the mesenteric glands are with some difficulty found; the same mesenteric glands, which during earlier life are so essential in the elaboration of the chyle, before it is poured into the blood. The digestive process is feebler during advanced life than at any previous period; and this lessened functional power is accompanied with an inability to take the same vigorous exercise as formerly. During the strength of earlier life, when the respiratory act was in its full energy, it would seem that effête materials could be rapidly removed, and at the same time warmth and heat maintained; in age, the cycle of functional life slowly revolves, till it ceases altogether, or is stopped by the slightest impediment.

The actual condition of the stomach itself in its atrophied glands expresses the fact of lessened power; the muscular coat is often wasted, unless there be some impediment to the passage of food at the pylorus or elsewhere, when the increased power required is followed by hypertrophy. There is a marked contrast in the condition of the involuntary fibre of the alimentary tract in early and advanced life; in the former period contraction is readily induced, and the stomach at once empties itself by vomiting; so also the intestines hurry on their contents, producing diarrhoea, and muscular contraction will even impel one part of the intestine into another, causing intussusception; in the latter period, flatulent distension takes place from the lessened contractive power; and the distension becomes a cause of

The

constipation, dyspepsia, and of general distress. sacculi of the colon and the appendica epiploicæ become enlarged, and unable to empty themselves, and concretions form in the bowel, although natural relief may take place daily.

The mucous membrane is more vascular, the valvulæ conniventes and villi of the intestines are in their full activity in early life; but in age, the arteries are diseased, the circulation sluggish, and the absorbent system wasted and comparatively inactive. We find, also, that in age the pancreas has a larger quantity of fibroid tissue, as another indication of ceasing energy. The liver and kidneys undergo like changes; and still further, in the examination of the large central ganglia of the sympathetic, there is a manifest difference in the appearance of the cells at the extremes of life, for in old age the cells are dark, and often loaded with pigment, as if the vital mechanism were gradually coming to a state of rest. This diminished energy requires that the supply of food should be more constant, and that long intervals should not elapse: it is often noticed that headache, disturbed vision, and symptoms resembling threatening apoplexy or paralysis, arise from an insufficient nutrient supply; and the mistake is sometimes made of exhausting by powerful purgatives, mer-curials, or even actual depletion, when ammonia or stimulants would be more appropriate.

Some of those who have attained to advanced age are

very unwilling to depart from the habits of earlier years; it is with them very important that, during the hours of the night some bland nutriment should be taken, if there be wakefulness; and although late heavy meals are very undesirable, still the exhaustion of the night hours are often followed by impeded circulation and faintness. It is thus, that the heart, during the night, not very rarely ceases in its action altogether; and the man who had retired to rest without any consciousness of danger is found in the morning lifeless. It is equally injurious so to excite and oppress the system by improper diet and stimulant, as to endanger the integrity of the minute ossified vessels of the brain, and thus cause an apoplectic attack.

In advanced life sudden changes and excitement are borne with great difficulty, and as in the earlier years, exhaustion is easily induced; with steady and slow pace the revolutions of functional work may move on, but with any violence to the system the powers of life will cease altogether.

In old age, as in infancy, we find that some remedies must be used with great caution, thus mercurials and powerful purgatives more easily cause great depression; and it would seem that opium will so act upon the urino-genital organs, as to produce retention of

urine.

The atrophied condition of the glandular organs connected with the stomach, to which we have already

referred, and the weakened digestive power, render the use of condiments sometimes of great service, and the stimulating effect of wine rightly administered assists in the maintenance of health. These agents, which in infant life irritate and disturb, now give that additional stimulus which the fading powers of life require.

There are some conditions of ordinary life which require notice, for the digestive process is in them strangely modified; and the whole system sympathizes with the important processes that are being carried on, we refer to pregnancy and to lactation. The former state induces remarkable change in the vaso-motor or sympathetic nerve of the abdomen; there is the closest union between the uterus and the stomach; a state of irritability is frequently induced, so that the stomach rejects its ordinary supply, and it does so especially in the morning, the period at which digestion is generally most active. This irritability of the gastric surface is sometimes so severe that all food is rejected quite independent of mere pressure on the viscus; the months of gestation are periods of wearisomeness and distress; the gastric disturbance, however, at once ceases on delivery. In some cases the disturbance of the stomach has been referred to the secretion from the kidney becoming disordered and changed, and this, in some instances, is doubtless an aggravation of the symptom. Again, direct pressure greatly increases the distress of this kind, but neither of these conditions suffice to explain the state

we refer to; it would seem as if the large nerve ganglia supplying the abdominal viscera were disturbed by the greater energy of the uterine plexus. Again, there are those in whom conception at once removes all symptom of indigestion; so that pain and flatulence, which for many months previously have induced indisposition, are no longer felt, and there is the enjoyment of health and strength not experienced at other times. Unfortunately in some of these instances one trouble returns as soon as the other trouble is over, and before physical strength has been thoroughly regained, the digestive process is again impaired; the uterine activity of function seems to induce equable and healthy action of the stomach.

But, although there may be irritability of the stomach, digestion is often sufficiently active, and the symptoms are actually relieved by partaking of nourishment. It would seem as if the gastric juice were secreted in excess, for the sickness and heartburn, &c. may be relieved by a little bread or biscuit. These facts tend to shew that the closest sympathy exists between the stomach and

the uterus.

Care should be taken as to the diet at this time; nourishment without excess, especially in stimulating beverages, is more likely to be followed by healthy and vigorous offspring, and by the more easy completion and recovery from parturition itself.

After delivery, the digestive process soon becomes more than usually active; and skilful accoucheurs of the