394. RETROGRADE ABSORBENTS. SECT. XXIX. id'* 



It is well known that the branches of willows, 1 

 and of many other trees, will either take root in 

 the earth or engraft on other trees, fo as to have 

 their natural direction inverted, and yet flourim wittr 

 vigour". 



Dr Hope has alfd made this pleating experiment, 

 after the manner of Hales he has placed a forked 

 branch, cut from one tree, erecl: between two' 

 others ; then cutting off a part of the bark from 

 one fork applied it to a iimilar branch of one of 

 the trees in its vicinity j and the fame of the other 

 fork 5 fo that a tree is feen to grow fufpended in the 

 air, between two other trees ; which fupply the& 

 fofter friend with due nourifhment. 



Jlirariturque novas frondes, et non fua poma. 



All thefe experiments clearly evince, that the 

 juices of vegetables can occafionally pafs either up- 

 wards or downwards in their abforbeut fyflem of 

 vefTels. 



X. Objections anfwered. 



THE following experiment, at firft view, would 

 feem to invalidate this opinion of the retrograde' 

 motions of the lymphatic veifels, in fome difeafes. 



About a gallon of milk having been given to an 

 hungry fwirie, he was fuffered to live about an hour, 

 and was then killed by a flroke or two on his head 

 with an axe. On opening his belly the ladeals were 

 well feeri filled with chyle ; on irritating many of 

 the branches of them with a : knife, they did not ap- 

 pear to empty themfelves haftily ; but they did 

 however carry forwards their contents in a little 

 time. 



1 then 



