The Metabolism in Pathological 



Conditions of the Stomach 



and Intestines 



THOMAS R. BROWN 



AND 



JOHN H. KING 



BALTIMORE 



The Stomach 



Howell says, "Under the head of nutrition or general metabolism we in- 

 clude, usually all those changes that occur in our foodstuffs from the time 

 that they are absorbed from the alimentary canal until they are eliminated 

 in the secretions." As the fundamental function of the gastro-intestinal 

 canal is the preparation, digestion and absorption of the foodstuffs pro- 

 tein, always above an irreducible minimum, this being dependent upon 

 the especial tendencies, age, size, weight and activity of the individual so 

 that always enough is present to repair the waste within the cells, fats and 

 carbohydrate to furnish enough energy for the body's needs ; salts, water, 

 vitamines it would seem that pathological conditions of the stomach 

 and intestines should play a peculiarly large role in bringing about specific 

 changes in the body metabolism. In reality, diseases of the digestive 

 apparatus, with very few exceptions, have no apparent specific influence 

 on metabolism such as is met with in diseases of metabolism proper, such 

 as diabetes and gout, and in the ultimate analysis spell their effects by 

 the influence of their associated secretory, motor and sensory disturbances, 

 modified of course by the presence or absence of fever, anemia, infection, 

 and processes of decomposition or fermentation upon the general nutrition 

 of the body. Thus, as many gastric diseases of widely different etiology 

 and even pathology, have many symptoms in common, so their effects on 

 metabolism are very similar. For that reason it would seem wise to note 

 the variations from the normal picture, especially as regards secretion 

 and motor function hypersecretion, hyposecretion, achylia, hypermotil- 

 ity, hyperperistalsis, hypomotility, etc., and to call attention at some 

 length to the effect of such abnormalities upon metabolism, and to follow 



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