DEGLUTITION. 199 



conclusion, as we have already noted, that the larynx is pro- 

 tected during deglutition by closure of the glottis itself. 



Although these experiments on animals were apparently 

 conclusive, the reporters of the Institute quoted observations 

 of Mercldin and Bonnet on the human subject, in which, 

 after the destruction of the epiglottis by disease, there existed 

 persistent difficulty in swallowing liquids. In these cases, 

 however, the reporters attribute the difficulty rather to " pa- 

 thological alterations of the true organs of deglutition than 

 to destruction of the epiglottis, which could not be affected 

 without involving changes unfavorable to their action." 3 

 As numerous pathological observations of this character have 

 been reported, the question could not be regarded as entirely 

 settled by the researches of Magendie. It was with the view 

 of determining this more rigorously, that further experiments 

 were instituted in 1841 by Longet. 2 



In investigating this question, Longet removed the epi- 

 glottis from six dogs. He found that in the animals kept 

 until the parts were perfectly cicatrized, more or less cough 

 followed the deglutition of liquids. One of these he kept for 

 six months, and found that when he drank milk or water 

 cough never failed to follow. The same fact was noted in 

 three of the animals that were killed on the nineteenth day, 

 and in one that was killed on the thirtieth day. In all, the 

 complete excision of the epiglottis was verified by post-mor- 

 tem examination. In one of the animals, killed two days 

 after the operation, that generally swallowed liquids without 

 coughing, there was found a swelling at the base of the 

 tongue which projected over the larynx. 3 



It is evident from these experiments that the observations 

 of Magendie we're not sufficiently extended, as he does not 



1 Ibid. 



2 Op. dt. 



3 LONGET, RechercJies Experimentales sur les Fonctions de Vfipiglotte et sur les 

 Agents d'occlusion de la Glotie dans la Deglutition, le Vomissement et la Rumina- 

 tion. Archives Generalcs, Paris, 1841, 3me Serie, tome xii., p. 418 et seq., and 

 Traits de Physiologic, Paris, 1861, tome i., p. 105. 



