PART I. 



Effects of Section of the Mesenteric Nerves. 



"^11 



occlude the canal of the vessel. This impediment to the circulation is however 

 of no moment as the irritated coats soon relax, and the current of the blood is 

 rapidly restored. 



Sixteen experiments of this kind were performed, the results of which are 

 shown in the following statement : — 



No. 



1 

 2 

 3 

 4 



13 



14 



Nature of operation. 



Moreau's operation 



Moreau's operation combinetl with injec- 

 tion of organic fluid into the veins ... 



Moreau's operation 



Moreau's operation — 2 loops 



Moreau's operation with injection of salt 

 and water into the loop 



Moreau's operation ... 



Moreau's operation — 2 loops 



(a) Injected with water 

 (J) Not injected ... 

 Moreau's operation — 3 loops 



Moreau's operation — 2 loops 

 (a) Injected with water 

 {h) Not injected... 



Moreau's operation ... 



Periods of 



survival after 



operation. 



1 hour ... 



10 „ 



9f „ 



8 „ 



Results. 



No result 



Fluid absorbed ; loo}) empty. 



Vein plugged ; deep congestion. 



Loop distended with blood and vein occludal. 



General peritonitis ; Loop containing a little 

 strawberry-juice fluid. 



(a) Fluid absorbed — empty. 

 Qi) Distended with clear serous fluid. 

 One loop distended with blood, its vein 

 occluded ; other loops empty. 



Both loops empty. 



Contained fluid. 



Empty ; mucous membrane dry. 



Before proceeding to give a more detailed account of some of the more remarkable 

 of these cases, and more especially of those exceptional ones in which effusion of fluid 

 really did occur, it may be well to point out a few general facts regarding the entire 

 series. It is remarkable that the animals subjected to operation in no single instance 

 showed any distinct evidences of suffering during the period in which they were 

 allowed to survive the operation. We were naturally averse to keep them alive longer 

 than necessary, and at first only kept them for an hour or two, continuing the 

 administration of chloroform throughout. When, however, such experiments were 

 found only to produce negative results, we were necessarily constrained to prolong 

 life for some time, lest these might have been due to the shortness of the interval 

 elapsing between the operation and death. 



