SOLVENT FUNCTION OF THE STOMACH. 205 



SOLVENT FUNCTION OF THE STOMACH. 



In the single cavity of solipedes and of carnivora, as in 

 the fourth stomach of ruminants, the semi-solid food is mixed 

 with an acid secretion, and subjected to the influence of heat 

 and moisture, in order to effect its solution. If the contents 

 of the stomach are very solid, and producing much distension 

 of the organ, the movements necessary to the admixture are 

 checked, and the consequences of such impaction we have 

 already considered. But if the food is moderate in quantity 

 and of proper consistence, the gradual contraction of the 

 stomach from left to right as the food descends into it, and 

 to a certain extent from right to left, as the pylorus obstructs 

 the passage of undigested food into the intestine, produces a 

 double current and uniform intermingling of the food and 

 secretions. Beaumont tells us, from his observations on 

 Alexis St. Martin, who had a permanent opening in his 

 stomach from a gunshot wound, that " the bolus of food, as 

 it enters the cardia, turns to the left, passes the aperture, 

 descends into the splenic extremity, and follows the great 

 curvature towards the pyloric end. It then returns in the 

 course of the smaller curvature, makes its appearance again 

 at the aperture in its descent into the great curvature, to 

 perform similar revolutions. These revolutions are com- 

 pleted in from one to three minutes." As the contents of 

 the stomach are dissolved and diminish in quantity, the con- 

 tractions at the left or cardiac end are scarcely perceptible, 

 and it is from the point c (see Fig. 83) that they commence, 

 and the food is moved towards the intestinal opening, or 

 pylorus, through which the dissolved portion passes. Two 

 or three minutes elapse before another peristaltic movement 

 starts from c. 



Secretions. It is the mucous membrane lining the stomach 



