The Colorado statesman., 1915-03-13
CAUSES OF CONSTIPATION

Habitual use of laXatives is useless
and dangerous. That positive state
ment is made in the light of % years
observation of cases that have per.
sistently followed the laxative habit
because it appeared to be vastly cas-
ier to take simple little pill. guar
anteed to produce satisfactory results,
than it was to follow an intelligently
planned but necessarily prolonged die.
tetic regime. Herein lies the prestige
and the charm of the purgatiye habit:
1t is the can opener principle. You
buy physiological activity instead of
making it yourself according to the
laws of nature, and thereby beat ma
ture at her own game. 1t is quick
and easy; results are guaranteed.
What constitutes constipation? AS
a rule few seek to analyze this ques-
tion, but content themselves with the
bare fact that there seems to be some
lack of activity along the 50 feet of
intestinal canal which appears to re-
quire correction. Then, without the
least thought as to the ultimate re.
suits, one or more of the GO odd ira
ditional remedies are blndly recon-
mended, or perhaps a supposed rem
edy may even be used solely on hear
say evidence by and from one abso-
lutely without knowledge concerning
the functional requirements of the
human machine. In this connection
there is food for thought in the fol-
lowing statement from one of our
highest authorities: Drugs of un.
known physiological action cannot
conscientiously be set to act upon
bodily tissues in disease in which we
are ignorant of deviations from the
normal"
What are the deviations from the
normal in constipation? Contributions
from the experimental psychologists.
the clinician, the photographer and the
surgeon have only very recently en-
abled us to begin to understand the
probable causes of constipation. We
are finding that there are many causes
and that very often the constipation is
only a symptom of graver conditions
than a simple intestinal inactivity"
Won Noorden, Boas, Strassburger and.
most of all. Adolph Schmidt have add
ed enormously to our fund of knowl-
edge as to the physiology, mechanics
and pathology "t the alimentary tract.
Boas test breakfast and Riegel's test
meal make it possible to determine
the general functional activity of the
stomach, while by means of Schmidt's
test diet the functional activity OF the
intestines can be estimated practically
as correctly as with the X-ray.
Microscopic investigation of the
feces under such conditions frequent
ly discloses the fact that many cases
of chronic constipation are due to the
fact that the digestion is too good.
Startling and Baylis proved that in
testinal stasis, or constipation, is due
to diminution OF an internal secre-
ton. to lack of the "hormones."
The photographer by means of the
bismuth test meal is able to show to
the naked eye the actual waves and
contortions of the intestinal canal and
has disclosed dislocated organs. fes-
tooned colons, dilated and kinked ca.
nails unsupported by earlier clinic
methods.
The surgeon uncovers adhesons,
ulcers and similar conditions often
unsuspected from any definite symp.
toms.
In addition to all the above condi-
tions which may easily account for
constipation. there is another cause
not generally considered. Physiology
teaches us that the expulsion of fecal
matter from the intestines takes place
in such manner that the contents
therein act as a kind OF Independent,
body with stimulating action upon the
walls of the intestines and the pleXus
myentericus, network of sympathet.
&c nerves situated between the longi
tudinal and the circular muscular lay.
ers of the intestinal tract. As re.
suit there follows a contraction of the
walls of the intestines and their con-
tents are expelled.
All nerves. the plexus myentericus
included are under the control of the
central nervous system. which creates
motor impulses through the medium
of the pneumogastric nerve (vagus)
so that strong emotions, mental shock
and the like may by reason of the
irritation of the pneumogastric
(vagus), the motor nerve of the in.
testines, produce movement of the
bowels. or an inhibitory or restraining
influence through the Intervention OF
the splanchnic (visceraD nerves may
cause a check to the peristaltic move,
ments. Obviously, then, mental states
may also be at the bottom of some
cases of constipation. But without
any discrimination whatever the anna.
teur, ignorant of the possible condi
tions, takes and recommends rene.
dies promiscuously. And society
stands aghast and puzzled at the in.