The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1854-02-28 00:00:00

DIGESTION.

" All organic substances possess the power of taking
from the external world certain solid and liquid matters,
which assimilate to their own nature, and thus repair the
waste they are continually undergoing. It is to this re-
newal of their blood from without that digestion is in-
strumental. If we follow the food from the mouth to its
incorporation with the previously existing tissues of the
body, the waste of which it is its office to supply, we shall
gain a sufficient knowledge of the function of digestion,
and see how important to the preservance of health is the
integrity of its operations.
" The food, reduced to a pulp by the movements of the
teeth and the admixture of the saliva secreted by the
salivary glands, is swallowed by a somewhat complex
muscular action. It is moved about in the stomach by
the contraction of muscular fibres ; and, being there mixed
with the gastric juice—a peculiar fluid secreted by the
lining membrane of the stomach—it is called chyme : this
chyme is then, in successive portions, transmitted, by
muscular contraction, into the highest part of the intesti-
nal tube, termed the duodenum, which is a kind of second
stomach, where the partially assimilated food is first
mixed with the bile, and then with the secretion derived
from the sweet-bread or pancreas. From this mass a
whitish fluid—the chyle—for the immediate nourishment
of the blood, is now extracted by the absorbent vessels,
termed lacteals, the extremities of which abut on the
lining membrane of the highest parts of the 'intestinal
tube, while the residue, or excrementitious portion, is sent
downwards by what is termed the peristaltic action of the
tube, for evacuation. The chyle, taken up on a very
wonderful plan by the lacteal tubes, is transmitted through
small organs termed mesenteric glands, whence, after
important changes, it is again collected by what are named
the efferent lacteal tubes ; these by degrees unite together
into a trunk, to form the thoraic duct, which, commencing
in the abdomen, passes through the chest, and terminates
at the point of junction of the internal jugular and sub-
clavian veins on the left side of the neck, and into which
it pours its contents. The chyle, being thus mixed with
the venous blood; is carried with it to the right side of the
heart ; and, by the motion of the heart, is thoroughly
mingled with that blood which now, reinforced by the
chyle, is transmitted to the lungs, where, by exposure to
the air, the venous blood is converted into arterial ; the
arterial blood, so rendered fit for the nutrition of the body,
being sent forth from the left side of the heart, is conveyed
by the great arterial trunk and its branches, to the capil-
lary blood-vessels, which pervade all the sensible parts of
the body. From these capillary blood-vessels the several
component textures of the living frame attract the new
matter, of which they stand in need; while that which is
already reduced to the state of debris, re-enters the blood
of the capillary system, and returns with the blood, now
become venous, to the right side of the heart. The blood,
having become impure by the admixture of the debris of
the tissues, and from other causes, is purified, partly by
the lungs, by which a superfluity of carbon is thrown off,
while, by the slow combustion which it sustains, animal
heat is developed; and partly by the kidney, of which last
organ the particular office plainly is to keep the blood free
from the various chemical products generated during the
successive decompositions which the textures and their
first debris undergo.

Having in this brief, but connected manner,
stated the organs, functions, and processes of
digestion, the author next proceeds to show the
vital importance of their harmonious action in
securing the enjoyment of health ; and points out
the irretrievable ruin imposed upon the constitu-
tion by subversion of the laws which govern the
operations of digestion. In treating of specific
diseases, the best authorities are quoted ; and such
a simplification of their views is laid before the
reader as will enable any one to comprehend, in an
ordinary way, the rationale of treatment inculcated.
If carried out in the manner in which it has begun,
this will prove indeed a valuable popular handbook.

The Mercantile Marine Magazine and Nautical
Record. London : W. Foster ; Liverpool : J.

