COMPOSITION OF GASTRIC FLUID. 281 



with human saliva, a very small secretion ensued ; but 

 when the dog had himself masticated and swallowed it, 

 the secretion was abundant. 



Dr. Beaumont described the secretion of the human 

 stomach as "a clear transparent fluid, inodorous, a little 

 saltish, and very perceptibly acid. Its taste is similar to 

 that of thin mucilaginous water, slightly acidulated with 

 muriatic acid. It is readily diffusible in water, wine, or 

 spirits ; slightly effervesces with alkalies ; and is an effec- 

 tual solvent of the materia alimentaria.. It possesses the 

 property of coagulating albumen in. an eminent degree ; 

 is powerfully antiseptic, checking the putrefaction of meat ; 

 and effectually restorative of healthy action, when applied 

 to old foetid sores and foul ulcerating surfaces." 



The chemical composition of the gastric juice of the 

 human subject has been particularly investigated by 

 Schmidt, a favourable case for his doing so occurring in 

 the person of a peasant named Catherine Kiitt, aged 35, 

 who for three years had had a gastric fistula under the left 

 mammary gland, between the cartilages of the ninth and 

 tenth ribs. 



The fluid was obtained by putting into the stomach 

 some hard indigestible matter, as dry peas, and a little 

 water, by which means the stomach was excited to secre- 

 tion, at the same time that the matter introduced did 

 not complicate the analysis by being digested in the fluid 

 secreted. The gastric juice was drawn off through an 

 elastic tube inserted into the fistula. 



The fluid thus obtained was acid, limpid, and odourless, 

 with a mawkish taste. Its density varied from 1-0022 to 

 1-0024. Under the microscope a few cells from the gastric 

 glands and some fine granular matter were observable. 



The following table gives the mean of two analyses of 

 the above-mentioned fluid ; and arranged by the side of it, 

 for purposes of comparison, is an analysis of gastric juice 

 from the sheep and dog. 



