DIGESTION. 599 



The following table shows the quantity of muriatic acid in 

 one pint of the acid fluid ejected from the human stomach in three 

 cases of dyspepsia : 



No. 1. No. 2. No. 3. 



Grains. Grains. Grains. 



Muriatic acid combined with a ) 



n i I, v > 12-11 12-40 11*25 



fixed alkali, . / 



Ditto with ammonia, . . 0-00 0-00 5'39 



Ditto free, . 5'13 4-63 4-28 



Total, 17-24 17-03 20-92* 



These conclusions have been objected to by Leuret and Las- 

 saigne, because, in their opinion, the excess of potash employed 

 in examining the second portion of the liquid would react upon 

 the azotic substances present during the calcination, and cyano- 

 dide of potassium and carbonate of potash would be formed. 

 These substances would cause a precipitation of the nitrate of 

 silver, which would increase the apparent quantity of muriatic 

 acid present.f But it is impossible to doubt that Dr Prout sa- 

 turated the excess of potash with an acid (probably nitric,) be- 

 fore he precipitated the muriatic acid by nitrate of silver. 



The results of Prout were confirmed by the experiments of Tiede- 

 mann and Gmelin in 1826.J They distilled the liquid in the sto- 

 mach of dogs and horses, and found generally free muriatic acid, 

 together with a quantity of acetic acid, and sometimes of butyric 

 acid. There was much acetic acid in the stomach of a dog which 

 had been made to swallow pepper. They found the same acid 

 in the gastric juice of a horse which had been made to swallow 

 pebbles. They twice found butyric acid in the gastric juice of 

 a horse. 



Tiedemann and Gmelin examined the liquids in the stomachs 

 of no fewer than 43 animals, dogs, cats, horses, oxen, calves, 

 and sheep. It was acid in every case, and the quantity of acid 

 was always considerable. The acids were usually two in num- 

 ber, namely, the muriatic and acetic. In ruminating animals 

 they found also butyric acid. 



Leuret and Lassaigne assure us that, when stimulants are 

 applied to the innermost coat of the stomach or duodenum of a 



Phil. Trans. 1824, p. 45. f Recherches Physiologiques, p. 116 . 



\ Recherclies Experimentales, &c. i- p. 91. 



