OF THE STURGEON. 
343 
The next bowel corresponds to the duodenum of the 
human subject and the mammalia, but cannot be so deno- 
minated with justice, since it is not less than 31 inches 
long. In anatomical character and physiological proper- 
ties, however, this bowel corresponds so perfectly with the 
human duodenum, that it may be adduced as a good ex- 
ample of the impropriety of naming organs from their di- 
mensions only. It is a complete mntriculus succenturlatus-, 
or secondary stomach. The characters on which it is en- 
titled to this distinction are, Ist^ its connexion with the 
pyloric end of the stomach ; SJ, its reception of the biliary 
duct ; its connexion with the pancreatoid organ, 
which has generally, but not very properly, been named 
appendices pyloricce ; and, Uh, the peculiar curvature 
which it takes, something below the middle of its course. 
In one character only, that of being attached to the spleen, 
does it differ from the human duodenum ; but this is too 
trivial a circumstance to be allowed any weight as an ob- 
jection. (Fig. A A). 
This secondary stomach, then, or duodenum, may be 
described as a cylindrical tube, bent at an acute angle on 
itself, situated betvreen the pyloric end of the stomach and 
the upper end of the intestinal tube. From the former 
point it proceeds downwards, and towards the left, for the 
space of 18 inches, when it makes a quick bend, and as- 
cends obliquely in the opposite direction for 13 J inches, 
when it unites with the intestine proper. Its calibre, be- 
fore division, scarcely exceeded 1 inch. After being laid 
open, its average breadth was about 4 inches. At the an- 
gular bend it was only 3 J ; and, though it widened again 
below this, it contracted at the inferior extremity, and be- 
came not more than 2| inches, making the caliber of this 
part not so much as one inch. 
