214 



Dr. J. T. Cash. 



Observation of the Fistulous Opening during Hunger, Feeding, 

 Exercise, fyc. 



If the animal was in a condition of hunger (it received one large 

 meal of meat about the middle of each day, and manifested a desire 

 for food therefore when brought up to the laboratory about 10 o'clock 

 in the morning) the appearance of the mouths of the fistula varied 

 from time to time. 



After a certain amount of movement had taken place, it often 

 happened that a period of complete repose of 3 or even of 8 to 12 

 minute occurred without any contraction making itself manifest ; 

 then, spontaneously, movements of one or both mouths of the fistu- 

 lous gut made their appearance, which sometimes appeared to be either 

 sequences to acts of swallowing on the part of the animal, or results 

 of mental impressions. 



These contractions usually evidenced a very regular rhythm, but 

 varied greatly in strength. 



Those first occurring were frequently so slight that they could only be 

 observed by the change of position in the light reflected by the moist 

 mouth of the fistula. Increasing in strength they reached a maximum, 

 and, after persisting for a time (30" to 3' or 4'), gradually declined or 

 suddenly ceased. When peristalsis followed an act of deglutition, the 

 effect was of shorter duration and culminated more rapidly, duration 

 of the contractions was usually shorter, and the advent of their 

 maximal strength more rapid. 



If when only gentle and occasional movement of the mouths of the 

 fistula, attended by little or no extension of secretion, was occurring, 

 the animal was allowed to jump down on the floor and encouraged to 

 run a few times round the room, it was found on continuing the 

 observation after the exercise, that the contractions were much more 

 frequent and powerful, and were sometimes associated with the ejec- 

 tion of increased secretion from the lower fistulous opening. 



During the condition of hunger, i.e., before the animal had received 

 its daily meal, the smell of food, but much more markedly the swal- 

 lowing of several pieces of meat' successively presented to the animal, 

 had for effect a regular and powerful series of contractions, usually 

 attended with an increased ejection of secretion. 



It was evident therefore that without the least interference with the 

 fistulous intestine, the appearances coincided with the experiments I 

 recorded graphically, and which I shall now consider in more detail. 



Graphic Experimental Records. 

 For the purpose of recording merely an intestinal contraction near 

 the orifices of the fistula, a fine glass cannula slightly enlarged at the 

 end, upon which was fixed a small bag of delicate elastic membrane, 



