The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1857-03-04

an empty stomach (half an hou: before
dinner) has tho effect to paralyze the
process of digestion for a Ieriod of four
hours. Moreover, its influence upon the
stomach, under the circumstances, is
such MS to prevent that organ from re.
covering its natural and healthy tone for
thirty-six hours after the brandy is swal.
lowed when. at the expiration of that
time, its restoration to healthy tone is
indicated by the appearance of red patch
es on the internal coats of the stomach
from which minute drops of blood are
seen to cxudc. (This is tho result no.
ted after debauch) Curiously enough,
during this interval, appetite is not the
least impaired. although the functions of
indigestion are greatly impeded. The
immediate effect of the brandy is to in-
duce upon tho coats of the stomach a
condition either of inflammation or couges.
tion--tho physiciOns were unable to
agree, from Appearances, which of the
two conditions really existed in this case.
III, however, the brandy be taken with
the dinner, or after it, Tie food prevents
its direct contact with the coats of the
stomach, and the result then is to facili-
tate the process of digestion, as has been
frequently proved by observations which
show that food under these circumstan-
ces digests considerably quicker than i,
does without its stimulus. This. howev.
or, does not prove that brandy is bcnef.
cial as regular non-committant Of the
dinner-tatlc. 1t may well be questioned
if it is part of wisdom to make such reg
ular and unceasiug application of the
whip and spur to horse that is disposed
to do his best without this sharp stimu-
lus though there may be cases of woak
stomachs where the very modest use of
pure brandy might prove advantageous
But the physicians who have watched
the processes going on in St Martins
stomach, do not propose to deal in theo-
ries they are after bald, literal facts.
Another interesting discovery has been
made by observations of this mans
stomach. In looking into the aperture
loft by the shot gun, the secret of the
gastric juice has been distinctly seen.
The theory of the existence of this curl
ous digestive agent bad long been held
10y the faculty, aud was indeed SO strong
ly sustained by reason and by circum
stantial evidence that it was regarded
less as theory than as an ascertaned
fact. 1t was not, however, until this
case OF St. Martins occurred, that the
doctors were enabled to know, from the
positive evidence of their senses. that the
so called gastric juice was precisely what
1t had bren supposed to be. 1t has new
er before been actually seen, as it is new
er produced except as food, taken into
The stomach, requires its presence to per
form the work Of digestion and then it
is produced in exactly the quantity re-
quisite for the work to be done. Thus, if
small amount Of food be eaten. this
gastric secretion is correspondingiy
small and if the quantity of food is in.
creased. the gastric juice is also increas-
ed in quantity. 1t exhudes from the
cCats Of the stomach, as sweat from the
surface of the body and is of limpij
clearness like water. It could be seen
trickling down the inner coating OF the
stomach, aud has, it is said, slightly
swoetish taste. In post norton exami
nations this singular agent is never
found; and it was rs we are Informed
never seen before this hole in the living
mans stomach exposed it to the curious
oye of the Investigator.
Another fact that we noted, while
watching the case Of St Martin, may
Prove of some benefit to invalids if not
to persons in robust health Tic time
required to. digest different kinds of food
varies with the character of the food ;
and some articles, hitherto supposed to
be particularly easy of digestion are not
found to be so by the experiments made
with this case. Thus, tho flesh of an old
hen is more readily assimilated and more
quickly disposed of than of slender
chicken !" and the same thing is true in
regard to beef. Ths meat of full
grown OK or cow digests quicker than
veal
Hundreds Of people have an idea that
game and meat that has been kept until
it has already reached the verge of pu-
triiaction is more easily digested than
fresh game or fresh beef. This belief has
led to the taste that likes. or processes
to like, what is called the game flavor in
woodcock, vonson, &c. But it is seen,
in this case, that tainted meats or game
require longer time for digestion than
fresh meats. BY "a curious process in the
stomach, the tainted meat is seon to un.
dergo a very effective cleansing before
the work of digestion begins. 1t is roll.
ed over and over, and passed and repass-
ed from one portion Of the stomach to the
other, the subtle agencies of that interior
laboratory all tho while octing upon it
and eliminating, particle by particle, the
offensive portions, until all is clean and
ready for the proper work of digestion
TO commence
The interior oe the stomach, contrary
to tho impression Of many persons, is
cleanly pnd not uuiuviting in its appear.
anee. It's delicate piuk coatings are as
clean aud perfect as all tie rest of Ma.
tqre's handiwork and it is not until tho
pampered and unnatural appetite of in.
dividuals have by overlooking it, and by
eating and drinking improper things,
rendered it weak and incapable Of per-
formin1 all tho pork thrnat unon IL III 4