238 Dr. C. Bolton. Further Observations on the [Nov. 16, 



cells to be seen. At one edge the regenerated mucous membrane is connected 

 with the normal mucous membrane by a single layer of cubical cells lying on 

 the fibrous base of the scar. From the condition of the glands it seems as 

 if this ulcer were delayed, but eventually healed up. 



III. The Production of Motor Insufficiency of the Stomach of the Cat. 



In speaking of the motor power of the stomach, I mean the ability of the 

 muscular coats of the stomach to empty the contents into the duodenum 

 Deficiency in this ability or motor insufiiciency is seen clinically in different 

 degrees. If the degree of motor insufficiency be judged by the size or 

 capacity of the stomach, the more extreme conditions only will be observed, 

 and the less extreme conditions, in which the size of the stomach is often 

 not much increased, will be neglected. Increased capacity does not 

 necessarily imply a pathological condition, for in health the stomach is an 

 organ the size of which is subject to wide variations. 



A very large stomach may not be a " dilated stomach " in the pathological 

 sense. The whole question turns upon whether or not the muscular coat of 

 the stomach is able to propel the food into the small intestine within the 

 physiological limits of time, and the essential feature in motor insufficiency 

 is a delayed expulsion of food from the stomach. The slighter grades depend 

 upon a so-called atony of the muscular coat, and in such a condition the 

 motor function may be so damaged that food is retained for 24 hours or 

 more, or probably upon a temporary spasm of the pylorus in some cases ; the 

 higher grades, in which complete stagnation occurs, depend upon pyloric 

 obstruction. 



The commonest form of indigestion of food is probably chiefly associated 

 with delay in the emptying of the stomach. It is such a condition tliat 

 I have endeavoured to reproduce experimentally. 



Method. — My method of estimating the presence and the degree of motor 

 insufficiency existing is the same as that employed clinically, namely, that of 

 finding out whether food remains in the stomacli beyond a certain time, with 

 tlie difference that clinically one passes the stomach tube. In these cases to 

 be absolutely exact I kill the animal. 



After a meal of 100 to 120 grammes of meat, the cat's stomach is usually 

 empty in 12 liours. Cannon (7) found this by the employment of the X-rays 

 after liismutli meals ; I have confirmed it l)y killing a series of animals 

 at different times. So that if a cat be given a meal of 100 to 120 grammes 

 of meat at 0 I'.M. its stomacli should be empty ])y 0 a.m. on the following 

 morning; if not, it, is tlio subject of motor iii.siifficicncy of the stomach. 



