294 Magendie on Absorption. 



During the first minutes of the experiment the liquid 

 which I gathered did not change its nature, and after twelve 

 or fifteen minutes it became sensibly acid ; the absorption 

 had taken place. 



I repeated this ex|)eriraent with veins taken from the hu- 

 man body, the effect was the same. 



This phenomenon manifesting itself in the veins, I could 

 see no reason why it should not equally take place when ap- 

 plied to the arteries ; I consequently made the experiment 

 on the carotid af a small dog which had died the preceding 

 day, the result I obtained was exactly similar; I remark- 

 ed moreover, that the absorption became more rapid in pro- 

 portion as the acidity and temperature of the exterior liquid 

 were increased. 



If the capillary absorption was produced on the large 

 blood vessels after death, why should not a similar effect 

 be produced on the same vessels in a living slate.'' 



If experience did not give me this result, all my reason- 

 ings would be overthrown, and my supposhion destroyed. 

 And I felt so much the less confidence in the success of the 

 experiment as I kept in mind the observations which we 

 daily hear of the changes which death operates in the phys- 

 ical properties of our organs. 



Nevertheless, as I had often found in my researches, the 

 advantages of doubting the exactness of generally re- 

 ceived opinions, I determined on making the following ex- 

 periment. 



I took a young dog, of about six weeks old, at which age 

 the vascular membranes, being very thin, are better adapted 

 to the success of the experiment. I uncovered one of the 

 jugular veins and isolated it completely throughout its whole 

 length. I stripped it carefully of all its appendages, especial- 

 ly of the cellular substance, and of some small vessels which 

 adhered to it : I placed it on a card in order to prevent its 

 having any point of contact with the surrounding parts. 

 Thus prepared, I dropped on the surface of the vein, and 

 opposite the middle of the card, a thick aqueous solution of 

 alcoholic extract of nux vomica, a substance which acts 

 with great energy on dogs ; I was very careful that no por- 

 tion of the poison should touch any part except the vein 

 and the card, and that the current of blood in the interior 

 should be unobstructed. Before the expiration of the 



