The Parker post., 1914-05-30
PEEPS At STOMACH
X-Ray Helps in Learning Facts
About important Organ.
Surgeons Secure Additional knoWi-
edge in Witnessing the Process Of
Disestion-Many Old Theories
Are Completely Upset.

Boston.-The X-rays have given sur
geons a more complete knowledge OF
what the stomach looks like and how
it does it's work than they had ever
been able to learn from their expert
ments on the operating and dissect-
ing table, says writer i'll the Boston
American.
In the first place, X-rays show that
the stomach is never, as pictured III
the anatomies, in a nearly horizontal
position with the opening from the
esophagus almost on level with the
outlet into the intestines. 1t Is, on
the contrary, nearly vertical, or, some
times, tilted at an angle of 45 degrees
In shape the stomach resembles a
fish-hOok or a cows horn. Just Whlcn
of these two shapes is the organs nor
NAL one is a matter of dispute. Some
authorities say that the cow horn form
is the normal type because it is best
suited for rapid emptying. others de-
clare for the fish-hoOk or letter form,
saying that this shape is more suitable
for digestion because it allows the 1000
to remain longer in the lower part,
where it becomes more intimately
mixed with the gastric juice and better
ground up before passing into the in
testine.
The X-rays have also taught us that
the normal stomach, when empty, is
i'll a state of collapse. Its walls close
up so that they touch, and only when
food is admitted does a cavity become
visible. When a mixture of bismuth
and water is introduced into the stOm-
ach the X-rays show first narrow
streak along the left wall and extend
ing to the very lowest part. If more
of the mixture be swallowed the streak
becomes wider and wider as the walls
expand to admit it, but here is little
if any descent As the stomach's
muscles contract they cause its walls
10 hug the food firmly. A space along
the upper part of the base of the cav
ity, however, remains clear of food,
anG is filled with gas. This gas or
stomach bubble" as it is called, is
always present when there is food in
the stomach.
When a stomach is widely dilated by
disease or some other cause the food
at once falls to the bottom. AS more
food Is swallowed the lower pole of
the stomach stretches and sinks. No
matter how large meal is eaten such
a stomach wall never squeezes it's con
tents and faulty digestion is the result
The position of the stomach depends
somewhat, upon the position of the
body 1t is best observed with the
X-rays when the body is in a standing
position. When the body is reclining
the stomach appears more horizontal,
although even then not SO much as the
pictures in the anatomies would have
us believe. Respiration, drawing in OF
the abdominal walls, pressure of other
organs within the adbomen-all may
change the form and location OF the
stomach
The waves of muscular action which
grind and mix the food and ultimately
force it from the stomach begin as
soon as the food reaches the organ
As the X-rays clearly show, they start
about the middle of the stomach and
move In the direction of the intestine
The length of time required for di
gestion depends upon the size and
shape Of the stomach and the fre-
quency of these muscular waves 1t
ranges from two TO six hours. All the
greatest students of the subject agree
that disease condition exists when
food remains in the stomach longer
than six hours.