396. What is recrementitial absorption? 397. Define excrementitial absorption. 393. To what does cutaneous absorption relate? Is there a diversity of opinion respecting this variety of absorption? What do well attested experiments show? 399. What remark in reference to quenching thirst? What agency conveys medicinal substances and ointments into the system when tabbed on the skin?
400. Respiratory absorption has reference to the lungs. The mucous membrane of these organs is abundantly supplied with lymphatic vessels. By their action, substances finely pulverized, or in the form of gas, are readily imbibed when inhaled into the lungs, such as metallic vapors, odoriferous particles, tobacco smoke, and other effluvia. In this way, contagious diseases are frequently contracted.
Illustration. In inhaling sulphuric ether, or letheon, it is introduced into the vessels of the lungs in the form of vapor, and through them it is rapidly conveyed to the brain, and thus influences the nervous system.
401. Venous absorption is the function which the veins perform in absorbing from the alimentary canal liquids of various kinds that have been taken into the stomach and are not converted into chyle. In other parts of the body, they also perform the common office of lymphatics.
402. Lacteal, or digestive absorption has reference to the absorption of chyle only, which is destined for the nutrition of the body.
403. Absorption is not only very abundant, but generally very rapid, and all these varieties are maintained through life, except when suspended by disease.
400. What is said of respiratory absorption? How is letheon introduced into the system? 401. Define venous absorption. 402. What is lacteal absorption? 403. What is said of absorption?
Fig. 85.
