abdomen, from the continued action of the
secretory vessels.

397. EXCREMENTITIAL absorption relates to the fluids which have been
excreted, such as the bile, pancreatic fluid, saliva, milk, and other
secretions.

398. CUTANEOUS absorption relates to the skin. Here the lymphatic
vessels extend only to the cuticle, which they do not permeate. There
has been much diversity of opinion on the question of cutaneous
absorption; some maintaining that this membrane absorbs, while others
deny it. Many experiments have proved that the skin may absorb
sufficient nutriment to support life for a time, by immersing the
patient in a bath of milk or broth. It has been found that the hand,
immersed to the wrist in warm water, will absorb from ninety to one
hundred grains of fluid in the space of an hour.

399. Thirst may be quenched by applying moist clothes to the skin, or
by bathing. It is no uncommon occurrence, during a passage from one
continent to the other, for the saliva to become bitter by the
absorption of sea water. Medicinal substances, such as mercury,
morphine, and Spanish flies, are frequently introduced into the system
through the skin.

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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?

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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, t