New views of the process of defecation, and their application to the pathology and treatment of diseases of the stomach, bowels, and other organs : together with an analytical correction of Sir Charles Bell's views respecting the nerves of the face / James O'Beirne.

Date:
1833
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: New views of the process of defecation, and their application to the pathology and treatment of diseases of the stomach, bowels, and other organs : together with an analytical correction of Sir Charles Bell's views respecting the nerves of the face / James O'Beirne. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

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    portion of the colon to become distended, and to ascend from the cavity of the pelvis into the left iliac fossa. When this occurs, the flexure, in pro- portion to the rapidity and degree of its disten- sion, begins to turn upon the contracted rectum as upon a fixed point, until at length, like the sto- mach, it directs its greater arch forwards and up- wards, and its lesser backwards and downwards. By this movement the contents are brought some- what perpendicular to, and so as to bear directly upon the upper extremity or annulus of the con- tracted rectum, but as their mere weight is in- sufficient to force a passage downwards, and as this end cannot be accomplished either by such gentle pressure as that exerted by the alternate contraction of the diaphragm and abdominal mus- cles in ordinary respiration, or by the efforts of the flexure itself, in consequence of its muscular power being so very inferior to that of the rec- tum, they are compelled to remain stationary, un- til such time as the increasing accumulation and distension produce a sense of uneasiness sufficient to call into action those great expulsive agents, the diaphragm and abdominal muscles.* These mus- * Why are the abdominal muscles called into action, when the caecum and colon become fully distended ? The question is a new one. Apparently, also, it is one of great difficulty; but the la- bours of a French experimental physiologist, and which, though now nearly two years published, appear to be little known in these kingdoms, enable me to give to it what I consider a direct and sa- tisfactory answer. By a great number of ingeniously contrived