250 APPLIED PHYSIOLOGY 



the ancient English custom of eating the pudding before 

 the meat is likewise more defensible than the modern 

 order of the dinner menu.' 



The cardiac orifice is normally in a state of tonic con- 

 traction,* which is aided by the fibres of the diaphragm, 

 which embrace the end of the oesophagus, as well as by 

 the oblique entry of the latter into the stomach. Division 

 of the vagus causes relaxation of this tonic contraction. 

 It is possible that such a diminution of vagus control 

 during life may play a part in the regurgitation of food 

 or the escape of gases into the oesophagus, which is the 

 cause of some forms of flatulence. 



The cardiac orifice, like the pyloric, is controlled by a 

 special nerve centre situated in the medulla. Stimulation 

 of this centre causes contraction of the longitudinal fibres 

 which pass from the lower end of the oesophagus and 

 spread out over the stomach. A horse is unable to vomit 

 because the longitudinal fibres of its oesophagus wind 

 round spirally in the neighbourhood of the cardia 

 instead of running straight on to the stomach, as in 

 most mammals. 



Absorption from the Stomach. 



The absorptive power of the stomach is surprisingly 

 small, and in this fact one may see a provision for the 

 protection of the body, for it allows of the neutralization 

 or rejection of injurious substances before they have 

 time to enter the blood. Alcohol is of all substances 



* Sinnhuber, abst. in Archiv. f. Verdauungskrarikh., 1904 

 x.93. 



