The physiology of digestion considered with relation to the principles of dieteticsCombe, Andrew
Science
The physiology of digestion considered with relation to the principles of dietetics
Combe, Andrew
Diet; Digestion
Dr Beaumont began his experiments in May 1825, and continued them
for four or five months, St Martin being then in high health. In
the autumn, St Martin returned to Canada, married, had a family,
worked hard, engaged as a voyageur with the Hudson’s Bay Fur Company,
remained there four years, and was then engaged at a great expense
by Dr Beaumont to come and reside near him on the Mississippi, for
the purpose of enabling him to complete his investigations. He came
accordingly in August 1829, and remained till March 1831. He then went
a second time to Canada, but returned to Dr Beaumont in November 1832,
when the experiments were once more resumed, and continued till March
1833, at which time he finally left Dr Beaumont. He now enjoys perfect
health, but the orifice made by the wound remains in the same state as
in 1824.
Dr Beaumont describes the aperture in St Martin’s stomach as being
situated about three inches to the left of the cardia, near the left
or superior termination of the great curvature. When the stomach was
nearly empty, he was able to examine its cavity to the depth of five or
six inches by artificial distention. When it was entirely empty, the
stomach was always contracted on itself, and the valve generally forced
through the orifice, together with a portion of the mucous membrane
equal in bulk to a hen’s egg. After sleeping for a few hours on the
left side, the protruded portion became so much larger, as to spread
“over the neighbouring integuments five or six inches in circumference,
fairly exhibiting the natural _rugæ_, villous membrane, and mucous
coat, lining the gastric cavity. This appearance is almost invariably
exhibited in the morning before rising from bed.” Such was the very
favourable subject on whom Dr Beaumont’s observations and experiments
were made, and such were the numerous opportunities which he enjoyed
for repeating them, and verifying their accuracy. Having given this
outline, we now return to the consideration of the gastric juice, on
the origin and qualities of which it removes any uncertainty which
previously existed.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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