OF THE ALIMENTARY CANAL 107 



is a condition described by Sir Arbuthnot Lane, and 

 demonstrated by skiagraphy by Jordan, in which 

 the lower end of the ileum is kinked. This is one 

 of the causes of chronic intestinal stasis. Another 

 cause is adhesions round the appendix, which perhaps 

 leads to prolonged contraction of the ileocsecal 

 sphincter. In these cases there is delay in the small 

 intestine. 



The saline aperients do not induce any hastening 

 of its contents through the small intestine, and as they 

 may produce purgation in less than four hours, it is 

 possible that they are absorbed in the stomach, 

 carried by the blood, and re-excreted in the colon 

 (Hertz, Schlesinger, and Cook). 



Large bismuth enemata are able to force the ileo- 

 caecal valve and enter the small intestine. 



In animals, lateral union of two coils of intestine 

 induces much more stasis than end-to-end anasto- 

 mosis. 



The movements of the intestines are to some extent 

 excited by a hormone produced after meals in the 

 gastric mucosa, extracts of which, during digestion 

 but not during starvation, will excite peristalsis 

 when given by intravenous injection. This hormone 

 is also stored in the spleen. Under the name of 

 " hormonal " it has been introduced into medicine, 

 and is of value both for cases of intestinal paralysis 

 after operation, and also for chronic constipation. 

 A single injection often cures an old-standing con- 

 stipation. Unfortunately it is not always active, 

 and there have been a few fatalities, probably due 

 to extraneous products in the splenic extract. 



