64 



The upper opening of the stomach, is compressed 

 in such a manner, by the lower muscle of the dia- 

 phragm, in every inspiration, as to confine the food 

 within the stomach, and direct it^in every respiration, 

 towards the pylorus. By this means this orifice of 

 the stomach, is so closely shut, as to confine even 

 Mind or \apours within the cavity of a healthy sta- 

 rnacTi, from whence they never escape but by a morbid 

 affection. 



The fabric of the stomach answers to that of the 

 oesophagus, of which it is an expansion. (1) The 

 outmost coat is from the peritoneum,. of considerable 

 strength, so as to limit the extension of the rest, and 

 afford a support-to the subjacent muscular fibres. (2) 

 The cellular coat lies immediately under the former, 

 whence the outer and muscular tunic closely cohere 

 together, in this substance (he larger branches of 

 the vessels are distributed. Next in order appears 

 (3) the muscular coat. Here, the longitudinal fibres 

 of the oesophagus, corning to the stomach are detach- 

 ed one from another. in all direction's. 



Immediately under the muscular fibres, follows (4) 

 another cellular stratum, larger than the outermost,, 

 softer, more easy inilatil>le,and consisting of larger ve- 

 sicles than what we usually observe, even in tKe In- 

 testines. Within this cellular substance are spread 

 the small vessels, which, corning from the larger 

 branches of the stomach, enter through its muscular 

 coat, and spread internally after the manner of a- 

 plexus. Under this lies, (5) the nervous coat, which; 

 is thick, white, and firm, and makes up the true sub. 

 stance of the stomach itself, and this is again lined 

 internally with a third cellular stratum, whose vascu- 

 lar net-work is much more minute than that of the 

 former, from whence it is derived. Immediately with. 

 io this, lies (6) the villous or velvet-like coat, that 

 lines the cavity of the stomach itself, contiguous witk 

 the external cuticle, like which it is renewable, but of 

 a soft mucous texture, and extended iutoa very short 



