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Chapter XIII: The Ashes of the System.1833
abdomen, then passing over to the upper left-hand side, then passing down
again to the lower left-hand side, where it makes sort of a twist or curve, and
grows smaller, terminating in the rectum or exit of the waste matter of the
system.
The small intestine empties into the colon by means of a small trap-door
arrangement, on the lower right-hand side of the abdomen, this trap-door
is so arranged that it allows matter to pass out, but will not allow it to pass
back. The Vermiform Appendix, the seat of appendicitis, is just below this
entrance. The colon rises straight up on the right-hand side of the abdomen,
then makes a curve and passes right over to the upper left-hand side; then
descends straight to the lower left-hand side, where the peculiar twist or
curve called the Sigmoid Flexure occurs, following which is the rectum or
smaller canal leading to the anus, which is the opening in the body through
which the waste matter passes out of the body.
The colon is a great big sewer through which should pass freely the
sewerage of the system. Nature intends this sewage to be removed speedily,
and man in his natural state, like the animals, does not long delay this
necessary casting off. But as he grows more civilized, he does not find it so
convenient, and so he postpones nature’s calls, until at last she gets tired of
calling his attention to the matter, and goes off and attends to some of her
other numerous duties. Man helps along this abnormal unnatural state of
affairs by neglecting to partake of sufficient water, and not only does not
give the colon sufficient fluids to properly moisten, soften and loosen the
waste matter on its way from the system, but he even lets his body run so
short of fluids that nature, in desperation, draws back through the walls of
the colon some of the water already given it for its use—failing to get spring
water for her work, she must needs use sewer water. Imagine the result! The
failure of man to allow a free passage of this refuse matter from the colon
results in constipation, which is the source of innumerable cases of ill-health
the real nature of which is generally not suspected. Many people who have
a movement of the bowels each day are really constipated, although they