qf the Stomach. 243 



tions or paroxysms, induced by various causes. The 

 acidity in such cases I suppose to be owing to a morbid 

 secretion of the gastric liquor. I began to be of this opin- 

 ion in the month of August 1803, or rather I was led at 

 that time to attribute it either to this cause or to a decotn- 

 .poaitien of that fuid, after it was secreted. At the peri- 

 od specified, the stomachs of some persons at Catskill, 

 who had the yellow fever, generated such enormous 

 quantities of a most corrosive. acid, without having taken 

 such food as would be likely to produce it, and almost 

 without any food at all, that it seemed to me inexplica- 

 ble in any other manner. Cullen has suggested the pos- 

 sibility of such a derivation, in some cases, but considers 

 imbecilit}'- of the muscular fibres, as almost the sole. cause. ^'' 

 Some of the arguments, which have led to this conclusion 

 in my own mind, I will proceed to state. 



1. The existence of a very sharp corrosive acid, v^^ith- 

 out being accompanied by gasor wind. Probably every 

 person severely affected Avith permanent debility of the 

 stomach, may have experienced something of this na- 

 ture. I have often experienced it, and in some instances 

 for three months, without any intermissioix, and should 

 probably continue to experience it, till it ended in the de- 

 struction of life, did I not throw it off, by brisk and long 

 continued exercise. Dimngits continuance, I am every 

 day affected with a greater or less degree of headache, 

 and constantly lose flesh and strength, while it is still un- 

 attended wich wind in the stomach and intestines, or Math 

 a greater quantity .than is usual to persons in goodhealtli. 

 Neither is it accompanied by what is commonly termed 

 a fotil stomacjh. The stomach becomes exceedingly tor- 

 pid, and requires a very large dose of some powerful 

 emetic to excite vomiting, and when it is ii^uced, no- 

 thing is brought up but aii acid mucus ^ unless, by violent 

 straining, bile should be forced from the duodenum into 

 the stomach. The acid is often extremely corrosive, so 

 as in some instances, to excoriate the fauces. The vom- 

 iting however is ' . no service. It greatly Aveakens the 

 stomach for a tiaiC, and in twenty-four hours the acid is 

 as abundant as ever. Now if it \\^as produced by a fer- 

 * See Noic C. 



