he bronchia, and which
imbibe moisture from the atmosphere, and a part of the bronchial mucus, are
called pulmonary absorbents.

Those, which open their innumerable mouths into the cells of the whole
cellular membrane; and whose use is to take up the fluid, which is poured
into those cells, after it has done its office there; may be called
cellular absorbents.

Those, which arise from the internal surfaces of the membranes, which line
the larger cavities of the body, as the thorax, abdomen, scrotum,
pericardium, take up the mucus poured into those cavities; and are
distinguished by the names of their respective cavities.

Whilst those, which arise from the internal surfaces of the urinary
bladder, gall-bladder, salivary ducts, or other receptacles of secreted
fluids, may take their names from those fluids; the thinner parts of which
it is their office to absorb: as urinary, bilious, or salivary absorbents.

2. Many of these absorbent vessels, both lacteals and lymphatics, like some
of the veins, are replete with valves: which seem designed to assist the
progress of their fluids, or at least to prevent their regurgitation; where
they are subjected to the intermitted pressure of the muscular, or arterial
actions in their neighbourhood.

These valves do not however appear to be necessary to all the absorbents,
any more than to all the veins; since they are not found to exist in the
absorbent system of fish; according to the discoveries of the ingenious,
and much lamented Mr. Hewson. Philos. Trans. v. 59, Enquiries into the
Lymph. Syst. p. 94.

3. These absorbent vessels are also furnished with glands, which are called
conglobate glands; whose use is not at present sufficiently investigated;
but it is probable that they resemble the conglomerate glands both in
structure and in use, except that their absorbent mouths are for the
conveniency of situation placed at a greater distance from the body of the
gland. The conglomerate glands open their mouths immediately into the
sanguiferous vessels, which bring the blood, from whence they absorb their
respective fluids, quite up to the gland: but these conglobate glands
collect their adapted fluids from very distant membranes, or cysts, by
means of mouths furnished with long necks for this purpose; and which are
called lacteals, or lymphatics.

4. The fluids, thus collected from various parts of the body, pass by means
of the thoracic duct into the left subclavian near the j