626 DIGESTION. 



well known, coagulates in the stomach soon after it is swallowed, after 

 which the clot is digested, and the whey absorbed. Yet the existence 

 of coagula in the stomach is constantly regarded by the unprofessional 

 as a pathological condition ! Where the liquid, aqueous or spirituous, 

 holds in suspension the immediate principles of animals or vegetables, 

 as gelatin, albumen, osmazome, sugar, gum, fecula, colouring matter, 

 &c., there is reason to believe that they enter immediately into the 

 veins of the stomach and small intestine. The salts, united with these 

 fluids, are taken up along with them. Red wine, according to M. 

 Magendie, 1 first becomes turbid by admixture with the juices formed in 

 or carried into, the stomach : the albumen of these fluids speedily 

 undergoes coagulation, and becomes flocculent ; and, subsequently, its 

 colouring matter entangled, perhaps, with the mucus and albumen 

 is deposited on the mucous membrane of the stomach. The aqueous 

 and alcoholic portions soon disappear. 



Liquids reach the small intestine in two forms ; in the state of 

 chyme ; and in their unaltered condition. In the former case, they 

 proceed like the chyme obtained from solid food. In the latter, they 

 undergo no essential change ; being simply united with the fluids poured 

 into the small intestine, the mucous secretions, bile and pancreatic 

 juice. Their absorption goes on as they proceed, so that very little, if 

 any, attains the large intestine. The mode in which they are expelled 

 is the same as in the case of solids. 



6. ERUCTATION, REGURGITATION, AND RUMINATION. 



Although the contraction of the oesophagus generally prevents the 

 return of matters from the stomach, occasionally this occurs, giving 

 rise to eructation, regurgitation, or vomiting. 



a. Eructation. Eructation or belching is the escape of gas from 

 the stomach. If air exists in the organ, it is necessarily situate near 

 the cardiac orifice. When the aperture relaxes, it passes out, and, 

 unless forced back by the contraction of the oesophagus, speedily 

 reaches the pharynx, causing the edges to vibrate, hence the sound by 

 which it is accompanied. 



b. Ilegurgitation. If, instead of air, liquid or solid food ascends 

 from the stomach into the mouth, the action is called regurgitation. 

 Of this we have an instance in the puking of the infant at the breast ; 

 and in the adult, when the stomach is surcharged. Occasionally, too, it 

 occurs when the organ is empty, in the morning, for example ; when it 

 is frequently preceded by eructations, by which the air, contained in 

 the organ, is got rid of. The mode in which it takes place is analo- 

 gous to that of eructation. The substances, contained in the stomach 

 become accidentally engaged in the cardiac orifice, during the open 

 state of the orifice, and the relaxation of the lower part of the oeso- 

 phagus, owing to the direct pressure of the stomach on its contents, 

 and the abdominal muscles contracting and compressing that viscus. 

 When they have once passed into the oesophagus, the latter contracts 

 upon them but inversely, or from below to above. In this way they 



1 Precis, &c., ii. 143. 



