StcT. XXIX. 8. RETROGRADE ABSORBENTS, 39 t 



as if it was taken by the mouth, and mixed with 

 the food of the flomach. 



VIII. Cimimjiances by which the Fluids, that are effii- 

 fed by the retrograde Motions of the abforbent Vef- 

 fels, are diftinguijhed. 



I. WE frequently obferve an unufual quantity of 

 mucus or other fluids in fome difeafes, although the 

 a<Slion of the glands, by which thefe fluids are fe- 

 parated from the blood, is not unufually increafed ; 

 but when the power of abforption alone is dimi- 

 nifhed. *Thus the catarrhal humour from the nof- 

 trils of fome, who ride in frofly weather ; and the 

 tears, which run down the cheeks of tbofe, who 

 have an obftrudtion of the puncla lacrymalia ; and 

 the ichor of thofe phagedenic ulcers, which are not 

 attended with inflammation, are all inftances of this 

 circumflance. 



Thefe fluids however are eafily diflinguifhed from 

 others by their abounding in ammoniacal or muri- 

 atic falts ; whence they inflame the circumjacent 

 Ikin : thus in the catarrh the upper lip becomes red 

 and fwelled from the acrimony of the mucus, and 

 patients complain of the faltnefs of its taile. The 

 eyes and cheeks are red with the corrofive tears, 

 and the ichor of fome herpetic eruptions erodes far 

 and wide the contiguous parts, and is pungently 

 fait to the tafte, as fome patients have informed 

 me. 



Whilft, on the contrary, thofe fluids, which are 

 efFufed by the retrograde adion of the lymphatics, 

 are for the mod part mild and innocent ; as water, 

 chyle, and the natural mucus : or they take their 

 properties from the materials previouily abforbed, 



as 



