136 THE FUNCTION 



cavities, properly so called, especially that of the fauces and of all 

 the mucous membranes, the more watery part of those secreted 

 fluids which are retained for some time in their ducts, v. c. in the 

 breast, the vesiculae seminales, the gall-bladder, &c. and not a 

 small portion of the stillatitious fluids which are applied to the 

 common integuments. r 



" The solids, after performing their purpose in the economy, 

 insensibly melt away and are absorbed, as is proved by the ab- 

 sorption of the greater part of the thymus gland during infancy, 

 of the roots of the first teeth, and of the alveoli after the second 

 teeth have fallen out. The constant change of the whole osseous 

 system, arising from the insensible renovation of the bony matter, 

 of which we have treated elsewhere professedly i s , may also be 

 adduced. 



" It is therefore evident, since so great a variety of matter 

 is absorbed, and at the same time nothing crude or improper 

 allowed to enter the blood, that there is a necessity for some 

 peculiar medium to previously subact and assimilate the various 

 substances. 



" It appears to be the chief office of the conglobate glands, which 

 constitute the last part of the absorbent system, to prevent the 

 ill effects upon the heart of the improper admixture of crude 

 fluid l with the blood, by assimilating the extremely various 

 fluids more and more to an animal nature, by retarding their 

 motion, and perhaps also by superadding to them some fresh- 

 secreted fluid." 



This will appear from the following information given us by 

 chemists : 



The fluid collected from the thoracic duct scarcely differs 

 from milk. It is opaque and white; without smell; sweetish and 



r " Consult, among others, Valer. Lud. Brera, Anatripsologia ; fourth edition. 

 Pavia, 1799. 2 vols. 8vo. 



A. J. Chrestien, De la methode iatroliptice. Montpell. 1803. 8vo. In German, 

 Getting. 1813. 8vo." 



s " Decade 1. Collection of the crania of different nations, p. 27." 



1 " If we consider the winding course which nature has provided for the purpose 

 of changing and assimilating the absorbed fluids before their admixture with the 

 blood, and, on the other hand, the dreadful symptoms, such as palpitation, con- 

 vulsions, &c., which ensue upon the artificial infusion of a minute portion of any 

 mild fluid into the blood, we shall be inclined to believe that those absorptions, 

 which Haller (De c. h. Fund. vol. i. p. 281. sq. ) endeavours to prove are accom- 

 plished by the veins, do really take place by means of the lymphatic system." 



