300 G. E. BURGET 



Smithies (quoted from C. H. Mayo, 1914) examined micro- 

 scopically gastric extracts from some 2400 different individuals 

 with stomach complaint (dyspepsia, indigestion, etc.). He 

 found that irrespective of the degree of acidity of such extracts 

 bacteria were present in 87 per cent of the cases. After cultural 

 studies of the saliva from dyspeptic patients he concludes that 

 pus forming organisms have their growth retarded in gastric 

 juice while bacilli as well as leptothrices thrive in the stomach. 

 The degree of acidity of the extracts is not mentioned. 



In investigating the flora of the gastric contents from different 

 individuals, Fowler (1916) found besides bacteria many different 

 yeasts. 



The literature on the flora of the stomach has been confined 

 principally to findings that have been made during pathological 

 conditions in the stomach. The degree of acidity and the amount 

 of free HC1 present have not always been given due consideration 

 in the determinations. 



The individual (Fred V.) from whom the specimens were taken 

 for this investigation has a complete closure of the oesophagus 

 and a gastric fistula. The fistula is of several years standing 

 and does not interfere with his general health which was good 

 at the time this work was carried out. The usual source of con- 

 tamination from swallowed saliva was eliminated. 



Two or three hundred cubic centimeters of sterile water were 

 injected into the stomach three or four hours after a light meal 

 to carry off the residuum. About an hour later a specimen of 

 psychic secretion was taken by aspirating into a sterile bottle. 

 The free and total acidity were determined and plates immedi- 

 ately made. Those specimens only were considered which were 

 clear and of normal acidity, the free acid varying between 0.15 

 and 0.25 per cent and the total acid between 0.20 and 0.37 per 

 cent. All specimens of normal acidity showed comparatively the 

 same group of organisms present. If the acidity were below 

 normal quite a variety of organisms were contained. On the 

 other hand it seems that relatively few bacteria are able to resist 

 the HC1 of gastric juice when in normal concentration. 



The count per cubic centimeter of juice from some 20 specimens 

 plated on glucose litmus agar plates shortly after collection varied 



