286 DIGESTION. 



a distinctly ammoniacal odor and an alkaline reaction, as 

 the result of spontaneous decomposition. 1 



These experiments show only an immediate arrest of the 

 secretion of the gastric juice. In certain exceptional in- 

 stances in which animals survive the section of both nerves 

 for a number of days, or sometimes even recover, it has been 

 noted that after a few days an acid secretion again takes 

 place in the stomach. 3 



Though much confusion exists in the earlier observations 

 on the effects of section of the pneumogastrics upon the 

 stomach, the conclusions to be drawn from more recent ex- 

 periments are tolerably definite. 



There can be no doubt that division of both these 

 nerves produces immediate and grave disorder in the pro- 

 cess of stomach-digestion, amounting, it is more than prob- 

 able, to complete arrest of the secretion of the gastric 

 juice. Its secretion may be induced again by local stimula- 

 tion, but the quantity is always greatly diminished. Under 

 these circumstances, it is possible that very small quantities 

 of food may be digested in the stomach a day or two after 

 the operation ; and if the animal survive for a considerable 

 time, 3 the secretion may be to a certain extent reestablished. 

 Serious trouble in stomach-digestion is produced by the pa- 

 ralysis of the muscular coats of the stomach consequent upon 

 section of both pneumogastrics. 



1 BERNARD, Legons sur la Physiologie et la Pathologic du Sysieme JWervew, 

 Paris, 1858, tome ii., p. 418. 



2 Ibid. 



3 One of the animals operated upon by Bernard lived for seventeen days. 



