ON THE STOMACH IN MAN AND THE ANTHROPOID APE. 31 



part) and the other formed by the pyloric part (Cannon's antrum). If our interpreta- 

 tion of the form presented by this stomach be correct — and the striking manner in 

 which it coincides in almost every particular with Cannon's description and figures 

 would seem to exclude any other view — it is evident that even at the time of death the 

 digestive movements of the stomach may under certain circumstances be carried on. 



But many of the details given in the modern picture of the active stomach have 

 been known for a long period of time. Cannon, indeed, makes no pretence that all 

 the facts he brings forward are new ; but to him is clearly due the credit of describing 

 in a systematic and intelligent manner the proper sequence of the several events 

 which mark the course of the motor activity of the stomach during the digestive 

 process. Sir Everard Home (23, 24, 25), while experimenting on the living dog, 

 " found that the stomach, while digestion is going on, is divided by a muscular 

 contraction into two portions ; that next the cardia the largest, and usually containing 

 a quantity of liquid in which there was solid food, but the other, which extended to 

 the pylorus, being filled entirely with half-digested food of a uniform consistence." 

 Again, in a paper published in the Phil. Trans, in 1807, he remarks that the human 

 stomach is divided into a cardiac and pyloric portion by a muscular contraction 

 similar to those of other animals. 



In anatomical literature many references may be found which indicate this 

 physiological division of the stomach. One example may be given. Struthers (50), 

 writing in 1851, describes a stomach presenting a constriction which " at first resembled 

 the pylorus, the portion of the stomach beyond being intestiniform." 



In Beaumont's classical observations (1) on Alexis St Martin, although we now 

 know that erroneous conclusions were advanced as to the movements of the gastric 

 contents, the description which is given of the various experiments indicates in the 

 clearest manner the division of the stomach into a capacious left portion and an 

 actively peristaltic tubular right portion. Beaumont records that on introducing 

 a long glass thermometer through the fistulous opening it could be moved " freely 

 in all directions in the cardiac portion " ; but when pushed towards the pyloric portion 

 it first met with some resistance, and then began to move with some force towards 

 the pylorus. " These motions," he says, " are distinctly indicated and strongly felt 

 in holding the thermometer between the thumb and finger ; and it requires a pretty 

 forcible grasp to prevent it slipping from the hand, and being drawn suddenly down 

 to the pyloric extremity. When the thermometer is left to its own direction, at these 

 periods of contraction it is drawn in, nearly its whole length, to the depth of ten 

 inches, and when drawn back requires considerable force, and gives to the fingers the 

 sensation of a strong suction power, like drawing the piston from an exhausted 

 tube" (pp. 102 and 103). In another place he tells us (Experiment 79, p. 222): 

 " This grasping sensation would continue for half a minute or more, and then appear 

 to relax again." As already mentioned, Cannon has observed that in the cat it 

 takes 36 seconds for a constriction - wave to pass along the whole length of the 



