226 



Dr. J. T. Cash. 



fistulous intestine is fairly regular and rapid. There is, however, 

 more tendency to occasional pauses and to the development of local 

 non-propulsive movement which often inaugurate a phase of peristal- 

 tic activity. Four or five hours after a meal and until the recurrence 

 of hunger — period of repletion — the progression of a solid body 

 through the fistula is at its slowest, long pauses being frequently 

 observed without the occurrence of any propelling contractions. 



Even when peristalsis is occurring it is slow, and has much of a 

 forward and backward character, complete relaxation behind the 

 sound succeeding an active local contraction. 



A short tabulated statement of the results of several experiments 

 dealing with the speed of transmission of a solid body during fasting 

 (hunger), digestion, repletion, &c, may be found useful for purposes 

 of comparison. The average time for each centimetre of the intestine 

 traversed is not of course of absolute value. 



Condition 

 of animal. 



Length of 

 fistulous 

 intestine 



traversed. 



Total time 

 occupied. 



Average time 

 for each cm. 

 of intestine 

 traversed. 



Sound employed. 



Fasting (a) . . 

 „ (*).. 

 „ (*).. 

 » (<*)•• 



» (*).. 



» (/)•• 



After ex- 

 ercise (g) . . 



cm. 

 15 25 

 9 



15-5 

 16 



15 

 12 



13 5 



20 30 



15 

 27 30 

 33 



38 

 40 



16 30 



/ // 

 1 30 

 1 40 



1 48 

 2 



2 30 



3 20 



1 12 



Large metal capsule. 



Small 



Large 



Cork, 9 mm. x 



14 mm. 

 Large metal capsule. 

 Lean meat. 



Large metal capsule. 



Digestion (a) . . 



» (*).. 

 „ (*).- 



14 -2 

 (15' after food.) 



15-5 

 (8' after food.) 



14-75 

 (2 h. 34 m. after 

 food.) 



6 48 

 8 48 

 13 36 



26 

 36 

 54 



Large metal capsule. 



Lean meat. 



Large metal capsule. 



Repletion(a) . . 



7-5 



(4 hrs. after 

 meal.) 



76 



10 



Laige metal capsule. 



(The transit in the last case I have quoted is one of the slowest 

 I have observed. During the first 10' there was a progression of 

 1*5 cm., preceded by a pause. Local non-propulsive movements 

 followed by peristalsis succeed in 20' (4 cm. in 9') ; passage of the 

 next 3 cm. took 36'.) 



Some variation in peristalsis according to the sound employed became 



