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A Study of the Variations in the Secretion of Hydrochloric Acid 
in the Gastric Contents ef Mice and Rats as compared with 
the Human Subject, m Cancer.* 
By 8S. Monckton Copeman, M.D. Cantab., F.R.S., 
and H. WILSON HaAKE, Ph.D., F.LC., F.C.S. 
(Received June 19,—Read June 25, 1908.) 
(From the Chemical Laboratory of Westminster Hospital Medical School.) 
In March, 1905, Dr. Benjamin Moore, in collaboration with Messrs. 
Alexander, Kelly, and Roaf, communicated a paper} to this Society on the 
“ Absence or Marked Diminution of Free Hydrochloric Acid in the Gastric 
Contents in Malignant Disease of Organs other than the Stomach.” The 
conclusions arrived at were based on the analyses of test meals given to 
human subjects. 
Later in 1905, Dr. Willcox, of St. Mary’s Hospital, published a paper on 
the same subject in the ‘Lancet, and his results appeared to confirm 
generally those of Dr. Moore. Other workers, among whom Dr. Morton 
Palmer§ may specially be mentioned, followed on the same lines, and the 
matter attracted considerable attention among physiologists. 
It occurred to us that in connection with the extensive researches in 
progress at the laboratories of the Imperial Cancer Research Fund, there was 
amass of material ready to hand in the large number of mice under obser- 
vation there.. Accordingly we approached the Director of the Laboratories, 
Dr. Bashford, on the subject, with the suggestion that we should endeavour to 
control observations on the human subject by determining the physiologically 
active hydrochloric acid both in the stomachs of normal mice and in those of 
mice the subjects of transplanted tumour growth. Dr, Bashford most kindly 
acquiesced and offered to place any necessary materials at our entire 
disposal. 
The only chemical work that had been done in connection with mice was 
by Dr. Cramer, in the laboratory of the Imperial Cancer Research Fund, 
who, in 1905, made some estimations of the total acidity in the stomach 
* Towards the expenses of this research a grant was received from the Executive 
Council of the Imperial Cancer Research Fund. 
+ ‘Roy. Soc. Proc.,’ B, vol. 76, 1905, p. 138. 
t ‘Lancet,’ June 10, 1905, p. 1566. 
§ Guy’s Hospital Reports, vol. 60, 1906, p. 181. 
|| ‘ Biochemisches Centralblatt,’ vol. 4, p. 65, June, 1905. 
