PROP. III.--_That those medicines which are completely insoluble in water, and in the gastric and intestinal juices, cannot gain entrance into the circulation._
It may at first sight be objected to this proposition, that fatty matters may probably enter the lacteals in an undissolved state. But this is not proved; and besides, whether dissolved or not, we know that they are soluble in one at least of the intestinal juices--viz. the Bile. So that they do not come under the above definition.
We have just seen that many medicines which are given in the insoluble form are capable of being dissolved in the fluids of the intestinal canal. This so much reduces the list of perfectly insoluble medicines, that it is difficult to find any that come under such a definition. But Charcoal, the simple metals, woody fibre, and Nitrate of Bismuth, will serve as examples.
Sulphate of Lead is often quoted as perfectly insoluble; but this is not the case. It is soluble in a solution of acetate of ammonia. This salt is contained in the perspiration. Thus the sulphate, when substituted for the carbonate in some lead works at Paris, proved fatal to the foreman, who died of colic. M. Flandin found that it poisoned a dog when rubbed into the skin as ointment. Even some metals may possibly be brought within the influence of weak acids when in a fine state of subdivision, as Mercury in blue-pill. Gold in a very fine powder has been used successfully in syphilis.
Thus the list of insoluble substances is still further reduced. But there is no doubt that many substances which are slightly soluble in the intestinal fluids may in great part escape this solution, and pass out with the fæces just as they went in.
To assert that the particles of an insoluble substance cannot pass through the homogeneous wall of the capillary or absorbent vessels, is merely to state what follows from an absolute physical law, and is generally admitted by physiologists. But even this fundamental datum has been lately attacked.
Professor [OE]sterlen of Dorpat has been induced to affirm the possibility of the absorption of insoluble substances, from some experiments which he has made. Finely-powdered charcoal was administered to rabbits for some days. They were then killed, and globules of charcoal, measuring from 1/6000 to 1/3000 of an inch, were found in the blood of the Portal circulation. (_Zeitschrift für Rationelle Medizin_, 1847.) To obtain these results the microscope was used, a far less certain test in such matters than chemical analysis. [OE]sterlen reasonably concludes that, if charcoal can so pass, so also can any other insoluble substance. The necessity of solution could then at once be done away with, and the blood continually liable to admixture with all kinds of heterogeneous and crude materials. [OE]sterlen asserts further that he has found minute globules of mercury under the skin after rubbing in mercurial ointment. (_Journal für Praktische Chem._, No. IX. 1850.) Now, if these things were true, there could be no need to suppose the solution of insoluble active medicines, for they would be enabled without difficulty to pass through in an undissolved state.