650 
Facts and Observations. 
THE GASTRIC JUICE. 
Dr. Marcet is of opinion that the free acid of the 
stomach is the hydrochloric, since quantitative analysis of 
the amount of this acid, and of the bases present in the 
gastric juice, showed that there was more of it than was 
sufficient to combine with the bases. Nevertheless it is 
highly probable, he thinks, that other acids are present in a 
free state, especially the lactic, for on placing some gastric 
juice in a dialyser, and leaving it until all the hydrochloric 
acid had passed away, the remaining matter was found to be 
still acid. 
The secretion of the gastric juice is at first abundant, but 
it gradually diminishes in quantity, and becomes more acid; 
probably in order that it might act on the less masticated or 
less easily digestible portions of the food. Before food is 
introduced into the stomach, the reaction of its contents is 
alkaline; this, however, is soon changed. 
By the action of the gastric juice, albumenoid and other 
matters become converted into “ peptone/'’ which, according 
to Lehmann, might be viewed as the same body, whatever 
nitrogenized food is partaken of. But, besides this all- 
important change, another is effected by it, namely, the de¬ 
composition of the neutral fats, and the setting free of the 
fatty acids. This is necessary, since the bile will form an 
emulsion with a fatty acid, but not with a neutral fat. If 
such fat should escape decomposition, the pancreatic secretion 
forms an emulsion with it, which it does by incrusting each 
globule with a layer of soap, and this prevents the globules 
from coalescing, and increases their specific gravity. 
PEPSINE. 
This active principle of the gastric juice, still of question¬ 
able efficacy as a therapeutic agent, is stated to be now prin¬ 
cipally obtained from the stomachs of pigs. 
“The anatomists of the school of Salerno/ 5 says the 
editor of the Chemical News, “in the absence of human 
‘subjects/ dissect the bodies of swine, ‘as likest the human 
form divine / and, according to some chemists, the gastric 
