274 



the gut dies before the 6tl> day. Piece 'S^^ does not move either. On the other 

 liand the reserve-piece ^Sy^ is still in motion. Movements of fS^ are still greater 

 and have the same frequency as before. The three fluids are renewed etc. On the 

 81I1 day only .'/S';, moves distinctly: hence in horse-serum at ± 3' death })efore 

 the S'!' day. 



On the 10, 13, 15, 17, 20, 2i2'>r^ day nS-^ moves distinctly, but the movements 

 have become smaller. On the 25tl> day no movements. The reserve-piece ''S;^ got 

 fresh serum for the last time on the 2ïi'if^ day and is for the first time connected 

 ^vith the cymographion on the 27t'' day. It does not move; only its tension 

 decreases when heated. Hence in horse-serum at 3"' the intestine dies after the 

 22iifi and before the 25f'« day. 



Human gut can also be kept alive for a comparative!}' long 

 time ^). A piece of colon, obtained after an operation, moved still 

 after 36 hours. And an appendix, kept in liorse-serum, described 

 no straight line on the cjmographion after as manj' as 6 days. 

 There were slight bnt distinct contractions, which ceased when the 

 intestine was cooled down to 25°. Finaliv 1 may mention that a 

 human vn.'i deferen.^ was still alive in tj^rode-solution after 30 hours. 



Summary. 



Isolated pieces of mammalian gnt can be kept alive during a long 

 lime, much longer than the pei'iods fonnd hitherto for other anto- 

 matic mammalian organs. For this purpose the medium iji which 

 the gnt has been placed must occasionally be refreshed whilst it 

 is of great importance that the temperatnre of the solutions should be \ow. 



In Tyrode-sohilion of 15° the gut dies after 3 days, at 3° after 

 rfc 5 days, in hor.^c-senim at 15° after ± 7 days, at 3° after more 

 than 21 days. 



Also pieces of hnman intestines still showed signs of life after 

 they had lain foi* 6 days in horse-serum at ± 14°. 



Groningen, April 1914. Physiological Laboratory. 



^) I am indebted to Prof. Koch for his kindness of providing me with pieces 

 of human gut. 



