Khile studying the developriient of the large iritcstirie in the human embryo, I observed a atriking difference betwccn the forms of the I T I U C O H ~ of two transverse colons, one of which was fillcd wit,h nieconiuni, whereas thc other n-as einpty. Briefly stated, the distmded piece of intestine in comparison with the iior,-distmdeci, possessed a thinner muco:~a, thinner outer coats, shorter and broader villi, :md ihorter arid broader glaiid.;. The differeiiccr were so nxirked that it sccmed probable from the hegini?iiig that they mui;t have bceri caused by thc distention
The qiieIstion a w e , tliereupon, iince a distention of the embryonic intebtine may bring about surh resultr, cannot similar changes be produced in the intestine of the adult?
,Iccordingly, the expermielit, of distending a portion of the A i n a 1 1 in testirie under pressure and hardening in tlittt condition
The guinea-pig, beiiig the animal most easily obtained, was fortunately used for. the piirpose. A portion of' tlic small intestine, 5 to 7 cm. in length, was tied off, and distended through a sinall camla with no1~nal salt solution. The pressure obtained fioin a column of watcr 150 cm. high W B S used. The distended piece of intestine was then placcd under presaure in Zenker's fluid for about one hour, then in alcohol undcr pressure for sevcnl hours. Being hardened in a distended state, the pressure was then reniovcd and the piecc of ue imbedded in paraffin arid sectioned. For comparison ine.
niptcd.