242 



FRANKLIN PARADISE JOHNSON 



TABLE 4 



Measurements showing the effects of normal distention of the large intestine as con- 

 trasted to those of contracted 



^ In this case the thickness of the glands is equal to the thickness of the mu- 

 cosa; muscularis mucosae omitted; depth longest. 

 2 Average. 



of the glands and villi. In figure 2 is shown a section of the 

 small intestine of a newborn guinea-pig distended by means 

 of a column of water 150 cm. high. The glands throughout 

 the whole piece of intestine have practically disappeared. In 

 an adult guinea-pig, however, stronger distention (pressure 

 about 270 cm. water) did not do away with glands to so great 

 an extent although in some places they are entirely gone. Those 

 few which remain are short and very broad. Distention of the 

 large intestine (pressure of 150 cm. of water) reduces the length 

 of the glands considerably. They were further shortened by a 

 pressure of about 270 cm. of water, but did not entirely dis- 

 appear. 



The epithelium also shows the effects of strongly distending 

 the small and large intestines. Whereas in the contracted 

 intestine the epithelium is composed of tall cylindrical cells, 

 with rounded or elongated nuclei, in the strongly distended 

 intestine it is much flatter, and is composed of cuboidal cells 

 with nuclei which are also flattened. In figures 10 and 11 

 are shown the effects of strong distention of the large intes- 

 tine upon its epithelium. Similar pictures may be obtained 

 from the small intestine. 



