TRANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS. 83 
periods, from the time of Ruysh, in the seventeenth century, down to the present 
period; and as precepts to guide the practitioner in his treatment, he laid down the 
following propositions :— 
J, In the great majority of cases, the cause of obstruction resides in the large in- 
testines, 
2, The lesion seldom occupies the caecum, the colon ascendens, or the arch of the 
colon. It very generally affects the sigmoid flexure of the gut, the point of junction 
of the sigmoid flexure with the rectum, or the rectum itself, 
3. The anatomical lesion is not so frequently cancerous as is supposed, 
4. In many cases represented as volvulus, intussusception, iliac passion, &c., the 
obstinate and prolonged constipation proceeds from an organic stricture of the large 
intestines. 
5. When all medical means, such as purgatives, &c., have been resorted to without 
ayail, no time should be lost in giving issue to the accumulated feces, by establishing 
an artificial anus. 
6. Calliscus’ operation, modified by Amussat, should be preferred to any other. 
7. Mercury administered internally has never produced beneficial results, 
8. In all cases of operation, the lesion of the peritoneum should, if possible, be 
avoided. 
9. The operation is equally applicable to adults and new-born infants. 
The author next described the topographical anatomy of the lumbar region, and 
showed that the colon may be opened in each lumbar space without wounding the 
peritoneum, this membrane, in its reflection from the gut to the abdominal parietes, 
eaving about one-third of the posterior surface of the intestines uncovered, 
The indications of the operation were set down as follows :— 
1, Sternal tympanitis, or accumulation of feces in the large intestines, proceeding 
from an organic lesion of the intestinal coats, and producing a mechanical obstacle to 
the passage of fecal matter. 
2. Prolonged retention of the faeces, which determines their accumulation, without 
_ depending on organic lesion, 
_ 8. Schirrons or other malignant tumours of the large intestines, Here the treat- 
ment is of course but palliative, but its effect, in many cases, is the prolongation of 
life for years. 
: 4. Imperforation of the anus, with absence of the lower part of the gut. 
The modus operandi, as practised by Amussat, was next described. 
_ The differential diagnosis of the maladies which cause intestinal obstruction was 
then sought to be established, and the author concluded by exhibiting to the Associa- 
tion several original drawings and diagrams illustrative of his subject : those drawings 
are to form part of a forthcoming work by Amussat, 

_ Abstract of a paper on the proximate cause of death after the spontaneous in- 
troduction of Air into the Veins. By Joun EH, Ericusen. 
The writer having given at length the various theories intended to explain this 
 aceident, states his opinion of their being far from satisfactory or free from objections, 
and proceeds to take them up seriatim, and combat their several principles, adducing 
several experiments that he had made, on the result of which it was that he disputed 
the validity of the causes assigned. These fully proved that death does not ensue 
_ from any functional derangement in the heart from distentic or poisonous influence, 
as that organ carries on its action subsequent to that event. They also show that air 
_ seldom or never enters the vessels of the brain, consequently death cannot be attri- 
buted to congestion of the cerebral organs. The writer next gives a history of a new 
_ Series of experiments which he performed, and from which he deduces the following 
conclusions :— 
E First, that the primary arrest of the circulation takes place in the capillaries of the 


7s 
~ lungs, or in the terminal branches of the pulmonary artery, in consequence of the 
- right ventricle being unable to overcome the mechanical obstacles presented by the air 
bubbles in the vessels of these organs. 
Second, that respiration and animal life cease in consequence of a deficient supply 
of arterial blood to the central organs of the neryous system. The author next 
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