The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1879-07-02
MISCELLANY.
For THE RECORD
THE WONDERFUL STR UCTURE AND
FUNCTIONS OF HEHUMANB0 BODY.

At the same time the food is mastcated it
is we'll moistened by the fluid in the mouth,
called the saliva,-the first of the digestive
fluids. This is made in glands adjacent to
the mouth. The largest of these glands is
just under the ear, called the parotid gland.
1t is this gland that is so much swelled in the
disease called humps There are three pairs
of these glands, and they have ducts or pipes
going from them, which open on the inside of
the mouth. They are always at work making
the saliva to keep the mouth moist, but they
are especially busy while we are eating, in Or
der that the food may be properly moistened.
After the food is properly masticated and
moistened, it is passed down through the
pharynx and nsophagus, or gullet Gas COM
monty calIed), to the stomach. The pharynx
is large membranous cavity just below the
nose, mouth and larynx. 1t is about four in.
ches and half in length, and is continued in
to the @sophagus-a membranous canal
-heat nine inches in length, extending from
the pharynx to the stomach. s'i1o stomach -
the principal organ of digestion. 1t is the
most dilated part of the alimentary canal, and
secretes powerful solvent called the gastric
juice As the food passed from the esopha-
gus, through the cardiac valve into the stom-
ach it is met by this fluid which dissolves it
and mixes it up by the churning motion of the
stomach, caused by the contracting and relax
ing of the muscles of the stomach, into a
color called chyme. Although we may par
take of many different kinds of food, yet af-
ter 1t has gone through this process 1t all
looks alike, and is by no means distinguish
able. The proper temperature required for
digestion is 100 degrees. After the food is
reduced to chyme, 1t is then forced out
through the pyloric valve, from the stomach
into the small intestines, the first portion of
which is called the duodenum. Here the food
is met by two other juices, coming from two
different glands one from the liver, called
bile, very bitter and of a yellow color the
other from the pancreas, very mild and very
much resembling the saliva In the mouth
These fluids change the chyme into sub
stance called chyle, and the process is called
Qualification. The food is now reduced to
milky fluid, and is ready for absorption, or to
be changed into blood, destined to supply the
various parts of the body with nourishment.
It is not known exactly what the bile and the
posed that they separate the uourishing part
of the chyme from that which is not nourish-
ing, in It's passage along through the intes-
tines. AS this chyle is thus separated, 1t Is
sucked up or absorbed by vessels scattered
all over the inside of the intestines. These
absorbents are called lacteals, from the word
lac, meaning milk, because the fluid which
they absorb is a milk-lke fluid. These little
absorbing vessels all united together to form
tube about the size of common quill, call
ed the thoracic duct passing up the chest,
along the spine, to the top of the chest it
joins the blood vessels, and empties the chyle
into the same. The refuse of the aliment
vessels passes on through the large intestines,
and at length is elected from the body. The
length of the intestinal canal is about thirty
feet. The liver is the largest gland of the
body. 1t is located opposite the stomach, on
the right side, having two lobes, of dark
| four pounds. In the under side of the liver,
In small hollow, Is situated the gall-bladder,
a small oval bag which contains the bile.
| The spleen is situated below the stomach,
on the left side, between that and the ribs
It's shape is a fat oval, and is of dark iron
color. No duct or opening has been discover
ed proceeding from it, nor has its use as yet
been accurately ascertained. The spleen, II
is remarkable, has been frequently cut oui
from living dogs, without causing any appar
ent arrangement in health or digestion o.
these animals.
The pancreas is large oblong gland lying
across the back part of the abdomen, extend
ing between the spleen and the middle of th'
liver. This gland pours out fluid something
like the saliva or spittle of the mouth T; ant
by means of small duct or canal, empties i
into the small intestines, that part calles
the duodenum, as before mentioned, aloni
with the bile from the gall-bladder. Boil