SUBACUTE OBSTRUCTION OF THE CMCUM 227 



Summarizing what we have learned from the fore- 

 going paragraphs, we arrive at the following : 



1. The chief function of the csecum is that it acts as a 

 receptacle for fluids, storing up water for the wants of 

 the body, and for digestive requirements. 



2. The contents of the caecum are always fluid, some- 

 times even watery, and never (normally) thicker than the 

 consistence of pea-soup. 



3. The caecum is a closed bag with the openings into 

 and out of it so situated that the exit is above the inlet, 

 and therefore necessitating the contents working against 

 gravity to obtain entry into the colon. 



4. It is certain that in order to get from the ileum into 

 the colon everything must pass into, or at any rate 

 through, the caecum, and yet we are assured that material 

 does not remain there long. 



5. Under normal conditions it appears quite possible 

 that the rigid nozzle-like termination of the ileum approxi- 

 mates itself to the funnel-shaped opening of the colon ; 

 that, therefore, the bulk of the ingesta may be passed 

 directly from the ileum into the colon without actually 

 entering the caecum at all. 



The above, I think, goes to show that this author does 

 not believe that the whole of the food taken into the 

 stomach must necessarily enter the caecum. He admits 

 that some passes in, for it can be found, but suggests that 

 the contents of the small intestine may be passed directly 

 into the colon without entering the caecum, by means of 

 the existing tap and funnel arrangement. This is entirely 

 opposed to Ellenberger when he says that the entire feed 

 reaches the caecum twelve to twenty-four hours after 

 entering the stomach, and that it remains in the caecum 

 for twenty-four hours. 



If the statement of Ellenberger is correct, then it does 



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