256 M E xM O I R S ^Z' ^.6^ 
fpine; from this place he found a proje(5lion of the firft 
Mcfeutery into x fpiral line, like a Cochlea^ or winding pair of 
flairs; To that upon inflation, thefe inteftines made leveral 
convolurions, tho' nor exadlly Ipiral^ the fecond Mefentery was 
projcLtcd more into a plane, and made almoll: a circular figure 
at its periphery; lo that the Caecum and Colon did almoll 
entirely encirele the Imall guts; The reverfe of this ftruflure 
of tht^ mteftines, Dr. 'jtyjon formerly found in the diflcdtion of 
the ^ii]acu-^ for there the Colon made a fpiral figure, and the 
Irnallguts a plane one 5 but this fpiral convolution of the in- 
teftmes, is alio to be met with in feveral other animals, tho* 
their Uruclure be different, as in the goat and deer-kind, and 
very remarkably in a woodcock: I'he fmall guts mealured 
about fix foot and a half in length j the Coeciim was about fix 
inches, and the Colon and ReEium were about two foot long; 
the compafs o{ the 2Jiwdcnnm, (which is to be underftood all 
along here as inflated) was 5 inches; the Ilioi was 2 i inches; 
the compafs of the Ccfcum in the largeft place was 6 inches ; 
and the Colon, 4 inches; the Re^mn was 5 inches about 
from the fnine to the umiofl: projedlion of the fmall guts (under 
the fame circuniftance of inflation) meafurcd about 6 inches 
the greatc(t diameter of thq Colon in this circular figure, was 
iomewhat above 7 inches; in the whole duct of the inteilines 
there were no valves obfervable, not even in the Cceciim itfelf ; 
it is true, that the Foramen into the Ccecum v/as a great deal 
lefs than the capacity of the gut itfelf; however, the paifage 
into it was fo open and wide, as readily to receive or emit its 
contents; but the length, and frequent gyrations and windings 
of the inteftines iupply this want of valves; they prevent the 
danger of a too halty defcent of the Foeces, and give a greater 
opportunity for the leparation of the chyle into the Vafa cbyli- 
fcra ; and the Cochlea^ or fpiral figure of the firil Alcfenrery 
eafily prevents the regurgitation of the contents of the inteftines 
ngiin into the llomach, upon a declining pollure of the body 
of this animal, in which it frequently is, when it hangs by the 
tail ; for tho', as was obferved, the paffigc from the ftomach 
by the 'Pvhrns into the duodenum is large and open, yet in that 
pollure of the body there cannot but be a reduplication, or 
folding over of the jDnodenum-^ fince the great bulk of the 
inreftincs mufl: incline towards the '■JJiaplvd^rm, by which redu- 
plication, the paifagc at the ^Pylorua muif, in a great niea- 
fure, be obllruftcd, and the alcent of the contetT's mull now be 
as difficult and great, as when the animal Hands upon its fore- 
feet: 
