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CHAPTER VII. 



STUDIES IN 

 THE CLINICAL PHYSIOLOGY OF THE 

 ALIMENTARY CANAL. 



Movements of digestion — Sensation in the alimentary canal — Causes 

 of variations in the hydrochloric acid of gastric juice — The 

 physiological effects of gastro-Jejunostomy — Feeding after gastros- 

 tomy — The process of secretion of pancreatic juice — The bile — 

 The absorption of proteins — Absorption in the large intestine — 

 The value of nutrient enemata. 



WE shall not repeat here the now well-known 

 researches of Pawlow and Edkins, described 

 in our previous editions, showing the importance of 

 two factors in provoking a flow of gastric juice: the 

 first the appetite reflex through the vagus, and the 

 second due to the production of gastric secretin by 

 various extractives. 



THE MOVEMENTS OF DIGESTION. 

 Very important and far-reaching advances in our 

 knowledge of the movements of various parts of the 

 alimentary canal have been made by the introduction 

 of the method of skiagraphy, or direct observation 

 with the fluorescent screen after feeding men or 

 animals on milk, mush, or other food impregnated 

 with bismuth salts. For this purpose the subnitrate 

 should be avoided, as it has led to nitrite poisoning 

 when large doses are given. Barium sulphate is now 



