DOI Heft:
Nr. 1
DOI Artikel:Ruffer, Marc Amand: Histological studies on egyptian mummies
DOI Seite / Zitierlink:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.11327#0041
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readily demonstrated, but the mucous membrane appeared to have completely dis-
appeared.
The intestines of that child much resembled those of the Roman child, except Greek child.
that the whole rectum and large intestine, as far as the top of the sygmoid flexure. was
filled up by an enormous mass of material. So distended was the rectum that it filled
practically the whole of the pelvis. It is difficult to believe that this was the normal con-
dition of things, and it is probable that there had been complète intestinal obstruction,
although no stricture nor cause for that obstruction could be discovered. The rest of the
intestines were quite empty. Microscopically the state of the intestines was exactly
that of the Roman child.
My friend Mr. A. Lucas kindly analysed the contents of the rectum for me and
found the following chemical composition :
Fatty matter............. 28,1 °/0
Vegetable tissue (not identified)....... 26,6 °/0
Minerai matter (insoluble in water) chiefly phosphates 5,2 °/0
Sodium chloride............ 9,8 ^
Organic matter ^soiubie in water, not identified) . . 14,0 °/0
„ „ „ „ alcohol, „ „ . . 16,3 %
100,0 o/0
The extraordinary fact is the amount of sodium chloride, which is far larger than
is usually contained in faeces. In this connection one must remember that this sait was
a favourite ingrédient of medicines and enemata of the old Egyptians.
STOMACH.
I have only examined one stomach histologically, namely the one depicted in XXIstdynasty.
Plate II. Figs. 1 and 2. It was as hard as stone and when broken across showed a
distinctly resinous fracture. Microscopically the muscular coats were easily seen, though
the mucous membrane had completely disappeared. This may have been due to auto-
digestion before death.
TESTICI.ES.
In one mummy of the XXIst dynasty the left testicle could not be found at ail,
and its place was filled by a quantity of earth which had been pushed in from above.
readily demonstrated, but the mucous membrane appeared to have completely dis-
appeared.
The intestines of that child much resembled those of the Roman child, except Greek child.
that the whole rectum and large intestine, as far as the top of the sygmoid flexure. was
filled up by an enormous mass of material. So distended was the rectum that it filled
practically the whole of the pelvis. It is difficult to believe that this was the normal con-
dition of things, and it is probable that there had been complète intestinal obstruction,
although no stricture nor cause for that obstruction could be discovered. The rest of the
intestines were quite empty. Microscopically the state of the intestines was exactly
that of the Roman child.
My friend Mr. A. Lucas kindly analysed the contents of the rectum for me and
found the following chemical composition :
Fatty matter............. 28,1 °/0
Vegetable tissue (not identified)....... 26,6 °/0
Minerai matter (insoluble in water) chiefly phosphates 5,2 °/0
Sodium chloride............ 9,8 ^
Organic matter ^soiubie in water, not identified) . . 14,0 °/0
„ „ „ „ alcohol, „ „ . . 16,3 %
100,0 o/0
The extraordinary fact is the amount of sodium chloride, which is far larger than
is usually contained in faeces. In this connection one must remember that this sait was
a favourite ingrédient of medicines and enemata of the old Egyptians.
STOMACH.
I have only examined one stomach histologically, namely the one depicted in XXIstdynasty.
Plate II. Figs. 1 and 2. It was as hard as stone and when broken across showed a
distinctly resinous fracture. Microscopically the muscular coats were easily seen, though
the mucous membrane had completely disappeared. This may have been due to auto-
digestion before death.
TESTICI.ES.
In one mummy of the XXIst dynasty the left testicle could not be found at ail,
and its place was filled by a quantity of earth which had been pushed in from above.