196 LECTURE V. 



on by degrees to believe, that these vessels, 

 acting in excess, took away the very 

 substance of which parts or organs were 

 composed, so as to create large chasms in 

 them. Seeing what things were done, and 

 under what circumstances they took place, 

 he was led to advert to the causes which 

 excite or diminish the actions of these 

 wonder-working vessels ; but the advan- 

 tages we have derived, in the practice of 

 our profession, from the researches of Mr. 

 Hunter with respect to this subject, have 

 already been the theme of several lectures 

 which I have had the honour of delivering 

 in this theatre. 



When his opinions on the functions of 

 the absorbents were first promulgated, 

 they appeared to others, not merely wild, 

 but absolutely incredible; and when he 

 was asked, how he could suppose it possi- 

 ble for these vessels to do such things as 

 he attributed to them ; he answered, nay, I 

 know not, unless they possess powers simi- 

 lar to those which a caterpillar exerts, when 

 feeding on a leaf. I relate this anecdote, 



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