fluid contains hydrochloric and acetic acids. Pepsin is a compound body, and unites Fig. 17.* chemically both with hydrochloric and acetic acids, forming salts-hydrochlorate and acetate of pepsin-with them. These substances, when added to solid food containing protein and its compounds, render them very readily soluble in the fluids of the stomach. The consequence of this action is, that the food is reduced to a pulpy mass called chyme. This substance has a uniform appearance, differing in colour and consistence according to the nature of the food. The mass of the food is not all at once reduced to chyme, but the outside first: as it is formed it is propelled from one end of the stomach to the other, and quits it through its pyloric orifice. The motion of the chyme is secured by the muscular action of the stomach, which, as long as food is present, secures the turning round of the whole mass, and the gradual propulsion of it from the cardiac to the pyloric extremity. When the food or chyme has passed out of the stomach into the duodenum (Fig. 8, o, p. 132), it comes in contact with the secretions of the liver and pancreas. We have already hinted that the action of the pancreatic juice seems to be the fitting the fatty parts of the food, which are not affected in the stomach, for absorption into the system. This was a function which at one time was very generally attributed to the bile. Whether either of these secretions produce any effect on the fatty matters of the food or not, it shows that the purpose of the bile is not yet fully understood. Surely this ought to be a lesson to those pretenders to a knowledge of the physiology of health and disease, who speak of the bile as though its whole purpose and object in the economy of nature was known, A portion of mucous membrane from the human stomach, showing the openings of the secreting tubes into pits. and who speak as confidently of bilious diseases, as they impudently recommend their antibilious nostrums for their cure. We know, in fact, very little with regard to the nature and functions of the bile, and the best way to know more is to confess our ignorance. The summary of our knowledge of the bile is, that it is secreted, as described in our last chapter, in the liver, and that it either passes directly into the duodenum, or accumulates in the gall bladder, from whence it is ejected when needed. On reaching the chyme, the bile produces a remarkable effect upon it, separating it into three distinct parts, which may be best seen by removing the chyme, and adding the bile to it out of the body. These three parts are, first, a reddish brown sediment, which sinks to the bottom; second, a fluid like whey, which occupies the centre; and third, a cream-like pellicle, which floats on the top. It is only a portion of these substances that are absorbed into the system; there can be no doubt that the creamy matter at top is one, but how much of the other substances is absorbed is doubtful. The composition of the bile is very complicated. It consists of from eight to ten per cent. solid matter, the rest water. The solid matter consists of various salts derived from the blood, and of certain organic constituents. These latter readily enter into new combinations, so that chemists differ very much in their estimate of the true nature of these compounds. The ultimate elements of these bodies are, carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen. Of these, the two former predominate very much, so that the biliary compounds approach very much the nature of fatty compounds in general, These fatty matters, to which a variety of names have been given, as, bilic acid, choleic acid, bilin picromel, &c., appear to be united with soda, forming a compound similar to that which we have in the mixture of oily matter with soda to form soap. A substance is often found in the bile called cholesterine, of which gall stones are formed; but it may be regarded rather as a diseased than a healthy product of the bile. Although the bile has been in times past regarded as a product which must pass away from the system by the intes tines, it is very doubtful if this is the case. That a certain quantity of the bile with the colouring matter it contains passes off, there are many reasons for believing; but it appears that by far the largest quantity of this substance combines with the chyme, and is taken up again into the system to perform the same part in the economy as foods containing fat. We may thus regard the liver not only as an excretory organ, but as one preparing new compounds of carbon and hydrogen for further use in the system. At the same time it appears, that when large quantities of food rich in carbon and hydrogen, as oil, fat, sugar, &c., are taken into the system, it is one function of the liver to separate them from the blood, and deposit them in the intestines, where, when in too large quantities to be taken up again, they produce diarrhoea, and contribute to what are called "attacks of biliousness." The creamy fluid, separated from the chyme by the action of the bile and pancreatic fluid, is taken up by a set of vessels called lacteals. It is then chyle. It consists of water holding salts in solution, and of an organic substance suspended in it called fibrine. Floating about in it are round bodies peculiar to it, called chyle globules; also a number of small granules, which give to it its peculiar white colour; these have been called the molecular base of the chyle. In addition to these it contains oil globules, and a number of minute spherules, probably of an albuminous cha racter. EASTERN RAMBLES AND REMINISCENCES. RAMBLE THE FIFTH. BAALBEC-THE EMIR, HANGIAR HARFOOSH- "The foremost of the band is seen, An emir by his garb of green."-BYRON "Cypress and ivy, weed and wallflower grown, Matted and mass'd together, hillocks heap'd On what were chambers, arch-crush'd columns strown In fragments, choked up vaults, and frescoes In subterranean damps, where the owl peep'd, "Why didst thou build the hall? Son of the winged days! Thou lookest from thy tower to-day: yet a few years, and the blast of the desert comes: it howls in thy empty court!"