86 A STUDY OF THE INFLUENCE 



a brief preliminary period, to the formation of a very active 

 secretion rich in hydrochloric acid. 



Likewise Wolff * states that cognac in small dose increases 

 the secretion of hydrochloric acid, while in larger quantity it 

 decreases the acidity of the gastric juice and retards peptone 

 formation. The stomach fails to respond in a positive way, 

 however, after the continued use of alcohoL While Klem- 

 pererf failed to note more than a very slight increase in 

 secretion resulting from moderate doses of alcohol, Blumenau J 

 observed that 25-50 per cent alcohol introduced into the 

 healthy human stomach acts as a secretory stimulant, bringing 

 about an increased flow of gastric juice with rise of acidity 

 after a period of 2-3 hours. More recently Brandl has 

 found in experiments on fistulous dogs that alcohol as 

 contrasted with water introduced with food stuffs into the 

 stomach brings about an unfailing, though not particularly 

 large, increase in gastric secretion. With repeated and in- 

 creasing doses of alcohol, Haan || has further observed an 

 augmentation of acidity in the dog, followed by a diminution 

 in the amount of secretion and a gradual decline in acidity 

 after several doses. 



In our first series of experiments on gastric secretion, 

 attention was directed to the volume and acidity resulting 

 from the introduction of alcoholic fluids into the stomach, 

 independently of any stimulating action due to food simul- 

 taneously introduced. Dogs in fasting condition were em- 

 ployed in every instance, and morphine sulphate (introduced 

 subcutaneously) followed by chloroform-ether was used pre- 

 paratory to operative interference. The method consisted in 

 ligating the duodenum just beyond the pylorus and then 



* Wolff, Zeitschr. f. klin. Med., 1889, xvi, p. 222 ; Jahresbericht f. Thier- 

 chemie, 1889, rue, p. 266. 



t Klemperer, Zeitechr. f. klin. Med., 1890, xvii, Supp., p. 324; Centralbl. f. 

 raed. Wissen., 1891, p. 761. 



t Bluraenau, Therapeutische Monatshefte, 1890, v, p. 604 ; Jahresbericht 

 Thierchemie, 1891, xri, p. 212. 



Brandl, Zeitschr. f. Biologie, 1892, xxix, p. 804. 



|| Haan, Comptes rendus de la societ^ de biologie, 1896, ii, p. 817. 



