348 DETAILED SYNTHESIS. 



more food is taken than is needed, only the quantity of juice requisite 

 to digest a proper quantity of food will appear. 



1053. THIS FLUID, most extraordinary in its modes 

 of appearing, and in its actions upon food, has a very 

 simple, watery appearance, without anything very pecu- 

 liar in its taste or smell, yet it defies the arts of the most 

 subtle chemistry to produce its like ; it must be secreted. 



1054. To SECRETE HEALTHY GASTRIC JUICE, (l) a 



healthy condition of the secretory tissue of the gastric 

 glands, (2) good blood, in sufficient quantity, and (3) 

 an efficient nervous influence, ARE REQUIRED. 



1055. TO MINGLE THE JUICE WITH THE FOOD, the 



7 



alternate action of the muscular fasciculi (see Fig. 80) 

 of the stomach is required. 



1056. WHEN REQUIRED FOOD is EATEN, three things 

 will be at once noticed in the passive stomach : it will be 

 gradually distended ; the juice will begin to start ; the 

 color of the inner surface will redden, and the large 

 extremity begin to slowly contract, after which it will 

 relax, and the smaller extremity begin to contract. The 

 three actions will become more and more conspicuous, 

 till a sufficient quantity of juice is secreted, when it 

 will no longer flow ; the color will fade, but the motions 

 will become more rapid. 



1057. As THE FOOD IS MOVED ABOUT IN THE STOMACH, 



little by little, it is thoroughly acted on by the gastric 

 juice and dissolved, a part vanishing from the stomach by 

 passing into its blood-vessels, and the remainder going 

 on into the second stomach, to undergo further process 

 there, the stomach gradually diminishing in size till its 

 contents are all evacuated, when it becomes again passive. 



1058. THE TIME REQUIRED FOR FOOD TO BE DIGEST- 

 ED in the Stomach varies with the kind of food, its 

 method of preparation, its mastication, the requirement 

 for food, the quantity taken, the health of the stomach, 



1058. How produce ? 1054. What ? 1055. What required ? 1056. What 

 noticeable - ? 1057. What occurs - ? 1058. What is ? 



