LECTURE IV. X6l 



are ordinarily most innutritive or perni- 

 cious. 



Although the gastric fluids have no 

 sensibly distinguishing character, yet Mr. 

 Hunter knew that they not only coagu- 

 lated milk, but white of egg, and other 

 nutritive fluids ; thus first rendering them 

 solid, that they might be detained in the 

 stomach till they underwent the peculiar 

 solution, called digestion.* He knew that 

 the gastric fluids checked and prevented the 

 natural decomposition of animal and vege- 

 table matter ; that if putrid meat were 

 swallowed by a hungry dog, it quickly lost 

 all fcetor, and that no fermentation or pu- 

 trefaction of food ever takes place in the 

 stomach, if the gastric juices be healthy ; 

 therefore it followed that digestion could 

 not be the result of any common iermenta- 

 tive process. Nay, he further knew that 

 the gastric fluids sometimes dissolved even 

 the stomach itself. Mr. Hunter could not 

 wonder that such an event did not more 



* He says he had examined this subject, and found 

 the coagulation to take place in the various kinds of ani- 

 mals, downwards as far as fish. 



M • • 



