INTRODUCTION. 45 



of food might be introduced or withdrawn, and the aperture permitted visual 

 observations of the organ. The case was rare, and almost unique in the annals 

 of medical science, and certainly in no other instance had such an one been made 

 so profitable to physiology. By a series of observations and experiments, con- 

 tinued for a long time, Beaumont arrived at these results : 1st. The existence of 

 a gastric juice secreted by the stomach, and exciting a solvent action on food. 

 2d. That this gastric juice is found in the stomach only when it is excited by the 

 presence of food or other irritants. 3d. The period required by the stomach 

 for digesting different substances, the effects of various agents and the pheno- 

 mena attending the different stages of digestion. These observations were made 

 at intervals from 1825 to 1833, and were published in the latter year at Platts- 

 burgh. The government of the United States made a marked acknowledgment 

 of this eminent contribution to medical science. 



Dr. Dyckman's dissertation on the pathology of fluids is held in high estima- 

 tion. In the same class of publications may be noted " An Essay on Poisons," 

 by Henry W. Ducachet ; and " Experiments on the Blood," by Dr. Macneven. 

 Investigations, to considerable extent, have been made by Dr. Francis, on the 

 hydrostatic test of Hunter, to ascertain the viability of fetile and infantile life. 



Independently of the connection of physiology with the medical art, the 

 science has recently acquired interest as a part of general education in our col- 

 leges and academies, and forms the subject of a popular treatise written by Dr. 

 Lee, of New- York, and introduced into the school district library. The diffu- 

 sion of such knowledge throughout the country, reacts upon the profession, 

 and encourages its members to more careful and accurate investigation of the 

 physical constitution. 



Dr. Stringham of Columbia College, and of the College of Physicians and Sur- 

 geons in the city of New- York, delivered very interesting lectures upon medical 

 jurisprudence. The course of instruction upon the same science has been con- 

 tinued in that institution by John W. Francis and John B. Beck. Dr. Francis 

 has published several essays on subjects falling within that department ; and has 



