Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1915-04-09
(Copyrisht. 1914. b. A. S. Crawl
CAUSES OF INTESTINAL TROUBLE


CAUSES OF INTESTINAL TROUBLE
An intimate knowledge Of the man
ner in which profound changes In the
mechanism of the gastro-intestinal
tract may easily come about at very
early age is of the greatest Importance
to every person DESTROYS of endowing
his offspring with the fundamentals OF
a happy and successful life. To all
such persons an amount of study equiv
alent at least to that required OF the
average individual in order to attain
the knowledge and technic necessary
to fit him to operate a sewing ma
chine or an automobile intelligently.
and without risk of running the ma
chine because of lack of that required
knowledge. is most earnestly recon-
mended.
It is argued by many that such
knowledge is not necessary because
natural instincts are alleged to be a
sufficient guide. But this is not true,
for humanity's environment has
changed more during the last so
years than during the previous 299.950
years Of its probable minimum exist
ence, and instincts" do not count
we have not sufficient time to devel
op instincts" required by existing con-
ditions, and must. therefore. try to use
reason instead.
Particular attention is called to the
large intestine comprising the cecum.
the colon. the sigmoid Aexure and the
rectum. The cecum il the blind
pouch or sac in which the large intes-
tine begins and into which the ilium.
or small intestine. opens from one
side. The vermiform (wormlike) ap-
pendix 10 attached to the cecum. and
this IL the little body which makes us
30 much trouble under the name Of
appendicitis. The cecum constitutes
. sort Of cesspool or catch basin low
down in the right abdominal cavity.
and from 1t. running up the right side,
rises the ascending colon. Turning
at right angle. the ascending colon
becomes the transverse colon. extend
ing straight across the upper abdom-
inal cavity to the left side. where It
again turns and becomes the descend.
Ing colon. following down the left side
to the left lower abdominal cavity,
where 1t once more turns. forming q
loop known as the sigmoid nexure,
which Joins the rectum.
Every human animal stfll comes
into the world . Quadruped. . four
footed animal, and q struggle extend
ing over fourteen to twenty months IL
required of every individual before
the physical development required for
the general mechanical mastery of
gravitation and the idea are attained
whereby we are able &c assume the
vertical and walk in the upright posi-
ton. But 1t is grave error to as
sumo that the attainment Of the abil-
ity to overcome gravity ends the strug-
gle. because II does not. Gravity IL
mans implacable enemy; 1t is per-
sistently in operation tending to drag
him down.
With this idea firmly fixed in mind
investigation makes 1t very clear that
there are at least six points in the
large intestine alone where the ordi-
nary mechanical laws may easily pro-
duce serious physical changes when.
ever there Is the least tendency toward
The first point is In the
cecum. which may relax and sag un.
der gravitational pull in any weakened
physical state. The second is at the
point where the ascending colon turns
and becomes the transverse colon.
Functional obstruction similar to that
from a sharp bend in a water
hose Is not uncommon at this point.
Sagging Of the transverse colon in the
middle. forming festoon, a deep
curve instead Of straight line across
the abdomen, constitutes the third
point. The downward turn Of the trans
Verse colon into the descending colon
the fourth point. which OBJ
Viously must be more likely to kink
he greater the degree of gag in the
transverse colon. The fifth and sixth 1
>oipts~Aee in the turns Of the sigmoid
between the descending colon |
md the rectum
Under the conditions Of modern in |
the trunk of the body is |
in the erect position. eth |
II standing or sitting. practically from !
he time we rise In the morning I'M
II We 90 to bed at night. and all the
ime the trunk is erect gravity is at
work pulling the intestinal organs
Town and out Of position. This ten
lency to drop or sag must very obvi-
'usly be exaggerated by any condition
4 weakness. and therefore. because
my food supply not of maternal origin
3 universally recognized as being de-