The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1915-04-30
(Copyrisht. 1914. by A. S. Gray)
CAUSES OF INTESTINAL TROUBLE


tract may easily come about at very
early age is Of the greatest importance
to every person DESTROYS of endowine
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 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.
1t 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
wears than during the previous 299 $50
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. The recommended in
formation may easily be secured
from short study of the pictures
and diagrams contained in any stand
ard work on anatomy, such as may be
found In practically every public H.
brary, or from anatomical charts in
general.
Particular attention Is called to the
large intestine comprising the cecum,
the colon, the sigmoid flexure and the
rectum. The cecum is 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 is attached to the cecum, and
this is the little body which makes us
so much trouble under the name of
appendicitis. The cecum constitutes
a sort of cesspool or catch basin low
down In the right abdominal cavity,
and from It, running up the right side,
rises the ascending colon. Turning
at right angle, the ascending colon
becomes tho transverse colon, extend
Ing straight across the upper abdom-
inal cavity to the left side, where IL
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 a
loop known as the sigmoid flexure,
which Joins the rectum.
Every human animal still comes
Into the world quadruped, four
footed animal, and a struggle extend
Ing over fourteen to twenty months ia
required Of every individual before
the physical development required for
the general mechanical mastery of
and the Idea are attained
whereby we are able tc assume the
~ertical and walk In the upright posi-
tion. But it is grave error to as
sumo that the attainment OF the abil-
lty to overcome gravity ends the strug-
gle, because II does not. Gravity Is
mans implacable enemy: it is per
sistently in operation tending to drag
him down.
With this idea firmly fixed in mind
makes it very clear that
here are at least six points in the
arge intestine alone where the ordi-
nary mechanical laws may easily pro-
luce serious physical changes when
ever there is the least tendency toward
The first point is in the
,ecum, which may relax and sag I'M
Ter gravitational pull in any weakened
physical state, The second is at the
'oirt where the ascending colon turns
md becomes the transverse colon.
Nun .tional obstruction similar to that
esuiting from sharp bend in water
lose is not uncommon at this point
,agging OF the transverse colon In the
middle, forming a festoon. a deep
urve instead of a straight line across
he abdomen, constitutes the third |
'oint The downward turn of the trans |
erse colon into the descending colon |
institutes the fourth point. which OBJ |
iously must be more likely to kink |
he greater the degree of gag in the |
transverse colon. The fifth and sixth |
oints are in the turns of the sigmoid |
exure, between the descending colon /
nd the rectum.
Under the conditions of modern in
ustrialism the trunk of the body is
Maintained in the erect position. eth
r standing or sitting. practically from
he time we rise In the morning I'M
u we go to bed at night, and all the
me the trunk Is erect gravity is at
YORK pulling the intestinal organs
own and out of position, This ten
ency to drop or sag must very obvi.
usly be exaggerated by any condition
weakness, and therefore. because
ny food supply not of maternal origin
! universally recognized as being de-
cient in nutritive qualities and a gen.
raj source of i'll health, it is reason
BILE to assume that all infants so fed
i'll be peculiarly liable to intestinal
asis Or constipation
Parents should be very alert and
atchful for the earliest symptoms of
'layed functioning OF the gastro-in-