Functional & organic diseases of the stomach / by Sidney Martin.

  • Martin, Sidney, 1860-
Date:
1895
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Functional & organic diseases of the stomach / by Sidney Martin. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    117/568 (page 93)
    conteuts is of great importance in disease. Its presence in excess during digestion may ensure rapid digestion of the food, but it induces symptoms which are often severe, and it may lead to inflammation of the organ. Without its presence in a certain proportion digestion cannot progress normally, even if lactic, butyric, acetic, or any other organic acid is present in the stomach contents, as none of these can take its place. It is therefore of prime importance to remember that in the majority of cases of fimctional disorders of the stomach which constitute the greater number of cases of disease of the organ the acid is present, and its presence shows that the glands are still in a state (though a diminished state) of secretory activity, and by treatment can be made to resume their normal condition. 3. Increased Acidity of the Gastric Contents due to Organic Acids {Lactic, Acetic, BiU^jric).—A certain quantity of organic acids is present in the stomach contents during digestioli in most healthy people taking a mixed diet of proteids? fats, and carbohydrates in the proper proportion; indeed, certain organic acids or their salts are essential for the needs of the economy, such as acetic, citric, tartaric, and malic acids and their salts' since they not only tend to preserve the alkalinity of tlie' tissues by being converted into carbonates in the body but are to some extent antiscorbutic. When the salts of these acids (or mdeed of all the organic acids under consideration) are taken with the food they are decomposed by the hydrochloric acid of the gastric juice, the acids being in great part set free Some of these organic acids may be formed in the stomach bv decomposition of the food. There are therefore two distinct modes of origin of the organic acids found in the stomach contents: (1) they are taken in with the food, and (2) they are formed from the food in the stomach by bacterial fermen- tation. 1. In normal conditions a certain amount of acetic acid citrates and tartrates, not only do no harm, but are actually beneficial; in excess, however, they increase the organic aciditv of the stomach and may lead to digestive disturbance. The^ a so in excess render the urine alkaline and increase the alkalinity of the saliva (see p. 36). An increase of the organic acidity of the stomach contents