OP DIGESTION. 227 



cells which are so beautiful in the reticulum of rumi- 

 nants. 



Its internal surface is covered with mucus, probably 

 secreted in the muciparous crypts which are very dis- 

 tinct about the pylorus. 



355. The stomach is amply furnished with nerves* 

 from each nervous system (214), whence its great sen- 

 sibility, owing to which it is so readily affected by all 

 kinds of stimuli, whether external, as cold, or internal, 

 as food and its own fluids, or mental ; whence also the 

 great and surprising sympathy between it and most 

 functions of the system ; to which sympathy are refer- 

 rible the influence of all passions upon the stomach, 

 and of the healthy condition of the stomach upon the 

 tranquillity of the mind.f 



356. The abundance and utility of the blood-vessels 

 of the stomach are no less striking. Its arteries, ra- 

 mifying infinitely upon the cellular membrane and 

 glands, secrete the gastric juice, which would appear 

 to stream continually from the inner surface of the 

 stomach. 



357. In its general composition this fluid is analo- 

 gous to the saliva, equally antiseptic, very resolvent, J 

 and capable of again dissolving the milk which it has 

 coagulated. (A) 



* Walter, Tab. Nervor. Thorac. et Abdom. tab. iv. 



-f- J. H. Rahn, Minim inter Caput et Viscera Abdominis Commercium. Get- 

 ting. 1771. 4to. 



Did. Veegens, De Sympathia inter Ventriculum et Caput. LB. 1784. 4to. 



Wrisberg, Commentat. Societ. Scientar. Gotting: T. xvi. 



J Ed. Stevens, De Alimentorum Concoctione. Edinb. 1777. 8vo. 



Laz. Spallanzani, Dissert a zioni di Fisica Animate e Vegetabilt. Modena. 

 1780. 8vo. Vol.i. 



See Veralti, Comment. Institute Bononiens. Tom. vi. 



Q 2 



