Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1915-03-19
Downright. 1914. by A S. Gray)
causEs OF INTESTINAL TROUBLE

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CAUSES OF INTESTINAL TROUBLE
An intimate knowledge of the man
ner in which profound changes III 'he
mechanism of the OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
tract may easily come about al very
early age is of the greatest Importance
to every person DESTROYS OF enao"ihs
his offspring with the fundamentals oi
a happy and successful lie. 10 a'
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 intelllgently'
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 10 De
sufficient guide. But this is not true,
for humanity's environment mas
changed more during the last 50
years than during the previous Z99'9oo
years of it's 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 ieXure and the
rectum. The cecum is the blind
pouch or sac in which the large intes-
tine begins and into which the illum,
or small intestine. opens from one
side. The veTmiform (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 the transverse colon, extend
ing straight across the Upper abdoIn-
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 it once more turns, forming a
loop known as the sigmoid hexure,
which joins the rectum.
Every human animal still comes
INTO the world a quadruped, four
footed animal, and a struggle extend.
ing over fourteen to twenty months Is
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 tc assume the
vertical and walk in the upright posi-.
ton. But it is grave error to as
sumo that the attainment of the abil.
ity to overcome gravity ends the strug-
gle, because it 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
investigation makes it 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
eneryation. The first point is in the
cecum, which may relax and sag I'm.
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
resulting from a sharp bend in a water
| hose is not uncommon at this point.
Sagglng OF the transverse colon in the
middle. forming a 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
constitutes the fourth point, which OBJ
viously must be more likely to kjnk
the greater the degree of sag in the
| transverse colon. The fifth and sixth
points are in the turns Of the sigmoid
hexure, between the descending colon
and the rectum.
Under the conditions of modern in.
dustrialism the trunk of the BODY Ia
maintained in the erect position, eth.
er standing or sitting, practically from
the time We rise in the morning un.
I'll we go to bed at night, and all the
time the trunk is erect gravity is at
work pulling the intestinal organs
down and out Of position. This ten.
dency to drop or sag must very obyi.
ously be exaggerated by any condition
of weakness and therefore, because
any food supply not of maternal origin
is universally recognized as being de.