Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-11-27
Of Stors, Men
And Atoms
Notebook Of Science Progress
In Laboratory, Field
And Study
By Thomas K. Henry.

The cause Of stomach ulcers has been
traced back to the mind In what may
prove one of the classical experiments
in the history OF medicine.
1t has been reported to the American
Medical Association by Capt Stewart
Wolf OF the Army Medical Corps and
Dr. Harold G. Wolf of Cornell Uni
versity.
They made their observations on 4
56-year-old laboratory worker who has
been fed through tube extending into
his stomach ever since he was a child
OF 9. They could observe changes which
took place in the stomach walls from
day to day, as the mans emotional life
underwent various changes with cir
cumstances
Their findings may be of considerable
military importance since stomach ulcers
have reached such proportions among
British troops-and much the same
phenomenon is expected by some PSYCHE
artists among American troops once they
get into large-scale action-as to be
considered one Of the mai or medical
taken the place of the so-called shell
shock" of the last war
The two doctors found that the
changes which are precursors Of ulcers
are brought about by worry, hostility
and resentment - emotions especially
common among soldiers anxious about
their future and the folks at home and
filled with hatred both Of the enemy and
the discipline to which they are SUBJ
jected.
For long time physicians have sus-
pected that there was some close associa-
ton between ulcers and personality. They
have spoken Of ulcer types" Of human
beings, usually highly ambitious, re-
served persons They seldom appear in
the demonstrative. happy go lucky sort.
1t also has been suspected that they
were In some way associated with acidity
OF the stomach. They could be produced
experimentally by increasing the aciditv
in dogs, but there was no evidence that
this could be done with human beings.
And there was no known connection be-
tween such acidity and the brain.
In their subject the two doctors OBJ
served that ordinarily both stomach
conractions and acid secretions main
tanned regular level. He was man of
fairly even temperament and seldom
suffered from digestive troubles. But
every emotion produced observable, and
usually rather specific, effects. One day,
Tor example, the man was accused of
having lost some valuable papers and
threatened with discharge. He was in
tensely afraid Of losing his job.
Examination of his stomach showed
that FACTIONS had ceased almost en-
tirely and that the secretions were much
less acid than usual. Thus it would
appear, \ soldiers fear in battle has
nothing to do with production of ulcers.
At another time the man was ex-
tremely depressed because through his
own fault he had suffered a financial
reverse. Here also contractions and acid
secretion were considerably reduced.
Conditions were different when a
member OF the staff discharged him
from an overtime job, upon the extra
pay for which he had depended. He
was intensely angry at the doctor, but
could not show his anger for fear of
being discharged from his regular lob
His condition was analogous to that Of
the soldier who hates his superiors and
yet cannot curse them or strike them
for fear Of punishment
Acid production accelerated sharply
and contractions were increased. The
stomach mucous membrane became red
and turgid. Actually the contractions
were sometimes 80 violent as to cause
slight LESSONS which bled and upon
which the increased acid acted as an
irritant. The same conditions were en-
countered on several other occasions
when the man was burning up with
anger and hatred which he dared not
express openly. They were, the doctors
believe, unouestionably the precursors
Of stomach ulcers.
Usually this mans fits Of restrained
hatred were Of short duration. With
the chronic ulcer patient they probably
are present most Of the time. In civilian
life he Is extremely ambitious. He feels
constant hostility toward those who
stand in his way to advancement and
yet must be outwardly polite to them
In the service the situation Is even
uorSs