246 APPLIED PHYSIOLOGY 



performing gastro-enterostomy that the opening should 

 be made as near the natural pylorus as possible, so that 

 the expulsive effect which results from the 'systolic' 

 contraction of this part of the organ may be taken 

 advantage of. 



The movements of the stomach are apparently 

 myogenic in origin, or, at least, dependent upon a 

 purely local nerve mechanism, for they continue even 

 when all its nerves are divided, but there is no doubt 

 that the vagus can exert both a stimulating and an in- 

 hibitory influence upon them.* On the other hand, the 

 sympathetic appears to be incapable of exerting any 

 effect in either direction. It has been found experi- 

 mentally that emotional states such as rage, fear, or 

 distress inhibit the movements of the stomach, and 

 in accordance with this is the well-recognized influence 

 of such states in the production and maintenance of 

 dyspepsia. It is stated by Moritzf that the movements 

 of the stomach are not affected by electrical stimulation. 

 On the other hand, it has been shown that they are con- 

 siderably strengthened by massage. If these observa- 

 tions are correct, they have important bearings on the 

 therapeutics of ' atonic ' dyspepsia. 



What is the stimulus to the movements of the 

 stomach? To this question physiology is not able to 

 furnish a clear reply. The presence of free HC1 seems 

 to increase the activity of the movements ; but that it is 

 not their sole cause is shown by the fact that they may 



* See Page May, Brit. Med. Journ., 1902, ii. 779. 

 t Zeit. f. Biologie, 1895, xxxii. 313. 



