Medicine. 211 



-excretory ducts to the lymphatic glands. For the 

 important function of absorption he provides in the 

 following manner. He supposes that, although 

 the lymphatic vessels convey Huids from the blood, 

 they also occasionally possess the power of absorp- 

 tion. This office, he imagines, they perform after 

 accomplishing their first purpose; that is to say, 

 after conveying the lymph to the various parts of 

 the body, they become mere empty tubes, and ab- 

 sorb whatever is applied to any surface. Accord- 

 ing, therefore, to the degree of inanition or reple- 

 tion of the lymphatic vessels, in his opinion, will 

 the body be more or less susceptible of the absorp- 

 tion of any fluid applied to the skin, or any other 

 surface or cavity. 



These, however, and many other objections io 

 the generally received doctrine of the absorbent 

 system, have gaincvd little credit among the most 

 respectable anatomists. The arguments by which 

 they are attempted to be supported have been 

 shown to be founded on injections unskilfully made, 

 on observations inaccurate, and conclusions alto- 

 gether illogical. 



In the early part of the controversy on this sub- 

 ject, it was urged, that, before the doctrine of the 

 lymphatics being a system of absorbents could be 

 established, it was necessary first to determine 

 ^vhether this system is to be found in other ani- 

 mals besides man and quadrupeds. Mr. Hewson 

 claimed the merit of having proved the affirmative 

 of this question, by discovering the lymphatic sys- 

 tem in birds, fishes, and amphibious animals.^ 



Since the time of Mr. Hewson, the anatomy of 

 the absorbent system has been greatly extended 

 and improved. The ramificaitions of it, in almost 

 every part of the body, have been traced by Mr. 



p Pbilos. Transac. vol. Ixviii & Ixix. 



