240 DIGESTIVE SYSTEM. 



this time, to be powerless to dispel all doubts on the subject. 

 Blondlot's acid phosphate of lime appears really to exist in 

 the gastric juice, that is in the gastric juice of dogs that have 

 been fed on bones; it is thus only the remains of former 

 digestion. The same objection may be made in regard -to 

 lactic acid: indeed if lactate of zinc be obtained by the action 

 of the gastric juice upon that metal, the lactic acid which is 

 then observed is 'often, perhaps, only the remains of previous 

 digestion. On the other hand, it is quite possible that 

 hydrochloric acid, the presence of which is incontestably 

 proved by chemical reactions, may arise from decomposition 

 of the chlorides by the lactates : " a mixture of albumen and 

 chloride of sodium is coagulated by lactic acid : as neither 

 chloride of sodium nor lactic acid of itself produces this 

 effect, the coagulation can only be attributed to hydrochloric 

 acid which is produced by double decomposition." (Cailliot. 

 These by Hitter). The best arguments that can be adduced 

 in favor of the presence of hydrochloric acid are the follow- 

 ing: elementary analysis of the gastric juice reveals more 

 chlorine than is requisite to saturate the soda found in it: 

 there must therefore be some chlorine in the form of 

 hydrochloric acid; so long as the chlorine remains in the 

 gastric juice, the soda of the chloride of sodium remains in 

 the blood, whence the increase of alkalinity in the blood, and 

 to such a degree that the urine, which in its normal condition 

 is acid, becomes alkaline during energetic digestion (Brinton, 

 Bciice Jones). On the other hand, Schiff has shown that 

 the introduction of dissolved dextrine, by the veins or the 

 rectum, promotes digestion by the stomach, the acidity of 

 the gastric juice being increased. If this fact be true, the 

 acid thus obtained in a larger quantity can only be the lactic 

 acid. 



The flavor and the acid reaction of the gastric juice have, 

 however, been greatly exaggerated : in pathological cases 

 this acidity increases ; but in the normal condition it is so 

 slight as not to be sensible to the taste. The acid smell of 

 the substances thrown off by the stomach arises from decom- 

 position of its contents : indeed, under certain circumstances, 

 fatty volatile acids may be formed in it (butyric acid). 

 These properties show that the gastric juice does not consti- 

 tute a mucous or a glairy acid, as was supposed, but a peculiar 

 fluid analogous to and comparable with the saliva. 



In order to complete the subject of the products given off 

 in the stomach, we must add that this organ, as well as the 



