316 COLLOIDS IN BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE 



to maintain its normal condition of swelling, so that there must be 

 phenomena in the absorptive organs which oppose those in the 

 secreting glands. M. H. FISCHER recognized these, both in the 

 oxidation processes of the cells and in the circulation. The func- 

 tionating cell producing acid, like venous blood rich in C0 2 , has an 

 increased swelling capacity it absorbs water; the resting cell, 

 being well supplied with oxygen like the arterial blood, has an excess 

 of water it secretes. Thus we see that in the fluctuating supply of 

 oxygen to an organ are furnished the conditions for the occurrence 

 of absorption and secretion. 



