LIQUIDS. 623 



The noise, made by the air, as it passes backwards and forwards in 

 the intestinal canal, constitutes the affection called borborygmus. 



So much for the digestion of solid food. In so delicate and compli- 

 cated an apparatus, it would seem, that mischief ought more frequently 

 to result from the various heterogeneous substances that are received 

 into the digestive tube. Its resistance, however, to morbific agencies 

 is astonishing. In the Museum of the Boston Society for Medical 

 Improvement 1 an open penknife is preserved, which was swallowed by 

 a child between three and four years of age, and passed from the bowels 

 after the expiration of fifty-one hours; the child, in the meantime, play- 

 ing about as usual, and not seeming to suffer. The story of the luna- 

 tic, under the care of Dr. Fox of Bristol, who swallowed "some inches" 

 of a poker, which came away without any suffering, is regarded as 

 authentic; 2 and there is no question in regard to the authenticity of the 

 case of the sailor recorded by Dr. Marcet, 3 who swallowed a number of 

 clasp knives with impunity, but ultimately fell a victim to his idle 

 temerity, having swallowed, in the whole, thirty-seven! 



5. DIGESTION OF LIQUIDS. 



In inquiring into the digestion of liquids, we shall follow the same 

 order as that observed in considering the digestion of solids; but as 

 many of the acts are accomplished in the same manner, it will not be 

 necessary to dwell upon them. 



Thirst or the desire for drink is an internal sensation; in its essence 

 resembling that of hunger, although not referred to the same organs. 

 It arises from the necessities of the system ; from the constant drain of 

 the fluid portions of Ae blood; and is instinctive or essentially allied to 

 organization. The sensation differs in different persons, and is rarely 

 alike in the same. Usually, it consists of a feeling of dryness, con- 

 striction, and heat in the back part of the mouth, pharynx, CESophagus, 

 and occasionally in the stomach; and, if prolonged, redness and tume- 

 faction of the parts supervene, with a clammy condition of the mucous 

 follicular and diminution and viscidity of the salivary secretions. 

 These phenomena are described as being accompanied by restlessness, 

 general heat, injected eyes, disturbed mind, acceleration of the circula- 

 tion, and short breathing, the mouth being frequently and largely open, 

 so as to admit the air to come in contact with the irritated parts, and 

 thus afford momentary relief. 



Thirst is a very common symptom of febrile and inflammatory dis- 

 eases, in which fluid especially cold fluid is desired in consequence 

 of the local relief it affords to the parched and heated membrane of the 

 alimentary canal. It is also developed by extraneous circumstances: 

 as in summer, when the body sustains considerable loss of fluid; as well 

 as in those diseases dropsy, diabetes, &c. which produce the same 

 effect. There are many other circumstances, however, that excite it; 



1 J. B. S. Jackson, A Descriptive Catalogue of the Anatomical Museum of the Boston 

 Society for Medical Improvement, p. 158, Lond., 1847. 



2 Southey, The Doctor, iv. 297, Lond., 1837. 



3 Medico-Chirurgical Transactions, xii. 52, Lond., 1822. 



