ABSORPTION 323 



to dissolved substances. Outside the body, excised pieces of intes- 

 tine, when artificially swollen, showed an increased permeability 

 for KC1, NaCl and dextrose such as is possessed by acutely in- 

 flamed intestine. The reverse occurred on partial drying (shrink- 

 ing); a diminished permeability of the pieces of intestine was 

 obtained corresponding to chronic enteritis. By means of dehy- 

 drating substances (alcohol, tannin) it was possible to remove the 

 great difference in permeability between the acutely swollen and 

 the chronically swollen intestine. Sugar (dextrose), especially, 

 markedly increases the permeability of the intestinal wall. 



Thus, the clinical discoveries of H. FINKELSTEIN, concerning in- 

 toxication with sugar-rich mixtures in children, find colloid-chemical 

 confirmation. [An interesting colloid-chemical application is the 

 treatment of diarrheas, especially in children, by adjusting the diet 

 with a view to the formation of insoluble calcium soaps in the intes- 

 tine. It has also been pointed out by BOSWORTH et al., Am. Jour. 

 Diseases of Children, Vol. XV, No. 6, p. 397 et seq., that the forma- 

 tion of Ca soaps may interfere with the absorption of fats and account 

 for certain types of malnutrition and milk intolerance. Tr.] 



We must refrain here from a more exhaustive investigation of 

 absorption by the stomach. The number of experimental observa- 

 tions is still not large and from a colloid-chemical standpoint they 

 do not assist. 



It is established, e.g., that the stomach absorbs no water (VON 

 MERINO) ; on the contrary dissolved substances (salts, carbohydrates 

 and albumins) above a "certain level of concentration" are absorbed 

 (for bibliography see H. STRAUSS * l and W. ROTH and H. STRAUSS *). 



Parenteral Absorption. 



Like those concerning intestinal absorption, the studies of paren- 

 teral absorption have been based almost exclusively on the laws of 

 osmotic pressure in relation to the permeability of membranes (see 



U. FRIEDEMANN* 2 ). 



The countless difficulties were only successfully met with the 

 entrance of the colloid-chemical views of swelling and shrinking, for 

 which the researches of MARTIN H. FISCHER * paved the way. 



Researches on the absorption from serous cavities have been 

 most numerous. As regards the absorption of exudates, the ques- 

 tion should be, under what circumstances do exudates form? Nor- 

 mally the organism allows no fluid to collect in the serous cavities. 

 We must, therefore, assume a change in the permeability of the 

 living membrane or a shrinking of the surrounding tissue. 1 

 1 See also M. H. FISCHER, "Nephritis." 



