DIGESTION 141 



The Specific Action of Enzymes. The number of enzymes in the 

 digestive fluids and in the various tissues of the body has given rise to the 

 idea, which has been confirmed by experiment, that an enzyme exerts its 

 action on but one substrate, in other words, that its action is specific. Thus 

 an enzyme that would transform starch into sugar would not be capable of 

 causing a cleavage of fat into a fat acid and glycerin; an enzyme that would 

 cause a cleavage of saccharose would not be capable of causing a cleavage of 

 lactose. So with all other enzymes. Each seems to be specially adapted to 

 catalyze but one substrate under given conditions. Various other features 

 of enzymes, their mode of action, their origin from preexisting substances, 

 the methods by which they are made active, the conditions under which 

 they are most active, etc., will be mentioned in connection with a considera- 

 tion of the fluids and tissues in which they are present. 



MOUTH DIGESTION 



The digestion of the food as it takes place in the mouth ^ comprises 

 a series of physical and chemic changes, the result of the action of the 

 teeth, the tongue, and the saliva. The mechanic division of the food 

 and the incorporation of the saliva with it are termed respectively mastication 

 and insalivation. 



MASTICATION 



Mastication is the mechanic division of the food, and is accomplished 

 fey the teeth and the movements of the lower jaw under the influence of 

 muscle contractions. Complete mechanic disintegration of the food is 

 important for its subsequent solution and chemic transformation; for when 

 finely divided it presents a larger surface to the action of the digestive 

 fluids and thus enables them to exert their respective actions more effectively 

 and in a shorter period of time. 



The Teeth. In man passing from childhood to adult lite two sets 

 of teeth make their appearance. The first set constitute the temporary, 

 deciduous, or milk teeth; the second set constitute the permanent teeth, 

 which should last with proper care through life or to an advanced age. 



The temporary teeth, twenty in number, ten in each jaw, though smalle 

 than the permanent teeth, have the same general conformation Lhey 

 are divided into four incisors, two cuspids or canines, and 



C The W permanent teeth, thirty-two in number, sixteen in each jaw, are 

 divided into four incisors, two cuspids or canines, four bicuspic 

 molars, and six molars for each jaw. 



Each tooth may be said to consist of three portions: (i) 



water. Irthis instanceaftera these 



nets of the reaction begin to recombine with the formation of the * 



analytic and synthetic are increased in velocity. The enzyme, however, d< 

 merely hastens a reaction already taking place. 



