284 



PHYSIOLOGY. 



essential elements, we may be assured, that man can live on 

 either animal or vegetable diet, as it may be most conve- 

 nient. As the most important part of digestion seems to be 

 completed in the small intestines, we shall not follow the pro- 

 cess any farther. 



28. A few years since, a man in the United States army 

 received a gun-shot wound, which made a hole in his sto- 

 mach ; and which left an opening into the cavity of that or- 

 gan, so that the whole process of digestion could be seen, as 

 it was going on. Dr. Beaumont, a physician in the army, 

 availed himself of this singular case, and performed many 

 curious experiments which occupied him for several years. 

 The following are the most important inferences, which he 

 drew from his experiments. 



29. " Animal and farinaceous aliments are more easy of 



digestion than vegetables. Digestion is fa< 

 nuteness of division and tenderness of fibre ; 

 portance of thoroughly chewing the food, 

 principles of aliment are always the same, 



itated by mi- 

 icnce the im- 

 The ultimate 

 -om whatever 



kind of food they may be obtained, whether v sgetable or an 



imal. The quantity of food generally take 

 mach, is greater than the system requires. S 



sier of digestion than fluid. Stimulating cond ments, such as 

 spices, are hurtful to a healthy stomach. 

 30. The continued use of ardent spirits a 



diseases of the stomach. Hunger is the eff 

 tension of the vessels, which secrete the gast 

 temperature of the stomach is 100 degrees 

 The gastric juice dissolves the food, and alters 



It also coagulates, or renders solid, albumen, 

 dissolves it. 



31. The gastric juice is a clear and transp irent fluid ; 

 little saltish, and somewhat sour to the taste. When pure, 

 it suffers no change by keeping. Gentle exen ise assists the 

 digestion of the food. Water, ardent spirits, a id most other 

 fluids are not affected by the gastric juice, >ut disappear 

 from the stomach soon after they are receivedl 



into the sto- 

 id food is ea- 



ays produces 

 ct of the dis- 

 c juice. The 

 ' Fahrenheit. 

 ts properties, 

 nd afterwards 



