208 ADVANCED LESSONS IN PRACTICAL PHYSIOLOGY 



stimulation. What differences do you observe? What part do the 

 vagi nerves play in deglutition ? Kill the animal by an overdose of 

 ether. Open the thorax and trace the esophagus through the chest. 

 Measure its total length, and determine the velocity of the wave of 

 deglutition. 



5. Deglutition in the Human Subject. Let the subject take a 

 swallow of water while you auscultate first over the region of the larynx 

 and again over the cardiac orifice of the esophagus. Describe the 

 character of the noises heard. Determine the approximate interval 

 between them. Chew a piece of bread and swallow in the usual way. 

 Determine the interval between the aforesaid noises. The time of 

 deglutition is much longer in the latter instance. 



6. Percussion of the Human Stomach. Let the subject take sodium 

 bicarbonate in conjunction with tartaric acid and assume the horizontal 

 position. Percuss the region of the stomach, outlining this organ with 

 colored chalk. Determine the position of the pyloric orifice. What 

 relation does the lower boundary of the stomach bear to the umbilicus? 

 Where would this boundary be found in a dilated organ? Explain the 

 fact that gas is not erupted until the subject assumes the recumbent 

 position. 



