Magendie on Msorption, 289 



No study is therefore, at the same timej more curious, and 

 more important than that of absorption. 



The first step to be taken, after estabhshing the reality 

 of the phenomenon, was to discover the instruments j or in 

 other words, which are the organs that exercise the absorb- 

 ing facuhy. 1 have had the honour to present to the Acad- 

 emy several memoirs on this subject, which have been re- 

 ceived with approbation. 



The following general consequences result from my forr 

 mer researches ; 



1st. The veins are endowed with the absorbing faculty; 



2ndly. It is not demonstrated that the vessels which ab-- 

 sorb the chyle are capable of absorbing other matter ; 



3dly. The absorbing power of the lymphatic vessels, oth* 

 er than the chylous, is not yet established on satisfactory 

 evidence. 



From these general facts may be deduced a great num- 

 ber of secondary facts ; we may here comprehend, for ex* 

 ample, why the absorption is slow in some cases, and very 

 rapid in others ; why certain substances appear to produce 

 greater effects when absorbed in certain points than when 

 absorbed in others ; why certain organs entirely deprived 

 of lymphatic vessels, such as the eye, the brain, &sc. possess 

 nevertheless strong powers of absorption. 



The solution of these questions was doubtless matter of 

 some importance ; but the main question was not yet agita* 

 ted; it was not known by what mechanism the absorption 

 was effected. 



The most accredited books contain no satisfactory solu- 

 tion on this point ; their authors have proceeded as the hu- 

 man mind generally does in most cases where it is in a state 

 of complete ignorance, on points on which it would be high- 

 ly important for it to be enlightened. It begins by suppo- 

 sing certain beings and then endows them with the faculties 

 necessary to produce the effect observed ; and it generally 

 happens that it repeats its own history vfithout being aware 

 of it. 



In the case before us, authors began by supposing radi' 

 i^.als, orifices, absorbing mouths, fyc. ; these radicals, these 

 mouths do not fall under our senses ; this is what might have 

 been expected ; but they have the faculty of pumping,, of. 

 aucking, of absorbing the substances with which they are 



Vol,, m N^. 2. 37 



