A B S 



thoracic duft near its terminstion. The abforbcnts of the 

 ht.iit ji.il\ tl»roiii;h the cardiac glands, wh ch are fuuated 

 about the arch of the aorta. 



The abfo'-bents of the lungs may be dlftinguifhed into 

 the fiipcrlicial and deeper feated. Thofc on tlie fiirfjce are 

 dirtribiited in the areolx, fiirroundiiig the fmall lobules of 

 thofc organs, and appear like the fibies of network. The 

 deeper feated abforbcnts which communicate with the others, 

 emerge where the air-ve(fels enter the lungs, and both 

 clalfes terminate in the bronchial glands, which are numer- 

 ous, and furround the broiichia;. Thefe gh'.nds are alfo 

 conne<"'>ed with tliofe belonging to the heart, fo that both 

 ftls of ghmds frequently participate in the lame dileafe. 

 Three or four large trunks of pulmonar\- ablorbents pro- 

 ceed more immediately, or more remotely, to pour tiieir 

 contents into the thoracic duel ; the upper ones do not 

 reach that veffcl till it approaches its place of infcrtion in 

 the venous fyfltm. 



Numerous abforbcnts have been fecn upon the oefopha- 

 gus, and there are many glands placed along the courfe of 

 that tube. The abforbcnts of the ocfophagus conjoin with 

 thofe of the heart and linigs. Abforbcnts have been in- 

 jefted in company with the intercoilal blood-velTcIs, wlr.cli 

 pafs through two fmall glands, fituated near the head of 

 each rib, and tiien enter the thoracic dudl. The fuperf;- 

 cial abforbcnts of the upper extremity accompany the fu- 

 pcrficial veins, thofe from die palm and outfide of the hand, 

 near the little finger, run up witli the ulnar veins over the 

 internal condyle, and then accompany the bafihc vein to 

 the axilla, when they enter numerous glands fituated in 

 that part. Thefe abforbcnts, however, pievioully are con- 

 nefted with fevcral glands, which are fituated in the courfe 

 of the bafilic vein, one of which is found as low as the in- 

 ternal condyle of the os brachii. The abforbcnts of the 

 thumb, and the outfide of the hand in its vicinity accom- 

 pniy the radical veins to the elbow, and then afcend on the 

 outfide of the biceps mufcle with the cephalic vein. Arriv- 

 ing at the deltoid mufcle they bend along its inner edge, 

 and pafs between it and the pectoral mufcle to glands fituat- 

 ed beneath the clavicle. Other cutaneous abforbcnts have 

 been injeclcd from the palm of the hand, accompanying the 

 median veins in the forearm between thefe two fets, which 

 afterwards terminate in thofe, which accompany the vena 

 bafilica. The deep-feated abforbcnts of the arm are found 

 by the fides of the large arteries, and go to the glands of 

 the axilla. The abforbents of the fiioulder alfo temiinate 

 in the fame glands. The axillary glands, and thofe be- 

 neath the clavicle are connected together, and their vafa 

 elicrentia cor.joining form a large trunk, which temiinatcs 

 in the thoracic duft on the left fide, and is one of the prin- 

 tipal veffels forming the correfponding trunk of abforbents 

 on the right fide. 



Ablorbents have been injefted on the outfide of the head 

 in company with all the principal arteries : for inllance, tlie 

 tcmpoi-al, occipital, external, and inttnial maxillaiy arteries; 

 thofe from the temple pafs through fmall glands found on 

 the pa'-otid gland as high as the zygoma : thofe from the 

 face in glands, fituated in the cheeks and outfide of the 

 jaw : thofe from the occiput in glands, fituated behind the 

 maftoid procefs. They afterwards converge, and with tlie 

 decpcr-feated abforbents terminate in the moil numeroii-s 

 duller of glands found in any part of the body, excepting 

 only thofe of the mefenter)^ They have been named glaa- 

 duljc concntenata;, and extend beneath the jaw, over the 

 fide of the neck, where the external jugular veins are found, 

 and all along the internal jugular to lis termination. No 

 abforbcnts caa with certainty be faid to have been injefted 



1 



A B S 



in the brain. The abforbents of each fide of the neck hav 

 in" by conjunilion formed a common and large trunk, it 

 terminates on the left fide in tlic thoracic duct near its in- 

 fcrtion, and on the right it contributes to form the corref- 

 ponding trunk. The abforbents of the thyroid gland fonn 

 two veifels of coniiderable iizc, which end in thefe two 

 duels near their termination. Some of the abforbents of 

 the breaft, which are very numerous in females, proceed to 

 the axillary glands, being pievioufly connedted with fome 

 fmall glands, fituated midway between the brcall and axilla ; 

