Miscellanies. 195 



which effectually retains the contents of the stomach, even when 

 completely filled. 



From that time to the present, St. Martin has enjoyed as good 

 health, and as much vigor, as men in general ; has performed, with 

 little or no inconvenience, the duties of a laboring man ; married and 

 become the father of a family of children, and has subsisted upon the 

 common food of men in his situation, except when a particular diet 

 has been prescribed, for the purpose of experiment. 



There are several plates which are intended to represent the state 

 of the parts, under different circumstances. As these are too im- 

 perfect to render any assistance, we are glad that a mere verbal de- 

 scription will render the account sufficiently intelligible. 



From this account it will be seen, that the cavity of the stomach 

 is open to the view ; that the state of its surface, and of the secretions 

 from it, can be readily examined ; that foreign bodies can be intro- 

 duced and removed at pleasure, and that the changes which have 

 been wrought upon them, at any time after they have been introdu- 

 ced, can be ascertained. 



For several years, since his recovery, St. Martin has been retained 

 in the service of Dr. Beaumont, at the expense of much time, pa- 

 tience and money, for the sake of examining into the functions of an 

 organ, closed to most persons, but thus thrown open to him. This 

 task he has performed in a manner highly creditable to his industry 

 and intelligence ; and the manner in which he has related his obser- 

 vations and experiments, is such as to carry to every mind a convic- 

 tion, if not of their absolute truth, certainly of the absence of all in- 

 tentional error. 



It is not our intention to give a detailed account of all the experi- 

 ments and opinions which are contained in this book. Such a state- 

 ment belongs appropriately to professional works. There are how- 

 ever many principles and facts in it, of such general importance and 

 application, as to render them interesting to every scientific inquirer. 

 Some of them we propose to lay before our readers, in as condensed 

 a form as is consistent with their intelligibility. 



Nearly one half of the book is occupied with preliminary observa- 

 tions, arranged under the following heads : 1st, Of Aliment. 2d, Of 

 Hunger and Thirst. 3d, Of Satisfaction and Satiety. 4th, Of 

 Mastication, Insalivation and Deglution. 5th, Of Digestion by the 

 Gastric Juice. 6th, Of the appearance of the Villous Coat, and of 

 the Motions of the Stomach. 7th, Of Chylification, and of the Uses 



