ABSORPTION BY THE CAPILLARY VEINS. 657 
beyond all doubt, by the positive observation of many physiolo¬ 
gists, particularly by the following. 
1. The experiments of Sir E. Home and Mr. Brodie prove, 
that when the great lymphatic trunks are tied in warm-blooded 
animals, substances injected into the stomach quickly find their 
way into the circulation, and may be detected in the urine. 
2. Experiments made by Magendie, Flandrin, Tiedemann and 
Gmelin, and others, prove that odoriferous substances, known 
by their smell, and saline substances, indicated by their tests, 
after being taken into the stomach, are detected in the veins on 
the mesentery, both larger and smaller, and in the vena portae, 
much more than in the lacteals and thoracic duct. 
3. Experiments made by Magendie prove that a poison intro¬ 
duced into an isolated portion of intestine, communicating with 
the rest of the body only by an artery and vein, or into the cel¬ 
lular texture of a similarly isolated limb, acts in the usual way, 
and nearly in the usual time, when the circulation is free. 
4. In experiments made by Segalas, it appeared that a poison 
introduced into a portion of intestine between two ligatures, 
failed of effect as long as the artery and vein leading to that por¬ 
tion were tied, although the lacteals and other textures were un¬ 
injured, but took effect as soon as the circulation was set free. 
5. In experiments made by Professor Mayer, it appeared that 
saline substances, introduced in small quantity into the bronchias 
of animals, found their way very quickly into the blood, although 
the thoracic duct was tied, and were detected in the left side of 
the heart much sooner than in the right side. 
6. In experiments by Fodera, it appeared that two saline 
solutions, applied to the inner and outer membrane of an isolated 
portion of intestine in a living animal, were united in the small 
veins leading directly from that portion of intestine. 
7. In experiments by Magendie, it appeared that a poison 
applied to an isolated vein, with all precautions to avoid contact 
with other textures, or even to an isolated artery, gradually 
transuded into the interior of the vessel, and then produced its 
usual effects. 
8. In cases of disease where large deposits of morbid matter 
have taken place within a short time,—in cases of Suppuration, 
of Fungus Haematodes, and of Melanosis, the veins of the 
affected parts have been found loaded with the morbid matter, 
more generally than the absorbents. 
It would appear, therefore, that the veins are concerned in the 
function of absorption in all the following ways:—1. They 
themselves absorb, chiefly by their smallest branches, at least 
fluid matters. 2. The contents of the lacteals and lymphatics 
are probably partially intennixed with those of the veins in 
VOL. IV. 4 u 
