[p. 309]and intelligence, with the power of choosing the better [of two alternatives].
But while the stomach contracts for the reason that the whole body possesses a power of attracting and of utilising appropriate qualities, as has already been explained, it also happens that, in this process, the food undergoes alteration; further, when filled and saturated with the fluid pabulum from the food, it thereafter looks on the food as a burden; thus it at once gets of the excess- that is to say, drives it gets downwards- itself turning to another task, namely that of causing adhesion. And during this time, while the nutriment is passing along the whole length of the
intestine, it is caught up by the vessels which pass into the intestine; as we shall shortly demonstrate
|
cf. p. 317, note 2; p. 319, chap. xv. |
, most of it is seized by the veins, but a little also by the arteries; at this stage also it becomes presented to the coats of the intestines.
Now imagine the whole economy of nutrition divided into three periods. Suppose that in the first period the nutriment remains in the stomach and is digested and presented to the stomach until satiety is reached, also that some of it is taken up from the stomach to the liver.
| Note that absorption takes place form the stomach as well as the intestines.cf. p. 118, note 1. |
During the second period it passes along the intestines and becomes presented both to them and to the liver- again until the stage of satiety- while a small part of it is carried all over the body.
| Note that absorption takes place form the stomach as well as the intestines.cf. p. 118, note 1. |
During this period, also imagine that what was presented to the stomach in the first period becomes now adherent to it.
During the third period the stomach has reached
