600 DIGESTION. 



in the stomach. They proceed into the duodenum forming an emulsion 

 with alkalies furnished by the liver and pancreas. This emulsion is 

 found abundantly throughout the whole course of the intestines. 

 Seventhly. The chyle appears somewhat less abundant, but presents 

 similar characters in animals that are killed after long fasting; as in 

 those killed after having taken copious meals of albuminous matters and 

 fecula. In those, however, that had been fed on fatty matters fat was 

 found in it in considerable proportion. 



According to those views which were favourably reported upon to 

 the Academic Royale des Sciences of Paris, by MM. Payen, Magcndie, 

 Flourens, Milne Edwards and Dumas, 1 and "the authors encouraged to 

 persevere in a study that still presents so many problems for solution, 

 and into which they have but entered, although they have already 

 made some curious observations," most articles undergo complete 

 digestion in the stomach ; but fat requires an admixture with the secre- 

 tions poured into the intestines, and is taken up only by the chyliferous 

 vessels. MM. Bouchardat and Sandras do not, however, restrict the 

 agency of those vessels to the absorption of fat. They suggest and 

 it can only be regarded as a suggestion that the abdominal glands 

 prepare for the chyliferous vessels and thoracic duct a chyle, the alka- 

 line character of which is in a direct ratio with the acidity developed 

 in the stomach during digestion. This chyle not obtained from the 

 food but by a true process of secretion enters the blood through the 

 chyliferous apparatus, to neutralize the acid, that is indispensable for 

 the solution of the food in the stomach to prepare it for absorption from 

 that organ. 



Should the views of MM. Bouchardat and Sandras be established, 

 they would modify materially former notions in regard to the physio- 

 logy of the digestion of solids. It need hardly be said, however, that 

 a succession of repeated and careful experiments tending to the same 

 results will be necessary before they can be regarded as worthy of 

 more than a passing notice. Certain of the positions of these gentlemen 

 have received support from the investigations of M. Blondlot. 2 He is 

 of opinion, that of all the simple alimentary substances, those that are 

 fluid at the ordinary temperature of the stomach, and those that are 

 readily soluble in its secretions, as fluid albumen, sugar, gum, pectin, 

 &c., are at once absorbed by the veins. It would seem, indeed, that in 

 cases of scirrhus of the pylorus, and where a cancerous communication 

 has existed between the stomach and colon, 3 nutritious matter must 

 necessarily be absorbed from the stomach : except, however, in such 

 cases, the view, that digestion can be accomplished by the gastric veins, 

 independently of the action of any gastric secretions, can scarcely be 

 maintained. 4 It would seem, moreover, that certain aliments, after 

 having experienced the necessary stomachal and intestinal changes, are 

 received by imbibition into the veins of the intestines. MM. Bouchardat 



1 Encyclographie des Sciences Medicales, Fevr., 1843, p. 159. 



2 Traite Analytique de la Digestion, Paris, 1844. 



3 Such a case is given by Dr. William Waters, in Philadelphia Med. Examiner, p. 201, 

 April, 1845. 



4 A Physiological Essay on Digestion. By Nathan R. Smith, M.D., &c., New York, 1825. 