 others pafs over the peiloral mufcle to the glands, beneath 

 the clavicle, and others from the back part ot the breaft 

 penetrate the intercoilal mufcles, and join the abforbents 

 and glands, which accompany the internal mammary blood- 

 veflels. 



Natui-aliils, as Malpiglii, Leewenlioek, De la Hire, &;c. 

 fpeak of fimilar abforbents in plant:: ; the fibrous or hairy 

 roots of which are confidered as a kind of •vn/a abforUntiay 

 which attracl and imbibe the nutritious juices from the earth. 

 and air. From the fap-vefiels they pafs into the whole cel- 

 lular tiffue, compofed of veficles and clofely interwoven with 

 the whole vafcular part of the plant. Thence they enter 

 the vafa propria and glands, which contain and prepare the 

 fluids and fecretions peculiar to the fpecies. See Plants 

 and Vegetation. 



Absorbents, Difiafes of the, in Surgery, When we 

 conlider how recently the ilruilure and ufcs of the abfor- 

 bent vefTels have been explained, it is not furprifing tha* 

 piaftitioners are too negkttful of this branch of pathology. 

 Until thefe lail fix years, we have not met with one publi- 

 cation on the dileafes of the abforbent fyftem ; and even to. 

 the prefent day we do not podcfs a fiagle work upon this 

 fubjcil in the Englilli language. A few fcattered hints, 

 indeed, are contained in the writings of feveral authors j but 

 it lliU remains a defideratura, to point out — What are the 

 peculiar morbid aifections of tlie lymphatic glands and veffclsj 

 and what are their appropriate remedies ? To folve this en- 

 quiry in a fatisfaftory manuer, would occupy an entisc 

 volume. We can, therefore, only throw out a few cafual 

 hints, and recommend the farther profecution of the fubje<il 

 among medical men. 



I. Of morbiferous Jluids contained in the ahfrbni' fyflem. 



We know, from the experiments of phyfir/lcgifts, and' 

 efpecially of Mr. Abemethy, that the abforbcnts which 

 open on the furface of our bodies, imbibe both aqueous and 

 gafeous matters derived from the atmofphere, Or fro.n fub- 

 flances lymg in contaft with the fkin. It is denrable to 

 have the precile nature of thefe matters afcertained in diffe- 

 rent perfons, under the various circumilances of healji 

 and difeafe ; and to determine what means are advifeable, in 

 order to regulate their quantities or qualities. If our health 

 may be aifefted by the abforption which goes on upon the 

 external furface of the ftin, there is equal reafon to believe 

 we. are fom.etimes influenced by the nature of the vapours 

 that muft be conllantly in.t'ibcxi frcn the cavities, refervolrs, 

 or interllices of tb^' body. When the fynovia, tjie milk, 

 the bile, fenien, and other fecreted fluids become infpifiated, 

 this change arifes from the more watei-y parts having been 

 abforbed and carried into the fanguifero-is fyftem by the 

 lympliatic veffels.. When fenim, pus, or blood has befa. 

 cffuied among the cellular mcmb ane, its difappearance is 

 entirely owing to the aftivity of the abforbe.its. In a 

 dropfy or an emp'.iyfema, the fame agents are occ ifion.dly 

 fet to work, and will eiTedl a removal of the difeafe. Other 

 examples might be adduced to dluttrate the dift'ereat ^vays 

 in which the abforbent veffels may be imtated :ind under- 

 go a morbid change from the q.iality of their contents, not 



tOi 



