QUANTITY OF FECES. 265 



two to five and a quarter hours after it had been eaten, and that 

 the last portions did not reach the fistulous opening until from nine 

 to twenty-three hours after its ingestion. It would appear that in 

 this case the duration of gastric and intestinal digestion must 

 have been very brief much briefer than in most individuals. 



That water is absorbed by the walls of the large intestine is 

 conclusively shown by the fact that the contents of the small in- 

 testine when they pass into the large are quite liquid, but are 

 ordinarily relatively solid when they reach the lower part of this 

 portion of the intestine. If the duration of the stay of the con- 

 tents of the large intestine is, as stated, twelve hours, the time is 

 certainly sufficient for important changes. There are, however, 

 no enzymes formed by the glands of the mucous membrane, 

 but the evidence is overwhelming that proteids are here readily 

 absorbed. This power possessed by the large intestine is made 

 use of in certain diseases of the stomach, in which diseases that 

 organ is unable to perform its function, when by means of nutrient 

 enemata, skilfully administered, life may be maintained for a 

 long time. In a case of circumscribed peritonitis from perforated 

 gastric ulcer a female patient was nourished on the following rectal 

 enema for ninety-four days, during which time she lost but 2700 

 grams in weight : 



Lean beef 300 grams ; 



Pancreas . . 150 " 



These were well rubbed up in a mortar and strained, and then 

 there were added : 



Water q. s. ; 



Carbonate of sodium 5 grams ; 



Fresh ox-gall 25 " 



This sufficed for four enemata a day when diluted with a sufficient 

 amount of tepid water. 



There is evidence that sugar and fats can also be absorbed 

 from the large intestine. 



FECES AND DEFECATION* 



The term feces is applied to the contents of the large intestine 

 after all that is nutritious has been absorbed. As these pass along 

 this portion of the alimentary canal they become more and more 

 consistent by reason of the absorption of the water until, having 

 been reduced to a mass of varying consistency, they are expelled 

 from the rectum in the act of defecation. 



Quantity of Feces. The amount of feces daily passed by 



