510 CRITICAL NOTICES OF NEW PUBLICATIONS. 
ing at the superior margin of the orifice, slightly protruding, and 
increasing till it filled the aperture. This valvular formation 
adapted itself to the accidental orifice, completely preventing the 
efflux of the gastric contents when the stomach was full, but easily 
depressed with the finger. 
The usual mode adopted by Dr. B. of extracting the gastric juice, 
was by placing the subject on his left side, depressing the valve, and 
introducing a gum elastic tube five or six inches into the stomach. 
The quantity of fluid ordinarily obtained was from four drachms to 
one and a half or twoounces. Its extraction was generally attended 
by that peculiar sensation at the pit of the stomach termed sinking, 
with some degree of fainting, which rendered it necessary to stop 
the operation. The usual time of extracting the juice was early in 
the morning, before he had eaten, when the stomach was empty and 
clean. 
Man, destined to live in all latitudes, and obliged to procure his 
food from both the animal and vegetable kingdoms, may be surely 
said to be omnivorous. By aliment is meant whatever substance af- 
fords nutrition, or whatever is capable of being acted upon by the 
organs of digestion.. The facility of digestion of different articles of 
diet, and the quantity of nutrient principles which they contain, 
have been the subjects of some discrepancy of opinion amongst phy- 
siologists. Aliments obtained from plants are less nutritious than 
those furnished by the animal kingdom, because, in a given bulk, 
they contain fewer parts that can be assimilated to corporeal sub- 
stance. The digestibility of vegetable aliments is, however, depen- 
dent upon the same laws as those that govern the solution of animal 
food; and it is facilitated by division and tenderness. However 
various our aliments may be, the action of our organs always sepa- 
rates from them the same nutritious principles ; in fact, whether 
we live on animal or vegetable substances, the internal composition 
of our organs does not alter—an evident proof that the substance 
which we obtain from aliment to incorporate with our own, is al- 
ways the same: and this affords an explanation of the saying of 
Hippocrates, “There is but one food, but there exist several forms 
of food.” The quantity, too, of aliment is probably of more import- 
ance than the quality, to ensure health. The system requires much 
less than is generally supplied to it. ‘The stomach disposes of a de- 
finite quantity : if more, therefore, be taken, than the actual wants 
of the economy require, the residue remains in the stomach, 
and becomes a source of irritation, and produces a consequent aber- 
ration of function ; or it passes into the lower bowels in an undi- 
gested state, and extends to them its deleterious influence. Dyspep- 
sia, our author observes, is oftener the effect of over-eating and over- 
drinking than of any other causes. This leads us to the considera- 
tion of hunger and thirst. 
Hunger is a kind provision of nature, which warns us of the pro- 
priety of repairing the loss which the body is continually under- 
going. Much enquiry has been made on this subject, and many 
ied 
