Scientific Proceedings. 



37 



ever, carried it down promptly. These facts mean that the thoracic 

 esophagus, which remained normally innervated, manifested sec- 

 ondary and primary peristalsis. Retention of the olive-shaped body 

 in one place for some time fatigued the sensory nerve fibers and thus 

 impaired the mechanism of the secondary peristalsis, but the pri- 

 mary peristalsis which required only intact motor nerves remained 

 unaffected. In the cervical part, however, the innervation of the 

 left side of the esophagus was greatly impaired or perhaps even 

 abolished by the operation and the abnormal adhesions. 



We see from the last mentioned results, therefore, that the sec- 

 ondary peristalsis is completely abolished, while the primary peris- 

 talsis is practically intact, which is in harmony with the above men- 

 tioned observations of Dr. Auer and myself of the effect of section 

 of one vagus upon the secondary peristalsis of the esophagus. 



30 (173) 



Peristaltic movements of the rabbit's cecum and their inhibi- 

 tion, with demonstration. 



By S. J. MELTZER and JOHN AUER. 



\_From the Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research.'] 



The rabbit's cecum fills nearly one half of the abdominal cavity 

 and is full of food, which has to get into it and leave it again by 

 some moving force. Nevertheless we find in the literature prac- 

 tically no statement on the movements of that organ. There is 

 good reason for it. When the abdominal cavity of a rabbit is 

 opened the cecum as a rule shows no motion. We wish to report 

 that according to our observations, that organ exhibits well 

 marked and quite regular peristaltic movements ; but these can be 

 seen only in the normal animal. When a well fed rabbit is fastened 

 on its back on a holder and the hair of the abdomen is removed, 

 as a rule movements of the cecum can be seen sooner or later. 

 The movements are well marked and characteristic in their appear- 

 ance, and leave no doubt as to the organ in which they take place. 

 We shall mention only a few details in this communication. As a 

 rule, especially in well fed rabbits, the movements begin in the colon 

 and travel towards the small gut, that is, they are antiperistaltic in 



