LYMPHATIC ABSORBENTS. 
697 
various serous and synovial cavities of’ the body, evidently 
shewing that they perform other important offices besides those 
stated by Magendie. 
Magendie (in opposition to the third position of Mr. Hunter, 
wherein, from analogy, this physiologist attempted to prove that 
the lymphatic vessels really do absorb from serous surfaces. Sic., 
in consequence of the lacteal vessels being only a part of the 
lymphatic system, and it being known and admitted that they 
took their origin by open mouths, and absorbed the chyle from 
the inner surface of the intestinal canal) has stated that the lac¬ 
teal vessels are incapable of taking up any thing else except the 
chyle from those parts. Now this, in my idea, is proving nothing ; 
for he might just as well have said, that the lymphatic vessels 
belonging to the serous membranes, such as the pleura and pe¬ 
ritoneum, are incapable of taking up any thing except the se¬ 
rous fluid belonging to those parts. 
Before, however, I proceed further, 1 shall notice some of the 
principal experiments which he has performed on this subject, 
and which, in my idea, prove nothing against lymphatic absorp¬ 
tion ; and only go to shew, that the real veins are capable of per¬ 
forming the faculty of absorption, and which 1 have not the least 
doubt of. 
Magendie informs us, that Dr. Sogelas and himself took a por¬ 
tion of the intestine of a dog, and insulated it from the adjoin¬ 
ing intestine by two incisions ; that they left entire a mesenteric 
artery and vein, besides a number of the lacteal vessels ; that in 
this dog they divided the vein, and by that means gave access to 
the venous blood, while, in another dog, they passed a liga¬ 
ture around the vein, so as to stop the current of venous blood; 
that they then introduced into each detached portion of intestine, 
and at the same time making these parts secure by proper liga¬ 
tures, a quantity of the watery solution of the alcoholic extract of 
nux vomica ; they then returned each portion of intestine into the 
bellies of the dogs, and in the latter instance perceived no poi¬ 
soning effect, after having waited the space of one hour. After 
this, they re-established the natural circulation, by untying the 
vein, and then the- poisoning took place in the space of six mi¬ 
nutes. 
Magendie infers from these and some other experiments, which 
I shall notice hereafter, that the red veins are the real absorbents 
of the body, and that the lymphatic vessels do not absorb ; and 
that it is very doubtful whether it is the office of the lacteal ves¬ 
sels to absorb any other fluid except that of the chyle from the 
inner surface of the intestinal canal: forgetting, perhaps, that he 
lias also informed us, that the function of absorption is only a 