—OSSIAN. As soon as I had refreshed myself with some food, drink, and a wash, I related the whole of the circumstances connected with the loss of my horse to my companions, and one of them most kindly set off with our dragoman in quest of the truant; and having made the sheikhs of the different villages acquainted with the circumstances, they all promised their assistance to recover him. While my goodnatured companion was racing over the valley of the Bekaa, in quest of my horse, I repaired with the rest of our party to the residence of the Emir, Hangiar Harfoosh-who is the governor The chyle is not absorbed into the sys- and prince of Baalbec-in order to interest tem through the common mucous mem-him in my cause. This prince is descended brane, but through the agency of those little villi (Fig. 11, e, p. 206) which project from the surface of the duodenum and other portions of the intestines. These villi contain in them little duets, each of which leads to a series of minute vessels called lacteals, which terminate in a large tube called the thoracic duct, (Fig. 8, q, p. 132.) In their course the lacteals enlarge into a number of glands called mesenteric, on account of their position in the mesentery, (Fig. 8, p, p. 132). The thoracic duct is the means by which the chyle is poured into the blood, where, mingling with that fluid, it undergoes those changes which convert it into blood itself, and fit it for the nutrition of the system. from the Shehab family, one of the most warlike and daring of the Moslem sects. The Metaweli, of whom he is the head, occupy the country around Baalbec, and are of the Sheite sect, or followers of Ali, and consequently opposed to the Sunnite creed. They curse Omar, and honour Ali: wash from the wrist downwards, instead of the tip of the finger, like the Turks; and neither eat, drink, nor sit down with a stranger. Circumstances often oblige them to conceal their real feelings, but inwardly they hate the orthodox Moslems, and have recently avowed their sentiments more openly during the insurrection at Damascus, which was headed by the Emir Hangiar. The residence of the Emir was mean, and surrounded with a court-yard, and scarcely having the recommendation of cleanliness to entice any one within its walls; but necessity obliged us, and therefore we had no choice. The Emir was seated on a divan, smoking a tchibouque, and chatting to some of his attendants who stood around him, forming an imposing group. that was issued by his Excellency, Ali Pasha of Damascus, to the Emir Hangiar Harfoosh, is a very good specimen of Ŏriental writing in the present day, I shall give the translation of it below. "That at this date we have learned from his Seigneur, The Honoured, our Friend, The Illustrious, Mr. Aud Bey (Wood), Consul of the British Government in The men were mean in appearance; they Damascus, the well-guarded, That His had none of the noble bearing that marked Seigneury had received a letter from His the Bedauwi or Druse; for the physiognomy Seigneury the Consul-General of the Engof the Metaweli is morose and dull when lish Government in Beyrout, that an Engthey are peaceable; but if excited, it dis-lish traveller was before the date of this in plays a brutal ferocity. The features are Baalbec, and his horse ran away from him, high and regular, with piercing black eyes, and then people found his horse for him, fine white teeth, and remarkably bushy and brought it to him. But there was on beards: they are about five feet one or two the back of the horse a small box, containinches in height, and active, though spare ing instruments, and things necessary and and deficient in muscle. indispensable for him. But the box was missing, and as it is indispensable to him, it is necessary that We write to you this our Order, that on receiving it you will make every possible inquiry, and cause the said box to appear, whatever place it may be in, and that you will send it to this place, under perfect care, in order that it may be delivered to his Seigneury, the above-mentioned Consul. And if the box was found open, you must inquire from those who opened it, and make them find all the contents of the said box, without a single article being deficient from it; and send the whole of it, as has been already stated, under perfect care. The Emir is rather a handsome man, with a determined look about him; somewhat above the average height-and indeed he may be called "Robust, but not Herculean-to the sight, No giant frame sets forth his common height; Yet, on the whole, who paused to look again, Saw more than mark the crowd of vulgar men." He is an expert dejereed player, an excellent swordsman, a daring soldier, a wily courtier, and a thorough rebel. He received us very courteously, heard my tale, smiled complacently, promised to do all he could for me, and in fact said that if we would remain that night in Baalbec, that the horse should be restored the following evening. He kept his word, and without any danger of breaking it on his part, as far as the difficulty of procuring the animal was concerned, for the horse was in his stable at the very time we were entreating him to use means to recover it. Although the Emir returned the horse, yet I have every reason to believe that he retained a small leather case, containing a thermometer, a compass, some mathematical and other instruments, and two letters. This case was firmly lashed upon the horse, but the Emir denied all knowledge of it; and, as he would not afford me any clue by which it might be recovered, I wrote to the Consul-General, Colonel Rose, on my return to Beyrout, who kindly instructed Mr. Wood, the Consul at Damascus, to cause the authorities there to write to the Emir respecting the case. As the order "And understand distinetly, that no excuse will be taken except for the production of the whole contents of the said-unless the whole contents of the said box are produced; and send them here immediately, and with haste. And beware of any neglect in this matter! lest