INFECTIONS OF THE DIGESTIVE TRACT 217 



oxaluria and the accompanying gastritis were referable 

 to pathological fermentative processes induced by the 

 excessive feeding with sugar. It was further found in 

 these experiments that there had been a production of 

 oxalic acid in the contents of the stomach. 



It was further noticed in the experiments just men- 

 tioned that oxalic acid may be formed in a medium 

 containing sugar and beef extract, when this me- 

 dium is inoculated with material obtained from the 

 stomach of human patients showing a marked grade 

 of oxaluria. 



Whether it is safe to conclude from the foregoing facts 

 that oxaluria in human beings ever arises from the fer- 

 mentation of carbohydrates in the digestive tract is not 

 entirely clear. It appears probable that there are con- 

 ditions of carbohydrate dyspepsia in which not incon- 

 siderable quantities of oxalic acid are formed through 

 fermentation of carbohydrates. The absorption of this 

 oxalic acid would necessarily add to the quantity 

 which must be burned in the organism in order to keep 

 the excretion of oxalic acid within normal limits. That 

 excessive excretion of oxalic acid by the urine is ever 

 due solely to the production of oxalic acid in the digestive 

 tract appears to me unlikely. Modern studies indicate 

 that there are many ways in which oxalic acid can be 

 formed in the organism, and the greatest significance 

 that can be claimed for the oxalic acid produced within 

 the digestive tract is that it may sometimes be formed 

 in such amounts as to make it one factor in bringing 

 about a pathological condition of oxaluria. Perhaps 



