1895 - 96 .] Dr Aitchison Robertson on Digestion of Starch. 99 
III. Pernicious Ancemia. — A similar experiment was tried in 
this case, but with different results. 
30 c.c. 1 % starch solution, \ ^ / After one hour 0*6 % 
10 c.c. unhealthy gastric secretion, > „ < reducing substance 
— acidity = 0 '01 6 % as HC1, J t present. 
On testing the fluid one hour afterwards, 0 - 6 per cent, of reducing 
sugar was present. This appeared to be the maximum conversion, 
as the figure remained the same at the end of the second hour. 
We note, however, that in this case the acidity was practically 
nil , and the conversion was probably due to saliva swallowed 
accidentally. 
My next experiments were made with starch in the living 
stomach. 
I. Healthy Digestion. — After having thoroughly washed out the 
stomach of a healthy man, 250 c.c. of a 5 per cent, mucilage of 
starch were injected into his stomach, taking care that no saliva 
was included. 
After the lapse of one hour the elastic tube was passed, and 
72 c.c. of a turbid, whitish fluid were withdrawn. The total 
acidity was equal to 0*22 per cent, hydrochloric acid, and was 
composed entirely of this acid. The contents consisted of un- 
changed starch in large amount, tolerable quantities of soluble 
starch and erythrodextrin, along with a trace of reducing sugar. 
After the lapse of tivo hours , 56 c.c. of clear, viscid fluid were 
syphoned off. The acidity was inorganic, and amounted to QT7 
per cent. There was very little starch present, and no erythro- 
dextrin or sugar. 
The erythrodextrin and sugar which were present at the end of 
the first hour had either been absorbed through the walls of the 
stomach or had been passed on through the pylorus. 
II. Chronic Gastric Catarrh. — As in the preceding, 250 c.c. of 
the 5 per cent, starch mucilage were injected into the empty 
stomach. 
One hour later, 96 c.c. of a whitish fluid were drawn off. The 
total acidity was equal to 0T27 per cent, hydrochloric acid. Much 
