FUNCTIONS OF THE INTESTINES. 



323 



sometimes so plentiful as to have suggested to some anatomists 

 the presence of a great Peyer patch. If the production of 

 lymphocytes through the upper fenestrated layer is a function 

 of the follicles here as it is in the ileum, the appendix would 

 have, as its physiological function, the production of quantities 

 of leucocytes intended to prevent the pullulation of bacteria 

 in the caecum: a region which, owing to its conformation, 

 must lend itself admirably to the accumulation of putrefactive 

 matter. The colon is deprived of villi, but plentifully supplied 

 with crypts of Lieberkiihn, while solitary glands, somewhat 

 larger than those in the ileum, are scattered throughout its 

 entire extent. The former doubtless furnish the mucus, while 

 the latter probably contribute the asepticizing lymphocytes. 



These views, as far as they go, are sustained by experi- 

 mental data. We must state, however, that the sympathetic 

 system alone our general motor system does not account for 

 other phenomena to be studied elsewhere in this work. While 

 the tabular plan on the next page, illustrating the nervous 

 mechanism down to the adrenals, explains all effects ascribable 

 to efferent impulses, afferent impulses are as necessary here 

 as they are in the stomach to initiate the secretions of the 

 glandular structures and, if need be, augment them. The pres- 

 ence of vagal filaments can, therefore, be assumed pending the 

 presentation of confirmatory testimony. 



After stating that "the influence of special nerves upon 

 the secretion of intestinal juice has not been studied as yet," 

 Onuf and Collins refer as follows to the disturbances that re- 

 sult from extirpation of the stellate ganglion in cats: "They 

 consisted of diarrhoea and putrefaction of the faeces. The 

 faecal matter was semiconsistent, of yellow or dark-grayish- 

 brown color, and of exceedingly foul odor. This putrefaction 

 of the faeces 'was observed in two of the three animals from 

 which we removed the stellate ganglion. In the third cat 

 they were not noted; but it should be added that this cat was 

 killed before a time corresponding to that which had elapsed 

 antecedent to the occurrence of putrefaction in the first two 

 cats. The putrefactive symptoms made their appearance as 

 late as two or three months after the operation, and it was 

 noted that the 



21 



digestive disturbances had a tendency to in- 



