Crossville chronicle. [volume] (Crossville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1917-11-28
CAUSES OF CONSTIPATION.

| oiotSiIy iOIOWcu tue ldAdliNC
because 1t appeared to be vastly cas-.
Ter to take a simple little pill, guar
anteed to produce satisfactory results.
than 1t was to follow an intelligently
planned but necessarily prolonged die
tetic regime. Herein lies the prestige
and the charm of the purgative 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
and easy; results are guaranteed"
What constitutes constipation? AS
rule few seek to analyze this ques-
ton, but content themselves with the
bare fact that there seems to be some
lack of activity along the IS 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 60 odd ira
ditional remedies are blindly recon-
mended, or perhaps supposed rem
edy may even be used solely on hear
say evidence by and from one abso-
1utely 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 I'M
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 symptom of graver conditions
than Simple intestinal inactivity
YQp Noordan, Hoas, Strass6urger and,
most of all, Adolph Schmidt have add
ed enormously to our fund Of knowl.
edge as to the physiology, mechanics
and pathology of the alimentary tract.
Microscopic investigation of the
'eces under such conditions frequent
" discloses the fact that many cases
IF chronic constipation are due to the
TACT that the digestion is too good
Startling and Baylis proved that in
OF nnotinofion 10 duo |
% a diminution of an internal secre-
ion, to lack of the "hormones."
The photographer by means of the
,ismuth test meal is able to show to
he naked eye the actual waves and
of the intestinal canal and
las disclosed dislocated organs. fes-
ooned colons, dilated and kinked ca
lals unsupported by earlier clinic
Methods.
The surgeon uncovers adhesions.
Ulcers and similar conditions often
from any definite symp.
oms. /
In addition to all the above condi.
ions which may easily account for
constipation, there is another cause
not generally considered. Physiology
caches us that the expulsion OF focal
natter from the intestines takes place Il
n such a manner that the contents {
herein act as a kind of Independent I
ody with stimulating action upon the
,alls of the intestines and the plexus I
1yentericus, a network of sympathex-
, nerves situated between the longi.
udinal and the circular muscular lay
rs of the intestinal tract. AS a re- I
ult there follows contraction of the {
,alls of the intestines and their con- t
ents are expelled.
All nerves, the plexus myentericus !
are under the control Of the r
entral nervous system, which creates s
rotor impulses through the medium c
I the pneumogastric nerve (vagus), G
} that strong emotions, mental shock a
nd the like may by reason Of the
ritatiOn of the pneumogastric a
vagus), the motor nerve of the in
,stines, produce movement of the 1
owels, or an inhibitory or restraining a
fluence through the Intervention of a
10 splanchnic (visceraD nerves may C
luse a check to the peristaltic move o
ents. Obviously, then, mental states p
ay also be at the bottom of some il
lses of constipation. But without 6
~ discrimination whatever the anna a
ur, ignorant of the possible condi- n
ons, takes and recommends rene e
es promiscuously. And society a
ands aghast and puzzled at the in. p
ease of crime and disease: 4
What is required more than all else s.
the practice Of sane personal by. v