ACTION OF THE STOMACH. 497 



the walls of the stomach depends rather upon the general requirements of the 

 system, than upon the quantity of food introduced into the digestive cavity, is 

 a principle of the highest practical importance, and cannot be too steadily kept 

 in view in Dietetics. A definite proportion only of aliment can be perfectly 

 digested in a given quantity of the fluid; the action of which, like that of 

 other chemical operations, ceases after having been exercised on a fixed and 

 definite amount of matter. "When the juice has become saturated, it refuses 

 to dissolve more ; and, if an excess of food has been taken, the residue remains 

 in the stomach, or passes into the bowels in a crude state, and becomes a 

 source of nervous irritation, pain, and disease, for a long time." The unfa- 

 vourable effect of an undue burthen of food upon the stomach itself, interferes 

 with its healthy action ; and thus the quantity really appropriate is not dis- 

 solved. The febrile disturbance is thus increased; and the mucous membrane 

 of the stomach exhibits evident indications of its morbid condition. The de- 

 scription of these indications, given by Dr. Beaumont, is peculiarly graphic, 

 as well as Hygienically important. 



658. "In disease, or partial derangement of the healthy function, the mu- 

 cous membrane presents various and essentially-different appearances. In 

 febrile conditions of the system, occasioned by whatever cause, obstructed 

 perspiration, undue excitement by stimulating liquors, overloading the sto- 

 mach with food; fear, anger, or whatever depresses or disturbs the nervous 

 system, the villous coat becomes sometimes red and dry, at other times pale 

 and moist, and loses its smooth and healthy appearance ; the secretions be- 

 come vitiated, greatly diminished, or even suppressed ; the coat of mucus 

 scarcely perceptible, the follicles flat and flaccid, with secretions insufficient 

 to prevent the papillae from irritation. There are sometimes found, on the 

 internal coat of the stomach, eruptions of deep-red pimples, not numerous, 

 but distributed here and there upon the villous membrane, rising above the 

 surface of the mucous coat. These are at first sharp-pointed, and red, but 

 frequently become filled with white purulent matter. At other times, irre- 

 gular, circumscribed red patches, varying in size and extent from half an inch 

 to an inch and a half in circumference, are found on the internal coat. 

 These appear to be the effects of congestion in the minute blood-vessels of the 

 stomach. There are also seen at times small aphthous crusts, in connection 

 with these red patches. Abrasion of the lining membrane, like the rolling up 

 of the mucous coat into small shreds or strings, leaving the papillae bare for 

 an indefinite space, is not an uncommon appearance. These diseased appear- 

 ances, when very slight, do not always affect essentially the gastric apparatus. 

 When considerable, and particularly when there are corresponding symptoms 

 of disease, as dryness of the mouth, thirst, accelerated pulse, &c. no gas- 

 tric juice can be extracted by the alimentary stimulus. Drinks are imme- 

 diately absorbed or otherwise disposed of; but food taken in this condition of 

 the stomach remains undigested for twenty-four or forty-eight hours, or more, 

 increasing the derangement of the alimentary canal, and aggravating the gene- 

 ral symptoms of disease. After excessive eating or drinking, chymification is 

 retarded; and, though the appetite be not always impaired at first, the fluids 

 become acrid and sharp, excoriating the edges of the aperture, and almost 

 invariably producing aphthous patches and the other indications of a diseased 

 state of the internal membrane. Vitiated bile is also found in the stomach 

 under these circumstances, and flocculi of mucus are more abundant than in 

 health. Whenever this morbid condition of the stomach occurs, with the 

 usual accompanying symptoms of disease, there is generally a corresponding 

 appearance of the tongue. When a healthy state of the stomach is restored, 

 the tongue invariably becomes clean." 



42* 



