THE INTESTINES 259 



the food which has been converted into ch\'me by the 

 digestive power of the stomach, and in this gut is 

 converted into chyle. It is mixed with the bile and 

 the secretion from the pancreas, which enter into 

 this intestine about five inches dov\'n from its origin. 

 The bile appears to be the principal agent in this 

 change, for no sooner does it enter into combination 

 with the chyme, than the fluid begins to separate into 

 two distinct ingredients, namely, the thick white 

 liquid termed chyle — which is the nutritive portion 

 of the food — and a yellow pulpy substance, which 

 becomes excrement. A more perfect separation of 

 these substances takes place further on in the in- 

 testines, the chyle is sucked up by the mouths of the 

 numerous small vessels called the lacteals, leaving the 

 excrement alone. 



The next part of the small intestine which follows 

 the duodenum is the jejunum, through which the food 

 passes with great rapidity, for it is generally found 

 quite empty in the dead subject. It is paler in colour 

 and less in calibre, and also much longer than the 

 duodenum. 



The next intestine is the ileum, which is the longest 

 of all the intestines, and forms the greater part of the 

 convoluted tube, which lies chiefly in the umbilical 

 region. The small intestines altogether will contain 

 about eleven gallons of fluid. 



That part of the food which has not been taken 

 up by the lacteals and absorbents in its course 

 through the small intestines, passes through the 

 valvular opening of the ileum, the fluid portion of it 

 finds its way into the colon, and the rest enters into 

 the caecum. Here it seems to remain a considerable 

 time, in order that the nutriment may be extracted 

 from it. This blind pouch is plentifully supplied 

 with blood-vessels and absorbents, which perform 

 their office of carrying oft' the nutritive portion. 



