The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-02-07
ruE HUMAN STOMACH
Considered AwrAL ORGAN BY
S0' SOME SURGEONS.

- Clnim the -
I'd" lands ct Zurich Proves This e.
Ann. compiets Exo,aisn OF the stom-
~ ~.,s,osors Csnsidsrsd F.t.i.
,.a;,sl ,prussssicn New York
Inc ,,v interested in'the case Of Anna
soOsp' ,hs stomachless ssilk wsaver OF
lI sus, although Anna rs 90
W. old and bss but one'tooth che IS
year. only alive, but is gaining In health
and .1 suu" DR. Charles e. wendt Of New
W. her as late as Dec. 9. sshe was
fo'A ~ doing her full share OF work
nov vA NE Enrich hospital, but had an
avostite quite remarkable under sne CIR
sppces HerSA,fore persons who
Sa heen DEPRIVE Of their stomaohs
nav nod 20 get along with specially
paw .rsd food. but Anna Lands, ac-
pleI I;no 70 DIR. Wendt, retains and di-
oo's yitbout discomfort solid food.
s0. 81 cannot give better opinion OF the
,ss;ons 10 be formulated from this
Ouaration." said DR.. Emil w. Hoeber'
v U,S.n Is furnished in The Medical Rec.
' To- Dr Wendt Every doctor will
oiu , .; ,bat this is the first instance in
a aun history of surgery of the complete
'uD Of the stomach. This achieve
mant unsets all previous notions and
supposed s physiological laws in regard
10 the stomach as all organ OF digestion.
u tbe stomach can be removed without
;niurv TO the digestion, it certainly
,onds 10 show that the Importance OF
.ho functions of this organ has been
Oreatlv oyerestimated. This case will
then be the beginning OF revolution OF
fine physiology and pathology OF diges-
ton.
"Dr. Carl Schlatter is a first class
snrceon. Previous to this operation he
had published some important articles
n there could be any doubt about the
history of this case, this doubt would
ne completely removed by the personal
report of DR.. Wendt.
"a complete excelsior OF the stomach
has heretofore been considered an alb.
solute impossibility without fatal re-
ults It is an interesting fact, however,
that this revolution in regard to pre-
yious views as to the stomach is in con-
formity with similar revolutions which
have been produced of late by observa-
tons of the possibility without fatal re-
suits of injuries to the lungs, heart and
even the brain. "
at has long been known" said DR..
Alfred H. Little of New York, "that
the bile, pancreatic juice and secretions
from the intestinal glands have taken
the major part in the digestion. espe.
cially of starchy material We know
that the stomach digests albuminous
substances from the fact that the stom-
ach has been found digested by its own
secretions.
"The first case of this kind was that
Of Alexis st. Martin, Canadian who
was shot in the stomach. A large fistu-
lous opening was made from the outside
directly into the stomach, and Dr.
Beaumont of the United States army
made many interesting and valuable ex-
periments with the gastric juice, de-
termining the part it took in the diges-
ton.
"Since then there have been other
similar cases. For instance, there was
the interesting case of Senator Murphy,
who had structure of the esophagus
and who was fed through an opening.
He gained strength and flesh and still
lives.
"For long time we have used en-
emas, keeping persons alive for months
when the stomach would not bear any
solid food.
1T is evident that the stomach plays
avery important part in digestion.
Without doubt the case of this Swiss
woman is wonderful one but previous
operations have led up to it. 1t remains
to be seen If she continues for any length
OF time to retain her health. There have
been cases, of course, where persons ex
listed for time upon these enemas, but
after awhile they began to fail. The
enemas probably received the benefit Of
the bile, pancreatic juice and secretionl
from the intestinal glands
In removing the stomach we remove
only one of the elements of digestion
VIZ, the gastric juice or pepsin, the &C
tive principle The spleen, which W.
know very little about, has been entire
~ removed from an animal withou
great change, except that its appetite
mas been so increased that it would ca
anything it could get hold Of
The bile has been found to be on,
OF the most important elements in tin
question of food. 1t is doubtful if al
individual could live long without it.
Il think that this Lands case, view
ing 1t in any light, opens new fiel'
Tor thought. Individually have lonl
believed that the action of the gastri
juice was Of less Importance than sup
posed, from the fact that in the use o
pepsin in cases of indigestion l hav
never been certain that the patient
gained any benefit from it. Pepsil
would naturally be supposed to help
gastric juice was necessary in cases @
Indigestion.
The stomach undoubtedly is yer
necessary as receptacle In cancer
'ne stomach, many cases of which hav