GASTRIC JUICE. 397 



flat and flaccid, with secretions insufficient to protect the vascular 

 and nervous papillae from irritation. 



Sometimes eruptions or deep-red pimples appear on the inter- 

 nal coat of the stomach, not numerous, but distributed here and 

 there upon the villous membrane. They are at first sharp-point- 

 ed and red, but frequently become filled with white purulent 

 matter. At other times irregular, circumscribed red patches, 

 varying from half an inch to an inch and a half in circumference, 

 appear on the internal coat, seemingly the effect of congestion in 

 the minute blood-vessels of the stomach. At times, small aphthous 

 crusts in connection with these red patches are seen. Abrasion of 

 the mucus leaving the papillae bare for an indefinite space, is not 

 an uncommon appearance. 



When these diseased appearances are considerable, and particu- 

 larly when there are corresponding symptoms of disease, as dry- 

 ness of the mouth, thirst, accelerated pulse, no gastric juice can be 

 extracted, not even on the application of the stimulus of food. 

 Drinks received into the stomach are immediately absorbed, none 

 remaining in that organ ten mi n utes after being swallowed. Food 

 taken during this condition of the stomach remains undigested for 

 forty-eight hours or more, increasing the derangement of the 

 whole alimentary canal, and aggravating the general symptoms 

 of disease. 



After excessive eating and drinking chymification is retarded, 

 and, although the appetite is not always impaired at first, the 

 fluids become acrid and sharp, excoriating the edges of the aper- 

 ture, and almost invariably producing aphthous patches, and the 

 other indications of a diseased state of the innermost membrane, 

 which have been already mentioned. Vitiated bile is also found 

 in the stomach under these circumstances, and flocculi of mucus 

 are also much more abundant than in health. 



Whenever the morbid condition of the stomach appears, there 

 is generally a corresponding appearance of the tongue. When 

 a healthy state of the stomach is restored, the tongue invariably 

 becomes clean.* 



Dr Beaumont had an opportunity also of observing the peris- 

 taltic motion of the stomach during digestion. It causes the food 



* See Beaumont's Experiments, Chapter vii. The above description of the 

 appearances of the stomach in health and disease has been given as nearly as 

 possible in the words of Dr Beaumont. 



