a return of the fluids they fliould fupporr. Thus 

 the valves of the aoru itfelf have frequently i^een found fcirrhous, 

 according to the difiec~lions of Monf. Lieutaud, and have given 

 rife to an interrupted pulfe, and laborious palpitations, by fuffer- 

 ing a return of part of the blood into the heart. Nor are any 

 parrs of the body fo liable to fcirrhofity as the lymphatic glands 

 and veflels, infomuch that their fcirrhofities have acquired a dif- 

 tincl: name, and been termed fcrofuia. 



4. There are valves in other parts of the body, analagous to 

 thofe of the abforbent fyftem, and which are liable, when difeaf- 

 ed, to regurgitate their contents : thus the upper and lower orifi- 

 ces of the flomach are clofed by valves, which, when too great 

 quantities of warm water have been drunk with a defign to pro- 

 mote vomiting, have fometimes re-filled the utmoft efforts of the 

 aldommal mufcles, and diaphragm ; yet, at other times, the up- 

 per valve, or cardia, eafily permits the evacuation of the contents 

 of the ftomach ; whiHt the inferiour valve, or pylorus, permits 

 the bile and other contents of the duodenum, to regurgitate into 

 the ftomach 



5. The valve of the colon is well adapted to prevent the re- 

 trograde motion of the excrements ; yet, as this valve is pofleffi. 

 ed of a living power, in thf iliac paflion, either from fpafm, or 

 other unnatural exertions, it keeps itfelf open, and either fuffers 

 or promotes the retrograde movements of the contents of the 

 intefUnes below ; as in ruminating animals the mouth of the 

 firft ftomach feems to be fo conftrucled, as to facilitate or aflift 

 the regurgitation of the food ; the rings of the cefophagus after- 

 wards contrachng themfelves in inverted order De Haen, by 

 means of a fyringe, forced fo much water into the reclum intef- 

 tinum of a dog, that he vomited it in a full ftream from his 

 mouth : and in the iliac paflion above mentioned, excrements 

 and clyfter are often evacuated by the mouth- See Section 

 XXV. 15. 



6 The punc~la lacrymalia, with the lacrymal fark and nafai 

 duel:, compote a complete gland, and much refemble the intek 

 VOL. I. H H tinai 



