460 DIGESTION. 



spective of the quantity partaken of. We express this by the formula, 

 = K, where q is the quantity of protein fed, Fr is the undi- 

 gested part and K a constant. For the division of the digested protein 

 into the three groups proteoses, peptones and rest bodies, figures have 

 also been given. On comparing the results obtained by different investi- 

 gators one finds such great discrepancies that no positive conclusions 

 can be drawn. Still it seems to be certain that the rest-bodies occur 

 to a very small extent as compared with the proteoses and peptones. 

 Besides this it also seems as if the peptones occur in the pylorus part 

 to a greater extent than the proteoses, while in the fundus part the 

 reverse is the case. Of the dissolved protein of the entire stomach- 

 contents about 60 per cent exists as proteoses. Opinions are also con- 

 tradictory in regard to the absorption of the decomposition products of 

 the proteins in the stomach. While several investigators, like TOBLER, 

 LANG, COHNHEIM, ZUNZ and others accept such an absorption, LONDON 

 and co-workers positively deny this. 



The digestion of sundry foods is not dependent on one organ alone, 

 but is divided among several. For this reason it is to be expected that the 

 various digestive organs can act for one another to a certain extent, and 

 that therefore the work of the stomach could be taken up more or less 

 by the intestine. This in fact is the case. Thus the stomachs of dogs 

 and cats have been completely extirpated or nearly so (ZERNY, CAR- 

 VALLO and PACHON), and that part necessary in the digestive process 

 has also been eliminated by plugging the pyloric opening (LUDWIG and 

 OGATA), and in both cases it was possible to keep the animal alive, well 

 fed, and strong for a shorter or longer time. This is also true for human 

 beings. 1 In these cases it is evident that the digestive work of the 

 stomach was taken up by the intestine; but all food cannot be digested 

 in these cases to the same extent, and the connective tissue of meat 

 especially is sometimes found to a considerable extent undigested in the 

 excrements. 



It is a well-known fact that the contents of the stomach may be kept 

 without decomposing for some time by means of hydrochloric acid, while, 

 on the contrary, when the acid is neutralized a fermentation commences 

 by which lactic acid and other organic acids are formed. According 

 to COHN an amount of hydrochloric acid above 0.7 p. m. completely 

 arrests lactic-acid fermentation, even under otherwise favorable circum- 

 stances, and according to STRAUSS and BIALOCOUR the limit of lactic- 



1 Czerny, cited from Bunge, Lehrbuch d. physiol. u, path. Chem. 4. Aufl., Theil 2, 

 173; Carvallo and Pachon, Arch. d. Physiol. (5), 7; Ogata, Arch. f. (Anat. u.) ; Grohe, 

 Arch. f. exp. Path. u. Pharm. 49; in regard to the case in man, see Schlatter in 

 Wroblewski, Centralbl. f. Physiol. 11, p. 665, and the surgical journals. 



