49 6 SCIENCE PROGRESS. 



fistula, and a few days later exposed the oesophagus in 

 the neck, divided it, and sewed the two cut ends to the 

 two corners of the wound in the neck. The animal was 

 fed by pouring milk or broth through the lower end of the 

 oesophagus, or by the direct introduction of meat into the 

 stomach. Any food taken by the mouth or any saliva se- 

 creted in the mouth and swallowed fell out of the opening of 

 the oesophagus in the neck, and so was perfectly shut off 

 from the stomach. After the operation the dogs diminished 

 in weight for a few days, and then rapidly accommodated 

 themselves to the altered mode of feeding, and increased in 

 weight and remained in excellent condition for many months. 

 In such animals it was easy to bring about reflexly a copious 

 secretion of gastric juice. To this end it is only necessary 

 to starve the animal for nine hours, and then give it a meal 

 of meat to eat. The dog devours the meat with avidity, 

 masticates it, but none of the meat reaches the stomach 

 since it all falls out of the opening of the neck. The dog's 

 appetite remaining therefore unappeased, he will go on eating 

 for a very long time. The effect of this sham feeding is 

 to call forth a reflex secretion of gastric juice. Between the 

 feeding and the secretion a long, constant, latent period of 

 five to six minutes intervenes. I may here quote one ex- 

 periment to show the pronounced effect on the activity of 

 the gastric gland, which is thus produced : — 



Gastric juice contains a considerable 

 amount of mucus. 



The gastric juice is almost completely- 

 free from mucus. 



