CHAPTER IV.. Organs of Digestion--the Stomach--the Gastric

ORGANS OF DIGESTION--THE STOMACH--THE GASTRIC JUICE.

Surprising power of digestion--Variety of sources of food--All structures, however different, formed from the same blood--General view of digestion, chymification, chylification, sanguification, nutrition--The stomach in polypes, in quadrupeds, and in man--Its position, size, and complexity, in different animals--Its structure; its peritoneal, muscular, and villous coats; and uses of each--Its nerves and bloodvessels; their nature, origins, and uses--The former the medium of communication between the brain and stomach--Their relation to undigested food--Animals not conscious of what goes on in the stomach--Advantages of this arrangement--The gastric juice the grand agent in digestion--Its origin and nature--Singular case of gunshot wound making a permanent opening into the stomach--Instructive experiments made by Dr Beaumont--Important results, 58–108