Theory and practice : 1900-1901.

  • Harvard Medical School.
Date:
1900
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Theory and practice : 1900-1901. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Augustus C. Long Health Sciences Library at Columbia University and Columbia University Libraries/Information Services, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the the Augustus C. Long Health Sciences Library at Columbia University and Columbia University.

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    Mucus. In catarrh of the stomach, mucus is so abun- dant that the contents can be poured in a lump from one beaker to another. Small amounts of mucus are also well shown in this way. Mucus requiring acetic acid for its demonstration is of no significance. Gastric mucus is uniform and thoroughly mixed with food. Mucus from the mouth is not. Food. See Contents of Fasting Stomach. In normal con- tents, the bread is in fine particles and looks well digested; in Achylia Gastrica, contents differ little from a mixture of bread and water. Size of particles is also an index of mastication. Froth. When the contents separate into three layers, the lower consists of the undigested portion of the food, the middle of a rather thin liquid, while the upper is made up of froth due to gas liberated by the active fermentation in which are mucus and light fragments of food. Three layers are characteristic of dilatation of the stomach. Reaction due to free HCl, combined HCl (acid albumin, etc.), acid salts, organic acids. Free HCl. Test with Gllnzburg's Reagent (phloroglucin, 2 g.; vanillin, i g.; absolute alcohol, 30 g.), which gives a posi- tive reaction only with free HCl. Congo red (paper) turns blue in the presence of o.oi per cent, free HCL* Combined HCl. A part of the HCl is always combined with proteids. Free HCl implies combined HCl. Where free HCl is absent, combined HCl may be present and can be tested for by the Ewald-Sjoqvist method. Acid Salts. Acid Phosphates made by combination of HCl and neutral Phosphates of food. In clinical work these can be neglected. Organic Acids. Lactic Acid. Stomach contents should be examined at once, as lactic acid readily develops if they are left for some time in a warm place. Dilute a solution of Fe2 Cle to a very faint yelloAv color with water. Fill the concavities of two test- tubes with this solution, using one for comparison. A canary * Org-anic acids and acid salts also produce a somewhat similar reaction with Cong^o red (a purple or broAvn), but in solutions more concentrated than are ordinarily found in stomach contents. Congo is therefore not an absolute test for small amounts of free HCl in stomach contents.