Swallowing, or Deglutition, is the act of taking any food, whether solid or liquid, down the throat. It succeeds Mastication, and is performed primarily by the tongue, which propel-, the aliment into the gullet ; whence, by the contraction of the muscular parts, the contents are conveyed into the stomach. - See also Digestion.

Deglutition may be impeded or obstructed by various circumstances, such as swellings in the throat, or the taking of acrid, pungent, or pointed substances into the mouth: but, as the most simple and expeditious remedies for such affections have already been pointed out, the reader will consult the articles GullEt, GarGle, Quin-sey, Metallic Pointed Sub-stances, etc.