The physiology of digestion, considered with relation to the principles of dietetics / by Andrew Combe.
- Andrew Combe
- Date:
- 1860
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: The physiology of digestion, considered with relation to the principles of dietetics / by Andrew Combe. Source: Wellcome Collection.
77/224 page 53
![a vial. When, for instance, two ounces of unmasticated roasted beef were in- troduced tiirough the external aperture into the stomach, and held by a string, 1 only one half of it was digested in four i hours, evidently from the want of mas- tication confining the action of the gas- tric juice to the surface of the mass, and from the string preventing the dis- solved portion from being rubbed off by the muscular contractions of the stomach. Here, then, we perceive a direct and important purpose fulfilled by the mus- cular coat of the stomach; but indirect- ly it is also useful in presenting an impe- diment to the too rapid or excessive disten- tion of the stomach. Dr Beaumont ob- served, that, in the natural state of that organ, a regular and gentle contraction of its whole fibres and cavity ensued on the introduction of each individual I morsel, and that it is not till the re- laxation subsequent to that contraction has taken place, that another is will- ingly admitted. In like manner, when the valve in St Martin's stomach was depressed, and a few spoonfuls of soup were introduced at the orifice, Dr Beaumont observed the rugse or folds i of the mucous membrane to close genily upon it, gradually diffusing it through the gastric cavity, and com- pletely preventing the entrance of a second quantity till this diffusion was effected—when relaxation again took place, and admitted of a farther sup- ply. When solid food was introduced in the same way, either in large pieces or finely divided, the same gentle con- traction and grasping motion were ex- cited, and continued from fifty to eighty seconds, so as to prevent more from being introduced without consi- derable force till the contraction was at an end. When St Martin was so , placed as to admit of the upper orifice of the stomach being brought into view, and was then made to swallow j' a morsel of food in the natural way, a I similar contraction of the stomach, and . closing of its fibres upon the bolus, ' was invariably observed to take place; and till this was over, a second morsel could not be received without a consi- derable effort. This arrangement was more than suspected by other physio- logists, but it remained for Dr Beau- mont to demonstrate its existence, and its use as an impediment to the too rapid or excessive distention of the stomach by solid food. It is true that, during a hurried repast, for example, food may be rapidly introduced into the stomach by an active effort of the will; but it is precisely in such cir- cumstances that we are apt to eat too much, and that indigestion follows from no time being allowed for the secretion of the requisite quantity of gastric juice, and its proper mixture with each portion of the aliment. And according- ly, when, either from haste or hunger, we disregard the order of Nature, and hurriedly gulp down food without due mastication, and without allowing time for the regular contraction of the sto- mach, we necessarily expose ourselves to the risk both of overloading it, and of ultimately impairing its digestive power. The muscular fibres of the stomach being thus acted upon by their appro- priate stimulus, the particles of the food are made continually to change their place; and if the quantity eaten be not too great in proportion to the gas- tric juice which the stomach can sup- ply, chymification goes on so equally throughout, that if the contents of the stomach be withdrawn in from thirty minutes to an hour after a moderate meal, they will be found to consist of perfectly-formed chyme and particles of food, intimately mixed and blended, in larger or smaller proportions, ac- cording to the vigorous or enfeebled state of the digestive organs, and the quality of the aliment itself. So effec- tually, indeed, has the admixture of food and solvent juice taken place in this short time, that, as already shewn, when a portion of the contents of the stomach is removed and placed in an appropriate vessel, digestion will com- monly continue in it, provided it be placed in a proper temperature, and subjected to gentle and continued agi- tation. The impossibility of its being ade- quately acted upon by the muscular contractions of the stomach, is one][of](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b20404542_0077.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
