WATER AS A DIETARY CONSTITUENT 



289 



Influence on Pancreatic Digestion. Pavlov has shown that when 150 

 c.c. of water are introduced into the stomach of a dog, the pancreas begins 

 to secrete, or augments its flow, within a few minutes after the water has 

 entered the stomach. Since this investigator found 150 c.c. of water in- 

 sufficient to excite a flow of gastric juice, the secretion of pancreatic juice 

 is apparently not secondary to a secretion of the other, but is a direct result 

 of the presence of water in the stomach. In the case of man, however, we 

 have shown that water is a pronounced gastric stimulant and causes the 

 passage of large quantities of acid chyme into the intestine. Inasmuch 

 as this acid acts as a pancreatic stimulant, we have, therefore, an indirect 



Com frieze removal 06 3 Hours. 



.K&j,.(Setof four). -Subjects,- Ca,GL,Tti.,Jo. 



Fig. 9. Chart illustrating the evacuation of various fluids from the human stomach. 

 (Miller, Bergeim, Rehfuss and Hawk; Am. Jour. Physiol., 1920, LII, 28-53.) 



stimulation of pancreatic secretion (Hawk(d), 1911). On the basis of the 

 data gathered in the investigation just mentioned and in associated investi- 

 gations made in the writer's laboratory and elsewhere, we are prepared 

 to draw the general conclusion that the ingestion of quantities of water at 

 mealtime ranging in volume from ^ to 1 1/3 liters stimulates the pan- 

 creatic function in two ways: first, a direct stimulation of the nervous 

 mechanism of the pancreas brought about while the water is still in the 

 stomach and, second, an indirect stimulation brought about on the entrance 

 of the increased volume of acid chyme into the duodenum, 

 this augmented pancreatic activity, we would expect to find a more 

 efficient pancreatic digestion when water is taken with meals. Certain < 

 our experiments (Mattill and Hawk(&)) have demonstrated this point. 

 The experiments in question were performed on men living on a uniform 

 diet; a preliminary period of small water ingestion was followec 



