5JQ Deutscbe Siidpolar-Rxpeditioii. 



c. T li c S t 111 a. c h and Omciita. — The i2;astric viscvis presents an enonnous pcar-sliaped fiu;nre, witli tlie 

 neck or iiyloric extremity bent sliar])ly round. The oes()])ha,f,nis enters tlie stomach quite at the left and upper end; conse- 

 quciitly the grcat cul-de-sac, or fundus. is sliort, but \videly rounded. It foUows also that the great curvature is 

 long, and whith a regulär convex contour, whilst the lesser curvature is short and acutely angular. The small cul-de- 

 sac of the right extremity, or antruni jiylori. furthermore. is long, narrow, and directed forwards or upwards towards the 

 dia])hragm. The gastric and splenic vessels and nerves pass on to the surface of the stomach, about inidway between the 

 Sharp angle of the lesser curvature and the cardiac orifice, and pursue their course on the anterior and posterior siurfaces, 

 as has been described nnder the vascnlar and nervous Systems. They are large, and encompass the organ with a complete 

 raniified nctwork. 



The size of the stomach of course varies according as it is distended or othcrwise; the subjoined nieasurements therc- 

 fore, it is to be noted, apply to the empty and flattened organ. 



Extreme transverse dianieter. median liiie drawn from the fundus to tlie antriim pylori =13V2inches 



Depth or diameter between the highest point of the lesser curvature and lowest margin of the great cur- 

 vature, in a line cutting the spieen =1014 inches 



Length or outer circuniference, following the curve from the oesojihageal to the pyloric orifice =31 inches. 



Lcngth of the lesser curvature from the Oesophagus to jiylorus, following the inflexed margiii of the 

 visciis =11 inches 



Depth of tlie iiarrowcd part of the V-shai)ed angle of the lesser curvature about 2 inches. 



In the inferior of the stomach the longitudinal folds of the Oesophagus stop short, by a sphineterlike ring of mucous 

 niembranc sharply defining the cardiac orifice, which is wide and thick-walled. The mucons coat, throughout the entire 

 cavity of the stomach, has a rough, marbled appearance, from the irregulär crossing and interblending of slightly raised, 

 narrow rugae. There is a partial septum, fornied by a large semilunar fold of membrane, which projects downwards in a 

 line with the angular bend of the lesser curvature. Beyond this, towards the pylorus, the mucous plaits are more pro- 

 nounced; and dose to the pyloric orifice several longitudinal large folds exist; between these, reaching from one to the other, 

 are fine, transverse, honeycomb or narrow elliptical depressions and sinuous plicae. ^Vlthough very iiidistinct, from the folds 

 being low and flat, there is nevertheless a resemblance in the design of the mucous folds to what obtains in the flrst gastric 

 cavity of the Cetacea, e. g. Phocaena commmds. In the Lion (Felis) the lower part of the Oesophagus has transverse circular 

 folds, like valvulae conniventes, wliereas in Otniia they are longitudinal and thicker. The fundus is better marked (i. e. 

 larger) than in Olaria, and the walls throughout niuch thicker. The orifices of the gastric glands in Olaria are distinctly 

 Seen as minnte pinholes, distributed here aud there at iiitervals on the membrane. The pyloric orifice, guarded by a cir- 

 cular fold of valve, is narrow, oiily admittiiig the finger, or less thau half an inch in diameter. 



The lesser Omentum, wliile still conii)aratively thin, is rather thicker than the great omeutum. It is attached to the 

 lower or posteiior surface of the left great veiious reservoir, and to the right posterior edge of the left lobe of the livcr. At 

 this poiut it is also adhereiit to the right side of the left lateral ligamcnt. passing on to the oesopha2;eal end of the stomach. 

 Haviiig reaclied the upper curvature of the stomach, it Stretches arouiid and from it to the liver, there formiiig the dense 

 laycr of Glisson's capsule. The grcat Omentum forms a large, but exceediiigly delicate, web of membrane, traversed, as 

 usiial, by vessels derived from the right and left gastro-epiploic arteries &e. In the present iiistance there was not a trace 

 of fat in the membrane wheii the abdomeii was opeiied. It was observed not to cover the intestines and viscera, but to be 

 intermixed among the folds of the gut. This possibly may have been an accidental circumstance. 



d. Intestines. — The small intestines have a nearly uiiiforin calibre throughout their eiitire course: the average 

 diameter is three quarters of an inch. From the pyloric extremity of the stomach to the ileo-caecal valve they have a length 

 of (iO feet 2y2iuches. 



Kxcepting the curve of the gut as it passes round the head of the pancreas. which niay be arbitrarily termed the 

 duodeiiuni, there is no definite change in the charaeter of the internal mucous membrane sufficient to liniit the above as it 

 passes on to the so-called jejunum. In like mauner, excepting greater frequency of Peyer's patches, no line of demarcation 

 exists between the jejunum and ileuin. No valvulae conniventes are present. The mucous lining of the whole of the small 

 intestines ordinarily appears to Ihe eye as smooth; but looked at more closely, and especially under water, the membrane 

 is Seen In be of a velvety or iniiiMtcly \ill(nis charaeter. The villi are arranged in transverse linear folds of a very deli- 

 cate kind. 



At a distance of 22 feet from the jiyloric orilice the first Peyer's jiatch is fouiid. It is 3 inches long and about 

 0.7 inch broad. Fourteen feet further on another patch of Peyer's glands is met with, which measures 7 inches in length, 

 with a rather greater breadth than the first patch. The third agminated glaiid is 5 feet 10 inches apart from the second, 

 and like it is broadish, but by, inches long. A very considerable interspacc theii foUows, apparently free from these glands. 

 Eleven inches backwards from the ileo-caecal valve there terminates an extraordinary long and contimious Peyer's glaiid. 

 This enormous gland, or lengthened groiip of Peyer's vesicles, measures 4 feet 8 inches from the one extremity to the other. 



