A treatise on diet : with a view to establish, on practical grounds, a system of rules for the prevention and cure of the diseases incident to a disordered state of the digestive functions / By J.A. Paris.

  • John Ayrton Paris
Date:
1828
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A treatise on diet : with a view to establish, on practical grounds, a system of rules for the prevention and cure of the diseases incident to a disordered state of the digestive functions / By J.A. Paris. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    or what is termed its great arch: and into the descending por- tion, including what has been called its sigmoid flecure. The coats of this intestine are much stronger than those of the others ; its muscular layer has also a peculiar disposition ; its longitudinal fibres form three straight bundles or bands, far separated from - each other when the intestine is dilated: at the same time, its circular fibres form bands, equally separated from each other, but more numerous ; from which arrangement, it follows, that in a great number of places, the intestine only consists of the peri- ton#um and its mucous membrane ; these places are generally formed into distinct cavities, which have been termed the cells of the colon ; they serve to promote a gradual descent of the excre- ment ; but, when the action of the canal is torpid, they give:ori- gin to much mischief, by unduly retaining itscontents. 21. Several physiologists have supposed that the colon per- forms some other function than that of a mere recipient. Sir E. Home imagined that it formed fat ; an hypothesis, which would have received some slight support fror the fact that the fattest animals have generally the largest colons, did we not know that persons have lived, and enjoyed good health, for many years, with an artificial anus formed by the cecal extremity of the small intestines, which sufficiently proves that the large intes- - tines are not essential to perfect digestion, nor to the maintenance of life. | 22. The Rectum is the last portion of the intestinal canal ; it begins at the upper part of the os sacrum, where the colon ends, and going straight down (whence its name), it is tied to the extre- mities of the coccyx by the peritonzeum behind, and to the neck of the bladder in men, but in women to the vagina uteri before ; ‘ whence arises the sympathy between those parts. The coats of - the rectum are more thick and fleshy than those of any other of the intestines : it has in general no valves, but several ruge ; had the former existed, the expulsion of the feces would have suffered inconvenient delay. The figure of the rectum varies, as it is full or empty : when empty, it is rege any cylindrical, -and contracts in transverse folds: it is capable of very great distention, and may even be extended to the size of a large blad- der ; the quantity of feces that sometimes accumulates is pro- digious, and cannot be removed except by mechanical means. I]. Tue various GLANDS WHICH ARE SUBSERVIENT TO THE Secretion or tHe Dirrerent FLUIps INTENDED TO ACT on THe AuimentaRY Marter. 23. There is nothing more mysterious in the digestive pto- cess than the great variety of the different fluids which appear essential for its completion; each of which has appropriate glands for its secretion. These fluids are, the salvia, which 1s
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