no 



Scientific Proceedings (119). 



and proteins to more highly osmotically active forms in leaves 

 and other organs. There occurs however in many tracts of the 

 plant an accumulation of material, in which diffusion or excretion 

 may be said to work against osmosis after the general manner 

 illustrated by glandular action in animals. The use of the arti- 

 ficial cell promises results of interest in the solution of such prob- 

 lems. 



53 (1800) 



The bacterial content of the stomach as influenced by saliva. 



By NICHOLAS KOPELOFF. 



[From the Department of Bacteriology of the Psychiatric Institute, 

 Ward's Island, New York City.] 



The fractional method of gastric analysis makes possible a 

 bacteriological study of the stomach which includes not only the 

 active cycle of digestion, but the resting phase as well. So far as 

 could be ascertained, no quantitative bacterial studies employing 

 this method have heretofore been reported. In fact, very little 

 data concerning the types of bacteria in the stomach at different 

 stages of digestion have appeared in the literature beyond the 

 work of Cotton. 1 



In a previous paper, 2 the writer has shown that repeated 

 analyses on the same individual within a short period of time — 

 while the physical and mental condition remain practically un- 

 changed — yield different curves. These curves from the same 

 individual often vary as much from one another as the difference 

 between the curves of different individuals. This holds true like- 

 wise for the average fasting contents. Therefore the conclusion 

 was reached that single determinations by the Rehfuss method are 

 not sufficient upon which to base valid conclusions since they do 

 not take into consideration individual variations. In bacteriologic 

 studies of fractional gastric analyses carried out repeatedly on 

 psychotic patients and normal individuals, in only one half the 

 instances was there any correlation between high acidity and low 

 bacterial numbers or vice-versa. Upon close observation it be- 



1 Cotton, H. A., N. Y. Med. Journ., 1920, cxi, 672-677; 721-727; 770-775. 



2 Kopeloff . Nicholas, read before the Brooklyn Neurological Society. October 19, 

 1 92 1 (in press). 



