(From venter, the belly). The coeliac artery arises anteriorly from the aorta descendens, as soon as it has passed through the diaphragm; its trunk is short, but it sends oft* from the right side two small diaphragmatic arteries, though sometimes there is but one. The left branch, which rises from the intercostales and mammariae, sends ramifications to the superior orifice of the stomach, and to the glandulae renales of the same side, as the right furnishes the renal gland on the right side, and the pylorus. After these the coeliac artery sends off the arteria ven-triculi coronaria, and the gastrica superior; then divides into the arteria hepatica on the right hand, and the arteria splenica on the left. Sometimes this artery is divided into the coronaria, hepatica, and splenica; in the same place, very near its origin, the trunk going out from the aorta in a straight line, and the branches from the trunk almost at right angles, like radii from the axis, whence this trunk has been called axis arteriae caeliacae.

Cosliaca passio. The celiac passion is a species of diarrhoea, in which the aliment is carried off in a liquid state, but not well digested; the discharges resemble chyle. Aretaeus calls those afflicted with this disorder Coelius Aurelianus, ventriculosi;

Hippocrates does not name the disease. Sauvages enumerates four species, the chylosa, purulenta, mucosa, and lactea; but the first is generally understood by the caeliac passion, which is a chronic discharge of liquid indigested aliment: in this disease, on account of the debility of the assimilating power, the aliment is left half digested, and becomes depraved both in colour, smell, and consistence, for the colour is white; there is a rumbling in the intestines, and flatus is exploded with some violence; the pain of the stomach is severe, resembling pricking; the patient becomes weak and emaciated. The disease continues long, is periodical, and difficult to cure. Dr. Cullen considers it as synonymous with diarrhoea, and mentions it in his third and fourth species, under the terms mucosa and caeliaca, making the purulenta only symptomatic.

It is said to be caused by a disorder in the first passages, which admits of the aliment being dissolved, but not properly digested. Dr. Friend says that it originates from an obstruction of the intestinal glands, on which account a sufficient quantity of lymph cannot, by these, be supplied for diluting the chyle, and rendering it fit to pass into the lacteals; hence it passes off with the excrements. He distinguishes it from the chylous flux, by observing, that in this the cause is an obstruction of the lacteal vessels.

This, though the most simple and obvious view of the subject, admits of many doubts; and its periodical return leads us to consider it in a different view. This explanation will explain the appearances of lientery, but by no means of the coeliac passion. As we find a sweet chylous matter occasionally thrown out by the kidneys, sometimes floating in the blood, and in a few instances by the salivary glands, it is more reasonable to suppose that this matter may be again deposited after being received into the circulation. Were it only a discharge from the first passages, opiates and astringents would relieve it, nor should we find its removal rapid, its return irregular, but certain. It is by no means also a symptom of obstructed mesenteric glands; and though the bile is usually wanting, it is more probably concealed by the colour than absent, since we have reason to suppose that chyle is only formed by its means.

It must be distinguished from other intestinal discharges, and from what Celsus calls caeliacus ventriculi morbus.

The cure is always tedious; often uncertain. The disease sometimes ceases, but, generally, often periodically returns. Astringents are usually prejudicial, and those remedies which gently stimulate the bowels, are manifestly the means of relief. Vomits of ipecacuanha may occasionally be given, and gentle purges frequently repeated in small doses. As the disease seemingly consists in the defective application of the nourishment, exercise, free air, and perhaps sea bathing, would be useful. See Diarrhoea and Diabetes.

See Aretaeus, lib. ii. cap. 7. Coelius Aurelianus Morb. Chron. lib. iv. cap. 3.