CRITICAL NOTICES OF NEW PUBLICATIONS. 513 
On one occasion, Alexis St. Martin had been drinking ardent spirits 
pretty freely for eight or ten days, and the appearances noted by Dr. 
B. were, some redness and apthous patches on the mucous surface of 
the stomach, which was empty, but not healthy. On the following 
day, these appearances had increased considerably on the exposed sur- 
face, and the secretions were vitiated. Circumstances continued 
through the next day very similar ; but on the third day they were 
greatly aggravated. Notwithstanding this diseased appearance of 
the stomach, Alexis complained of no symptoms indicating any gene- 
ral disarrangement of the system, except an uneasy sensation and 
tenderness at the pit of the stomach, with some giddiness, and dim- 
ness, and yellowness of vision, on stooping down and rising up again. 
Dr. Beaumont observes that diseased appearances, similar to these 
just mentioned, have generally succeeded to some appreciable cause. 
Improper indulgence in eating and drinking has been the most 
‘common precursor of these diseased conditions of the coats of the 
stomach. The free use of ardent spirits, wine, beer, or any intoxi- 
cating liquor, when continued for some days, has invariably pro- 
duced them. We may justly observe upon this, that it affords some 
of the strongest arguments which it is possible to obtain in favour 
of temperance, in eating as well as drinking. Many persons who 
habitually indulge in the use of stimulants, although not what is 
called excess, defend the practice by affirming that they experience 
no bad effects from them. If, like St. Martin, we could see the 
progress of stomachic disease from its first dawn, dyspeptic com- 
plaints, and their parent, intemperance, would be less frequent than 
they are. 
It is seldom that bile is found in the stomach, except under pecu- 
liar circumstances. When the use of fat or oily food has been per- 
severed in for some time, there is, generally, the presence of bile in 
the gastric fluids. Whether this be a pathological phenomenon in- 
duced by the peculiarly indigestible nature of oily food, or whether 
it be a provision of nature to assist the chymification of this particu- 
lar kind of diet, Dr. B. has not yet satisfied himself. Oil is affected 
by the gastric juice with considerable difficulty. Water and alco- 
hol are not affected. Fluids of all kinds are subject to the same ex- 
emptions, unless they hold in solution or suspension some animal or 
vegetable aliment. Fluids pass from the stomach very soon after 
they are received, either by absorption or through the pylorus. 
This affords a solution of the reason why exhaustion from absti- 
nence is quicker improved by liquid than by solid aliment—the rapid 
absorption into the system of a part of the liquid aliment, and the 
support which it consequently gives, almost immediately. Our 
limits will not permit us to follow Dr. B. through all his experi- 
ments, but the following may be taken asa condensed view of them. 
Vegetables.—Cabbage raw required 2 hours 30 min. for its diges- 
tion, boiled 4 hours (its digestion much assisted by vinegar). Pota- 
toes roasted 2 hours 30 min., boiled 3 hours 30 min. Carrots boiled 
3 hours 15 min. Beet boiled 3 hours 45 min. Turnips boiled 3 
VOL. IX., NO. XXVII. 65 
