Diseases of the Intestines. 443 



which directly or indirectly are liable to cause spasmodic contrac- 

 tions of the intestinal muscles (dyspcristalsis). 



As already stated the absorption of nutritive material is dis- 

 turbed in diarrhcEas; but in addition the digestive secretions and 

 the digestible constituents of the food are carried out of the body 

 by the frequent dejections. Besides there are losses of the 

 epithelium of the mucous membrane, losses of the inflammatory 

 albuminous transudate or of blood; so that the body suffers also 

 a loss of its circulatory and organic albumens. For these reasons 

 diarrhreas weaken the strength of the subject, bring about a 

 state of inanition and may perhaps be fatal. Although resorption 

 is reduced in diarrhoeas it is not entirely checked, being main- 

 tained in this or that segment of the bowel; because of this it is 

 possible, in addition to the disturbances mentioned, that re- 

 sorption of toxic substances may prevail, this feature adding 

 complications to the morbid condition and aiding in bringing 

 about a fatal termination. 



There are a variety of influences which may retard the pas- 

 sage of the chyme or completely stop its movement. Infrequent 

 defecation, protracted retention of the chyme in the large gut, 

 obstipation or constipation (constipare, to render compact), or 

 simple stoppage of the bowel, is usually due to the character of 

 the food, which ma\- cause the chyme to be too thick because of 

 insufficient presence of water or which does not stimulate the 

 mucous membrane enough and causes an atony of the muscles of 

 the intestine (from feeding bones to dogs, bran to horses). A 

 constriction or complete closure of the intestinal lumen, stenosis, 

 obturation or occlusion,* may be due to presence of foreign bodies 

 (enteroliths, concretions, swallowed stones, cork stoppers, etc.), 

 to tumors or to cicatrices. Or the intestine may be compressed 

 or squeezed from without {strangnlation of intestine, incarcera- 

 tion) when caught in some opening (rupture, hernia), or sur- 

 rounded by some band : may be twisted {intestinal tzvist, volvulus) ; 

 or become impermeable because one segment becomes invag- 

 inated in another (intestinal intussusception, invagination). The 

 obstruction of the lumen in all such cases causes a retention 

 of the chyme with accumulation toward the stomach, and the 

 possibilitv of passage of the intestinal contents, both food refuse 

 and gases, to the anus is interrupted. The chyme stagnating 

 abpve the obstruction, in which the processes of bacterial decom- 



*0'bstfucre, to barricade, stop up ; occlvdere, to close up ; ohtururc, to divert, 

 according to Roth, probably from 9vpa, door. 



