THE JUICES CORRESPOND TO THE DIET. 



35 



QUANTITIES AND PROPERTIES OF GASTRIC JUICE WITH 

 DIFFERENT DIETS : 200 GEMS. FLESH. 200 GEMS. BREAD, 



600 C.C. MILK. 



(According to mean values obtained by Dr. Chigin.) 



The same is represented in the following curves. (Figs. 7 and 8.) 



These facts are interesting in a high degree and also of the greatest 

 importance. Each separate kind of food corresponds to a definite hourly 

 rate of secretion, and calls forth a characteristic alteration of the 

 properties of the juice. Thus, with flesh diet the maximum rate of 

 secretion occurs during the first or second hour, and in both the 

 quantity of juice furnished is approximately the same. With bread 

 diet we have always a sharply indicated maximum in the first hour, 

 and with milk a similar one during the second, or the third, hour. 



On the other hand, the most active juice occurs with flesh in the 

 first hour, with bread in the second hour and the third, and with milk in 

 the last hour of secretion. The point of maximum outflow, as well as 

 the whole curve of the secretion, is always characteristic for each diet. 



It appears to me that the facts here given lend strong support to 

 our previous conclusion, that the variations in secretion which occur 

 during the progress of a digestion period must have some essential 

 meaning. When, for example, a characteristic curve of secretion is 

 peculiar to every single kind of food, surely this must have a definite 

 aim and possess a special significance. 



We have now learned many of the fluctuations to which, under 

 different conditions, the work of secretion is subjected. Their con- 

 formity to laws is a guarantee that they are important. It might at 

 this point be interesting, or even necessary, to endeavour to comprehend 

 the meaning of every such variation. This would bring the different 

 facts into uniformity which up till now, by reason of their want of 