the utmost blame fall upon you. "And salutation to you; and this is sufficient for the urgency." About six months after the date of the order from Ali Pasha, the case was returned to me at Alexandria, where it had been forwarded by Colonel Rose, with every article correct, except the brass-work and the compass. As soon as we had left the Emir's residence, we repaired to the great temple, and the buildings connected with it, which stand at the western extremity of the city, just within the modern walls. Baalbec surpasses in grandeur all the ruins that I have ever witnessed; and the great peculiarity of its appearance is, that it combines three distinct eras of architec ture. The purity of the atmosphere, and dryness of the climate, have done much to preserve these remains of Heliopolis for many ages; but in 1847 the viceroy directed that the ruins should be destroyed for the sake of the fine stones, which were to be employed for erecting a cavalry barracks and forage magazine. Travellers will now be deprived of the pleasure we experienced in contemplating its luxurious decorations; for it is scarcely possible to imagine or behold anything more rich in detail, and splendid in conception, than tae ornamentation of the interior of the great temple, especially the doorway. Without the ancient peribolus there was a ditch, which, together with the low wall flanked by square towers at irregular intervals, that encompasses the remaining portion of the city, would naturally lead us to suppose that it was well fortified. Baalbec, or Balbec-called by the Greeks Heliopolis, or "The City of the Sun;" by the Arabians, "The Wonder of Syria ;" and in the language of Scripture, "The Tower of Lebanon, that looks towards Damascus," is in all probability the Baal-gad mentioned in the eleventh chapter of Joshua, seventeenth verse, as we cannot refer the name to any other locality answering to the description given. The name is of Syriac origin, and signifies the city of Baal or the Sun, which was worshipped here after the manner of the Egyptians, from whom the Syrians and Chaldeans derived the idolatrous custom of heliolatry. The Greeks changed the name into Heliopolis, which is only a Greek translation of the Syriac name. The Romans retained it during their sway, but the original one of Baalbec was again assumed, and still remains. As to the period, and by whom the city and temples of Baalbec were first founded, we are utterly ignorant. Tradition asserts, that the great and mighty king and magician, Solomon, wishing to please Belbeis, Queen of Sheba-who was an heliolaterimpressed into his service all the devils and genii he could, and that by their aid the first era of architecture, consisting of the stupenduous walls and platforms to be seen on the west side of the basement of the great temple, was erected. Some of the stones are of such enormous dimensions, that we can scarcely be astonished at the superstition connected with the tradition, when we reflect how ignorant the people are of the simplest principles of mechanics. They argue not, neither do they practise; how then can we expect them to be civilized? The Arabs assert that Solomon, having amassed great wealth, had the vaulted subterranean passages constructed to secrete his treasures, and that the buildings above were only erected to conceal his design. The first historic record of the building of the temples of Baalbec, is that given by John of Antioch, surnamed Malala, who attributes the building to "Elius Antoninus Pius, who built a great temple to Jupiter at Heliopolis, near Libanus, in Phoenicia, which was one of the wonders of the world." Some of the coins of the Roman emperors confirm the statement of ancient authors, that Baalbec or Heliopolis was colonized by the Romans: thus we find that in the time of Julius Cæsar it was a Roman colony, and in the time of Augustus it is mentioned as a garrison town, which received part of the veterans of the fifth and eighth legions. Many other coins have the impress of the temples at Heliopolis on them, such as those of Julia Domna, Caracalla, and Septimus Severus; on the reverse of one of which is a temple, somewhat like that of Baalbec, with the columns in front of it, and COL. HEL. I. O. M H. -Colonia Heliopolitana Jovi Optimo Maximo Heliopolitano, as the legend. Another medal of the same emperor has only six columns in front; and the reverses of some medals of Caracalla, Philip the Elder and his wife Otacilia, bear the same legend and design. One medal of Philip the Elder has a temple with a flight of steps leading to an area, in which is represented a similiar temple to the one at Baalbec, with the legend around it of, COL. JUL. AUG. FEL. HEL.-Colonia Julia Augusta Felix Heliopolitana. Those of our readers who delight in numismatics, may possibly desire to trace the origin or connexion of Baalbec with the ancient medals farther than our space permits, and we therefore refer them to the beautiful collection in the British Museum. Abulfeda and Ibn Chaukel ascribe the origin of Baalbec to the Sabæans and Aadites. Abulfaragius says that "Constantine built a temple here, and that he abolished a custom of the place that was highly disgraceful and demoralizing, and closed the pagan temples." PLAN OF THE REMAINS OF ANTIQUITIES AT BAALBEC. 1. Chief entrance of the Grand Temple. 2. Square towers. 3. An hexagonal court. 1-77 4. Quadrangle, formerly surrounded by arcades. 5. Foundation of an ancient edifice. 6. Remains of a colonnade. 7. Great Temple, nearly perfect. 8. Saracen building. 9. Circular Temple. 10. The town of Baalbec. The present temple, which was converted into a church by Theodosius, was built by. Antoninus Pius in 154, A.D., and beyond that we have little to assist us in its historical, legendary, or antiquarian associations. It was reported to the emperor Heraclius as being strongly fortified and capable of sustaining a long siege; and after becoming the mart of the pillage of Syria, it was sacked and partially destroyed, and the greater part of the inhabitants put to the sword, 748, A.D. by the caliph of Damas |