R. Cameron.

This periodical, of which the second number only
has reached us, is devoted to an exposition of nau-
tical and other sciences affecting, in a peculiar
degree, our mercantile marine. In the present
number we find interesting papers on the subjects
of " Storm Charts of the Atlantic," " The Mari-
ner's Compass and its Deviations," both very im-
portant subjects of discussion. We also find the
introductory portion of two admirable papers lately
read in Liverpool by our talented townsman, Mr.
J. T. Towson, on " Great Circle Sailing." The
remainder of these papers is promised in subsequent
numbers of the Magazine. The publication ap-
pears to be judiciously conducted, and must prove
useful.

The Monthly Journal of Industrial Progress.
Edited by W. R. Sullivan. No. 2. A well con-
sidered repertory and chronicle of industrial pro-
gress.—The Irish Church Journal, and Literary
and Theological Review. Nos. 1 and 2. This is
a spirited effort for bringing the state of theologi-
cal literature, and the value of its operations upon
general society in Ireland, prominently and favour-
ably before the public.

An Account of the Present State of the Eccle-
siastical Courts of Record ; with Proposals
for their complete Reformation. By William
Downing Bruce. London : H. Adams.
In this pamphlet, which is a well-timed one,
and one devoted to a subject of much importance,
the author reviews and exhibits, from extensive
practical observation and study, the deplorably
imperfect system and arrangements which pervade
our ecclesiastical courts of record. After a tren-
chant exposition of the defects, he submits the
annexed
PLAN FOR THE REFORM OP PUOCHEDINGS IN
ECCLESIASTICAL COURTS.
All the original wills throughout England should be
deposited with the officer appointed by the crown • they
should all be printed in the form of the present Chancery
proceedings, and an index of the whole should be formed..
A copy should be sent to each county court. In future,,
all the wills should be printed at the expense of the
executor, and a copy sent free to the Stamp-office. Thi3
would save the country a considerable sum per annum.
One copy should be sent to the county court of the dis,
trict in which the person died. These wills and indexes
should be placed under the care of a proper civil
officer, and really for such a purpose none appears so. pro-
per as the principal registrar of marriages, &c., for that
county. Each person named in the will should have a
printed notice from the principal officer of the court. The
county courts might decide all cases under eak and in
disputes of a larger amount the superior courts should
have jurisdiction. All proceedings should be exercised in
the name of Her Majesty, and all proceedings. headed
" Her Majesty's Court of Probate."
From the above extract, it will be seen that Mr.
Bruce has directed his attention to a practical
remedy for the evils he exposes, and of which he
complains,

Limited Liability Partnerships.
Longmans.

London :

A pamphlet on the right of the public to form
limited liability partnerships, and on the theory,
practice, and cost of commercial charters, by
Edward Wilkins Field, who claims a right to be
heard on this important subject, on the ground of
his being a solicitor, who has for thirty years been
engaged in the construction and repair of partner-
i ships and companies, and dealing with their
remains when decayed. Of the main subject of
his pamphlet we have treated more at length, but
in an appendix he has given replies to objections
made to granting a limited liability charter to any
American screw steam-packet company, extracted
from papers
. printed by the House of Commons.
These replies are couched in such a tone of flip-
pancy and insolence as to be beneath contempt,
and those whose cause he has attempted to espouse
may well say ; " Save me from my friends."

Little Ferns for Fanny's Little Friends. By
the author of " Fern Leaves from Fanny's
Portfolio. London : Nathaniel Cooke.

IN this elegant gift-book we have presented to us
a number of pleasantly told stories, in which the
humanities are admirably blended with the amuse-
ments, and in which the teachings of experience
are interestingly mixed up with the routine of
youthful enjoyments. The aim of the author, and
it is happily earned cut, is to sweeten instruction,

arouse reflection, and open up the fountains of
practical generosity and kindly feeling. These
objects are accomplished by the introduction of
thrilling pathos, of sly- humour, and of broad,
stilling mirth. The volume is a most attractive
one for children, embellished as it is by charmingly
executed little engravings, illustrative of yet more
fascinatingly instructive moral lessons.