chap, xvii.j ABDOMINAL VISCERA. 341 



diseased conditions. In one case more than two yards 

 of the small intestine were cut away on account of 

 multiple stricture. The patient, a young woman, 

 made an excellent recovery. Resections have also 

 been successfully performed in cases of bullet wound 

 or stab involving the lesser bowel. 



In uniting divided intestine by suture (enteroraphy) 

 it is essential that the serous coat of the ends of the 

 bowel should be brought together. This is best effected 

 by the suture known as Lembert's. Experience shows 

 that if leakage occurs after resection or suture of in- 

 testine it will most likely occur along the attachment 

 of the mesentery. This circumstance is thus explained 

 by Mr. Anderson. The two layers of the mesentery 

 diverge as they approach the bowel, and so leave a 

 ti'iangular space, the base of which, averaging about 

 T yths of an inch in width, is formed by the uncovered 

 muscular tissue. It is the existence of this bare piece 

 of intestine that renders adjustment of the serous coat 

 at the attachment of the mesentery a matter of some 

 difficulty. 



The ileo-caecal region. The caecum is, to a 

 certain extent, rudimentary in man, as it is also in 

 the carnivora. In herbivorous animals it is of great 

 size, and appears to serve as a reservoir for the elabo- 

 ration and absorption of food. It has been said that 

 the caecum in man exists as an anatomical protest 

 against vegetarianism. The appendix persists as the 

 remains of the larger caecum of lower mammals. In 

 the human foetus it can be seen to be but the narrowed 

 extremity of a capacious caecum. The foetal type of 

 caecum, which is very characteristic, may persist 

 throughout life. From the point of view of evolution, 

 the appendix would appear to be becoming obliterated. 

 Like other functionless parts that persist a? develop- 

 mental relics, it is very frequently the seat of disease, 

 and it is worthy of note that such disease tends tc 



