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Received May 18, 1772. 
XXXI. On the Digeftion of the Stomach 
after Deaths by John Hunter, F. R. S. 
and Surgeon to St. George’s Hof pit aL 
Read June N accurate knowledge of the ap- 
f~\ pearances in animal bodies that 
die of a violent death, that is, in. perfedt health, 
or in a found Rate, ought to be confidered as a 
neceffary foundation for judging of the Rate of the 
body in thofe that are difeafed. 
But as an animal body undergoes changes after 
death, or when dead, it has never been fufficiently 
confidered what thofe changes are ; and till this be 
done, it is impoRible we fhould judge accurately of 
the appearances in dead bodies. The difeafes 
which the living body undergoes (mortification 
excepted) are always connected with the living 
principle, and are not in the leaR fimilar to what 
may be called difeafes or changes in the dead body : 
without this knowledge, our judgment of the 
appearances in dead bodies muR often be very im- 
perfect, or very erroneous ; we may fee appear- 
ances which are natural, and may fuppofe them 
to have arifen from difeafe ; we may fee difeafed 
parts, and fuppofe them in a natural Rate; and 
we may fuppofe a circumRance. to have exiRed be- 
fore 
