182 



DIGESTION. 



of two ligatures 15 or 20 centimetres apart, and returning the whole 

 into the abdominal cavity. After a few hours the animal was killed, 

 and the fluid, which had collected in the isolated portion of intestine, 

 taken out and examined. Colin adopted a similar method, but with 

 greater precautions, in the horse. In one of these animals, while diges- 



Fig. 51. 



LOOP OF SMALL INTESTINE, from the horse, isolated by compressors, for obtaining 

 intestinal juice. (Colin.) 



tion was in full activity, he took out, through an opening in the left 

 flank, a loop of small intestine, which he isolated by two compressors, 

 made of flat wooden or metallic strips, enveloped by a ribbon of velvet, 

 and fastened by screws in such a way that the inner surfaces of the 

 intestine might be retained in close contact, without bruising or lacerat- 

 ing their tissues. The compressors being applied at a distance of from 

 one to tw r o metres apart after the included portion of intestine had 

 been emptied by gentle pressure, the whole was returned into the abdo- 

 men, the external wound closed by sutures and the animal killed at the 

 end of half an hour. 



On the average, 100 grammes of fluid had accumulated within this 

 time. It was clear, with a slightly yellowish or amber tint, alkaline in 

 reaction, and with a specific gravity of 1010. According to the analysis 

 of Lassaigne, it was composed as follows : 



