Randolph County journal. [volume] (Winchester, Randolph County, Ind.) 1855-1862, 1858-06-24
For the Journal.
PHYSIOLOGICAL EsSAY.--No. 4.
by MRS. L. N. M'FARLaxp.
Digestion.

does it benefit the body? are the ques-
tioHs to be considered in this essay.
We will examine the organs and
process of digestion. The digestive
apparatus consists of a complexity of
organs which we will trace in their or
der beginning with the mouth. Here
we find the tongue, teeth, and six sal
wary glands, two lying under the
tongue, two under the lower jaw, and
one in front of, and under each ear
These supply saliva for moistening the
food. Next we find a membranous
sac called the pharynx situated upon
the upper portion of the spinal column
and extending from the base of the
skull to the top of the trachea or wind
pipe. From the pharnyx are four
passages; one opens upward and for
ward to the nose, the second leads for
ward To the mouth, the third down
ward to the trachea and lungs, the
fourth downward and backward to the
stomach. From this latter or6ce the
food passes into a large mcmbranous
tube called the esophagus or gullet.
This tube passes from the pharynx,
behind the windpipe or trachea, heart
and lungs, and through the muscular
division which separates the heart and
lungs from the stomach and intestines,
into the stomach.
The stomach, situated on the left
side of the abdomen, is of variable size
according to the habits of the eater.
Its expansive and contractile powers
are such that it will be full if it. con
tain only gill, and it may be made
to hold a quart. 1t is composed of
three coats or membranes. The out
side one is very tough and strong, and
confines the stomach in its proper po-
sition. The middle or muscular coat
is composed of two layers of muscular
fibers; one set of which is arranged
longitudinaly, the other set, crcularly.
These give the contractilc and expan-
sive power. The inner coat is soft and
thrown into folds. From the lower
portion of the stomach is an orifice
leading into the duodcnum or larger
portion of the small intestine. This,
like the stomach, has three coats, and
secretes fluid called mucus to aid in
the process of digestion. On the right
side is the liver which enjoys "gene-
raj agency" in the digestive and circu-
latory systems. Its Office in digestion
is to secrctc a fluid called bile which is
conveyed through little tube into the
duodenum, but not into the stomach.
Powerful cmctics may sometimes carry
it into the stomach, but in healthy
state it is never found there. Behind
the stomach is fattened gland called
the pancreas, about six inches in
), length. 1t sccrctes fluid called pan
crcatic juice which passes through a
!, little tube or duct into the duodenum.
Upon the inner or mucous surface of
the small intestine is the commence
ment of numerous little vessels called
lactcals. From the intestine they pass
through two layers of serous membrane
that connect the small intestine with
the spinal column, permcate the mes
: cnteric glands which lie between the
two layers just referred to, and dimin-
ishcd in number but increased in size,
pass into the enlarged portion of a
tube called the thoracic duct which,
commencing in the abdomen, passes
up in front of the spinal column to the
lower part of the neck where it makes
a sudden turn forward and downward
and terminates by opening into large
vein which passes to the heart.
Let us now examine the process o
n digestion. In the mouth the food i:
IF divided and masticated by the teeth
j This action excites the salivary gland,
F" and causes saliva to flow into tn,
mouth; not only for the purpose o
N moistening the food, but as an impor
d tant aid in its decomposition. Som,
?, people, feeling in too much haste t,
r, chew the food sufficiently, attempt t.
e, wash it down by frequent and copiou
1, draughts of tea or coffee. This prac
L. tice invites dyspepsy. The masticate'
* food is pressed into the upper part o
is the pharynx by a movement of tn
d, muscles of the tongue, cheeks am
ct floor of the mouth, while at the sam
CT time the soft palate is raised from tn
base of the tongue backward, SO as t
close the posterior opening through tn
nostrils. We stated that the esopha
: gus was situated behind the trachea Q
windpipe, consequently the food i
passing through the pharynx mus
- cross the opening of the trachea t
reach the @sophagus. Here we fin
the epiglottis, little trap door whic
shuts down over the windpipe Will
the food is passing over. and instantl