ai8 OF THE STOMACH SECT. XXV. 3. 



of digeftion, are ftimulated to difcharge their continued fluids, 

 and to feparate a further fupply from the blood-veflels : and the 

 la&eals or lymphatics, which open their mouths into the ftomach, 

 are Simulated into action, and take up fome part of the digefting 

 materials. 



3. The remainder of thefe digefting materials is carried for- 

 wards into the upper inteftines, and ftimulates them into their 

 periftaltic motion tlmilar to that of the ftomach \ which contin- 

 ues gradually to mix the changing materials, and pafs them along 

 through the valve of the colon to the excretory end of this great 

 gland, the fphincter ani. 



The digefting materials produce a flow of bile, and of pancre- 

 atic juice, as they pafs along the duodenum, by ftimulating the 

 excrerory du<5ls of the liver and pancreas, which terminate in 

 that inteftine : and other branches of the abforbent or lymphatic 

 fyitem, called lacleals, are excited to drink up, as it pafles, thofe 

 parts of the digefting materials, that are proper for iheir purpofe, 

 by its ftimulus on their mouths. 



4. When the ftomach and inteftines are thus filled with their 

 proper food, not only the motions of the gaftric glands, the pan- 

 creas, liver, and lafteal vefTels, are excited into action ; but at 

 the fame time the whole tribe of irritative motions are exerted 

 with greater energy, a greater degree of warmth, colour, plump- 

 nefs, and moifture, is given to the {kin from the increafed adlion 

 of thofe glands called capillary veffels ; pleafurable fenfation is 

 excited, the voluntary motions are lefs eafily exerted, and at 

 length fufpended ; and fleep fucceeds, unlefs it be prevented by 

 the ftimulus of iurrounding objects, or by voluntary exertion, or 

 by an acquired habit, which was originally produced by one or 

 other of thefe circumftances, as is explained in Se6t XXI. on 

 Drunkennefs. 



At this time alfo, as the blood- veiTels become replete with 

 chyle, more urine is feparated into the bladder, and lefs of it is 

 reabforbed ; more mucus poured into the cellular membranes, 

 and lefs of it reabforbed : the pulfe becomes fuller, and fofter, 

 and in general quicker. The reafon why lefs urine and cellular 

 mucus is abforbed after a full meal with fufficient drink is owing 

 to the blood-veflels being fuller : hence one means to promote ab- 

 forption is to decreafe the refiftance by emptying the vefTels by 

 venefedlion. From this decreafed abforption, the urine becomes 

 pale as well as copious, and the (kin appears plump as well as 

 florid. 



By daily repetition of thefe movements they all become con- 

 nedted together, and make a diurnal circle of irritative ad ion, 



and 



