Scientific Proceedings. 



9 



That gastric peristalsis may thus be observed under almost 

 normal conditions is not known, so far as I am aware. 



Some of the results obtained by this method are as follows : 



1. As a rule the stomach shows no sign of motion for a little 

 while after the animal is stretched out. 



2. After a few minutes a shallow constriction appears near the 

 fundus and travels to the right over the stomach, becoming deeper 

 as it progresses in that direction. The wave causes marked bulg- 

 ing of the pyloric third after peristalsis is well established. 



3. Ether given by inhalation through the nose causes usually 

 an immediate stoppage of gastric motion for a varying length of 

 time. After that, peristalsis is reestablished and continues even 

 though the ether be pushed so that the corneal reflex becomes 

 sluggish. Ether given through the trachea by means of a cannula 

 has no inhibitory effect upon gastric peristalsis. 



4. Curare injected intravenously does not abolish gastric peris- 

 talsis so long as artificial respiration is maintained. Stoppage of 

 respiration causes cessation of the stomach movements. After re- 

 suming ventilation of the lungs a number of minutes elapse before 

 gastric peristalsis again appears. 



5. Section of both vagi in the neck causes stoppage of gastric 

 peristalsis at once ; tracings taken after thirty minutes, or after two, 

 four or twenty hours show no detectable movements of the stomach. 



6. The stomach of a rabbit that has fasted for twenty-four hours 

 shows as a rule a marked diminution of the waves in strength and 

 frequency, or none at all. Feeding reestablishes peristaltic move- 

 ments. 



7. Opening the abdominal cavity causes cessation of the stomach 

 movements for an indefinite period. 



8. A moderate dose of morphin injected subcutaneously abol- 

 ishes gastric motility for many minutes. 



