Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1858-04-08

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Gently in Hartford, and we had the oppor
tunity of seeing him. He was under the
care Of DR.. John G. Bouting formerly a
surgeon in the British army, and who pro-
poses to exhibit this living wonder to the
medical men of some of our large cities
previous to journey with him to Europe.
While here St. Martain and the Doctor
were the guests of Col. Colt, at whose in
vitation they were induced to stop, while
on their way TO Boston, for the purpose
of allowing to the Hartford Medical Socie-
ty an opportunity of noting the processes
and the effects of digestion, the absorption
of different kinds of food, DC.
Some of the facts thus obtained are new
and interesting; others seem to confirm
previous theories of physicians.
1t was found that brandy taken upon
the stomach (half an hour before dinner)
has the effect to temporarily paralyze the
process of digestion for a period of four
hours. Moreover its influence upon the
stomach, under such circumstances, is such
as to prevent that organ from recovering
its natural and healthy tone for thirty-six
hours after the brandy is swallowed; when
at the expiration of that time, its restora-
ton to healthy tone is indicated by the
appearance of red patches on the internal
coats of the stomach, from which minute
drops of blood are seen to exude. This
is the result after a debauch.) Curisusly
enough during this interval, appetite is not
the least impaired, although the functions
of digestion are greatly impeded. The i'm
mediate effect of the brandy is to induce
upon the coats of the stomach condition
either of inflammation or congestion-the
physicians were unable to agree, from ap-
pearances, which of the two conditions
really existed in this case. If, however,
the brandy be taken with the dinner, or
after it, the food prevents its direct contact
with the coats of the stomach, and the re-
suit then is to facilitate the process of di-
gestion, as has been frequently proved by
observations which show that food under
these circumstances, digests considerably
quicker than it does without this stimulus.
1t may well be questioned if it is the part
of wisdom to make such regular and un-
ceasing application of the whip and spur
to a horse that is disposed to do his best
without the sharp stimulus; though there
may be cases of week stomachs where the
very moderate use of pure brandy might
prove very advantageous. But the physi-
clans who have watched the progress going
| on in St. Martain's stomach, do not pro-
pose to deal in theories; they are after bold.
literal facts.
Another interesting discovery has been
made by observations of this mans sto-
mach. In looking into the aperture left by
the shot from the gun, the secretion of the
gastric juice has been distinctly seen. The
theory of the existance Of this curious d.
gestive agent has long been held by the
faculty, and vas indeed so strongly sustain
ed by reason a id by circumstantial evidence,
that it was regarded less as theory than
as an ascertained fact. 1t was not how
ever, until the case of st. Martain's occur
red, that the doctors were enabled to know
from tht positive evidence Of their senses,
that the so-called gastric juice was what
it was supposed to be. 1t was never be-
fore actually seen, as it is never produced,
except as food, taken into the stomach re-
quires its presence to perform the work of
digestion; and it is produced in exactly
the quantity requisite for the work to be
done. Thus if small amount of food be
eaten, this gastric secretion is correspond
ingly small; and ifthe quantity of the food
is increased, the gastric juice is also in
creased in quantity. 1t exudes from the
coats of the stomach, as sweat from the
surface of the body, and is of limpid
clearness like water. 1t could be seen
trickling down the inward coating of the
stomach, and has, it is said, slightly
sweetish taste. In post mortem examina-
tions this singular agent is never found;
and it was, We are informed, never seen be-
fore this hole in living mans stomach ex-
posed to the curious eve of tho investi-
gator.
Another fact which We noticed while
watching the case ofSt Martain may prove
of son,e benefit 10 invalids if not to persons
in robust health. The time required to
digest different kinds of food varies with
the character of the food; and some arti-
cles, hitherto supposed to be particularly
easy of digestion, are not found 10 be SO by
the experiments made with this case. Thus
the flesh of an old hen is more readily as
simulated and more quickly disposed than
that of tender chicken; and the same is
true in regard to beef. The meet 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 almost reached the verdge of putrefac-
ton, is more easily digested than fresh
game or fresh beef. This belief has led to
taste that likes, or processes to like, what
is called the game flavor in woodcock, ven-
ison, &c. But it is seen in this case, that
tainted meats game, requir longer time
for digestion than fresh meats. By a curl
Gus process of the stomach, the tainted
meat is seen to undergo very effective
cleansing before the work of digestion be-
gins. It is rolled over and over and re-
passed from one to the other, the substile
agencies of that interior laboratory all the
while acting upon it and elimating particle
by particle, the offensive portions until all
is clean and ready for the proper work of
digestion to commence.
The interior of the stomache, contrary
to the impression Of many persons, is clean
y and not uniuviting in its appearance
Its delicate pink coating are as clean and
perfect as all the rest of natures hand
WORK; and 1t is not until the pampered and