Some modern extensions of Beaumont's studies on Alexis St. Martin : Beaumont Foundation Lectures / W.B. Cannon.

  • Walter Bradford Cannon
Date:
[1933?]
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Some modern extensions of Beaumont's studies on Alexis St. Martin : Beaumont Foundation Lectures / W.B. Cannon. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    chyme, and a retardation or other disturb¬ ance of the chyme in] its passage onward into the intestine. Similar observations have been made by more recent investiga¬ tors who have had occasion to study gastric digestion in children whose esophagus has been closed because of inflammation and who, therefore, have had to be fed through a gastric fistula. For example, Hornborg found that when the boy whom he studied chewed agreeable food, there followed a typical psychic secretion of gastric juice. If the boy, however, became vexed and began to cry, the chewing of food was not accom¬ panied by gastric secretion. This observa¬ tion was confirmed by Bogen, who reported that when the child whom he examined fell into a passion, the giving of food after the child was calmed was for some time not followed by any flow of the juice. These observations on the effects of emotional ex¬ citement on gastric secretion are paralleled by corresponding observations on the move¬ ments of the stomach. Dr. Joslin has told me of a case that came to his attention. A refined and sensitive woman, who had had digestive difficulties, came with her husband to Boston to be examined. The next morn¬ ing the woman appeared at the consultant’s office an hour after having eaten a test meal. Examination of the gastric contents re¬ vealed the presence of a considerable amount of the supper of the previous evening. The explanation of this stagnation of the food in the stomach came from the family doc¬ tor, who reported that the husband had made the visit to the city an occasion for be¬ coming uncontrollably intoxicated, and that