SECT. XXIII. 3- OF THE CIRCULATORY SYSTEM. 307 



the mucus of various conf.ftencies, which lubricate;? 

 the interfaces of the cellular membrane, of the muf- 

 cular fibres, and of all the larger cavities of the 

 body. From the want of a long convolution of vef- 

 fels fome have doubted, whether thefe capillaries 

 fhould be confidered as glands, and have been led to 

 conclude, that the perfpirable matter rather exuded 

 than was fecreted. But the fluid of perfpiration is 

 not fimple water, though that part of it which ex- 

 hales into the air may be iuch ; for there is a part of 

 it, which in a (late of health is abforbed again ; but 

 which, when the abfarbents are difeafed, remains on 

 the furface of the ikin, in the form of fcurf, or in- 

 durated mucus. Another thing, which (hews their 

 fimilitude to other glands, is their fenfibility to cer- 

 tain affections of the mind ; as is leen in the deeper 

 colour of the fkin in the blufh of mame,,or the 

 greater palenefs of it from fear. 



III. Another feries of glandular vefTels is called 

 the abforbent fyftem ; thefe open their mouths into 

 ^11 the cavities, and upon all thofe furfaces of the 

 body, where the excretory apertures of the other 

 glands pour out their fluids. The mouths of the 

 abforbent fyftem drink up a part or the whole of 

 thefe fluids, and carry them forwards by their living 

 power to their refpe&ive glands, which are called 

 conglobate glands. There thefe fluids undergo 

 fome change, before they pafs on into the circula- 

 tion ; but if they are very acrid, the conglobate 

 gland fwells, and fometime fuppurates, as in inocu- 

 lation of the fmall-pox, in the plague/ and in vene- 

 real abforptions ; at other times the fluid may per- 

 haps continue there, till it. undergoes fome chemical 

 change, that renders it lefs noxious ; or, what is 

 more likely, till it is regurgitated by the retrograde 

 motion of the gland in fpontaneous fweats or diar- 

 rhoeas 





