RETROGRADE ABSORBENTS. SECT. XXIX. 7. 



5. J. F. Meckel obferved in a patient, whofe urine 

 was in fmall quantity and high coloured, that a 

 copious fweat under the arm-pits, of a perfectly 

 urinous fmell, ftained the linen ; which ceafed again 

 when the ufual quantity of urine was difcharged by 

 the urethra. Here we muft believe from analogy, 

 that the urine was firft fecreted in the kidneys, then 

 re-abforbed by the increafed aclion of the urinary 

 lymphatics, and laftly carried to the axillae by the 

 retrograde motions of the lymphatic branches of 

 thofe parts. As in the jaundice it is necerTary, that 

 the bile mould firil be fecreted by the liver, and 

 re-abforbed into the circulation, to .produce the yel- 

 lownefs of the ikin ; as was formerly demonflrated 

 by the late Dr. Munro, (Edin, Medical Eflays) an4 

 if in this patient the urine had been re-abforbed into 

 the mafs of blood, as the bile in the jaundice, why 

 was it not detected in other parts ;of the body, as 

 well as in the arm-pits ? 



6. Cathartic and vermifuge medicines applied ex- 

 ternally to the abdomen, feem to be taken up by 

 the cutaneous branch of lymphatics, and pour- 

 ed on the interlines by the retrograde motions of 

 the lacleals, without having parted the circula* 

 tion. *$$ 



For when the draftic purges are taken by the 

 mouth, they excite the lacleals of. the intefl ines in- 

 to retrograde motions, as appears frpm the chyle, 

 which is found coagulated among the feces, as was 

 ihewn above, t(fecl. 2 and 4.) And as the cutane- 

 ous lymphatics are joined with the la&eals of the 

 interlines, by frequent anaflomofes; it would be 

 more extraordinary, when a ilrong purging drug, 

 abforbed by the ikin, is carried to the anaftomofmg 

 branches of the lacleals unchanged, if it (hould not 

 excite them into retrograde aftion--- as efficacioufly, 



