SECT. XXV. 15. STOMACH AND 1NESTINES. 327 



branches of the abforbent fyftem, and increafect 

 abforption of others, but the analogy of thefe vef- 

 fels to the Intel; inal canal, and the fymptoms of 

 many difeafes, render this opinion more probable 

 than many other received opinions of the animal 

 ceconomy. 



In the above inflance, after the yellow excrement 

 was voided, the fluid ceafed to have any fmell, 

 and appeared like curdled milk, and then a thinner 

 fluid, and fome mucus, were evacuated ; did not 

 thefe feera to partake of the chyle, of the mucous 

 fluid from all the cells of the body, and laflly, of 

 the atmofpheric moifture ? All thefe facts maybe 

 eafily obferved by any one, who takes a brifk 

 purge. 



15. Where the (Hmulus on the ftomach, or on 

 fome other part of the inteftinal canal, is ftill more 

 permanent, not only the lacteal veflels, but the 

 whole canal itfelf, becomes inverted from its aflb- 

 ciations : this is the iliac paiTion, in which all tire 

 fluids mentioned above are thrown up by tire 

 mouth. At this time the valve in the colon, from 

 the inverted motions of that bowel, and the in- 

 verted action of this living valve, does not prevent 

 the regurgitation of its contents. 



The ftructure of this valve may be reprefented 

 by a flexile leathern pipe (landing up from the bot- 

 tom of a veflel of water : its fides collapfe by the 

 preiTure of the ambient fluid, as a fmait part of that 

 fluid paries through it ; but if it has a living power, 

 and by its inverted action keeps itfelf open, it be- 

 comes like a rigid pipe, and will admit the whole 

 liquid to pafs. See Sect. XXIX. 2. 5. 



In this cafe the patient is averfe to drink, from 

 the conftant inverfion of the motions of the fto- 

 mach, and yet many quarts are daily ejected from 

 f'-.e ftomach, which at length find! of excrement, 



and 





