OF ALCOHOL UPON DIGESTION. 105 



vessel. Control experiments were made with distilled water, 

 both fluids always being introduced into the empty stomach. 

 This condition of the organ is shown by the lack of spon- 

 taneous flow when the cannula is opened, as well as by absence 

 of free HC1. Flocks of mucus, alkaline to litmus, are usually 

 present. The data obtained show no marked agreement, the 

 fluid as a rule rapidly disappearing from the stomach. In 17 

 experiments with water, the average relative volume recovered 

 from the stomach through the cannula at the end of the thirty 

 minutes after introduction of quantities from 40-200 c.c. was 

 about 30 per cent. Fourteen similar experiments with alco- 

 hol gave an average of 45 per cent. It is natural to ascribe the 

 relatively greater volumes found in the stomach after the use 

 of alcohol to an increased secretion of gastric juice occurring 

 along with the rapid expulsion of fluid through the pylorus, 

 and not to a retardation of the motor functions ; for current 

 statements assume increased motility of the stomach under the 

 influence of alcohol,* while the experiments already reported 

 justify the explanation given. Much emphasis cannot, how- 

 ever, be placed upon the averages given above, since the 

 individual results vary widely among themselves, and no con- 

 stant corresponding variations in acidity were observed, as in 

 the experiments with ligated pylorus. 



In the following series of experiments test meals were given, 

 and the influence of alcohol and a considerable number of alco- 

 holic beverages contrasted with that of water. Attention was 

 directed to (1) variations in acidity and (2) time of diges- 

 tion. Fifty grams of finely chopped lean meat were fed to the 

 dog in each experiment, the stomach having been previously 

 examined and found empty. Meat was chosen for the test 

 meal because experience hi this laboratory has shown that its 

 composition, when it is obtained as described, does not vary 

 much from time to time ; and after a trial of mixed food, e.g. 

 dog biscuit, it seemed more satisfactory to employ a simple 

 diet in which proteid preponderated. Similar recommendation 

 is made by v. Jaksch in considering test meals for the human 



* Cf. references, p. 102. 



