[ 447 3 



Received May 18, 1772. 



XXXI. On the Dige/iion of the Stomach 

 after Death, by John Hunter, F. R. $. 



and Surgeon to St. George's HofpitaL 



Read June A N accurate knowledge of the ap- 

 y\ pearances in animal bodies that 

 die of a violent death, that is, in. perfect health, 

 or in a found flate, ought to be confidered as a 

 neceffary foundation for judging of the ftate of the 

 body in thofe that are difeafed. 



But as an animal body undergoes changes after 

 death, or when dead, it has never been fufficiently 

 confidered what thofe changes are ; and till this be 

 done, it is impoffible we mould judge accurately of 

 the appearances in dead bodies. The difeafes 

 which the living body undergoes (mortification 

 excepted) are always connected with the living 

 principle, and are not in the leafl fimilar to what 

 may be called difeafes or changes in the dead body t 

 without this knowledge, our judgment of the 

 appearances in dead bodies muft often be very im- 

 perfect, or very erroneous ; we may fee appear- 

 ances which are natural, and may fuppofe them 

 to have arifen from difeafe ; we may fee difeafed 

 parts, and fuppofe them in a natural ftate; and 

 we may fuppofe a circumftance to have exifted be- 

 fore 



