STUDIES ON GASTRIC SECRETION

Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
357 gastric analyses were made under standard conditions on 98 subjects. In a given individual the secretion of acid in response to a uniform stimulus tended in general to remain within a moderate range although occasional wide fluctuations are encountered. A conclusive diagnosis of achlor-hydria cannot be made on the basis of a single analysis after histamine. The volume of gastric secretion in response to a uniform stimulus fluctuated widely, and no relation between volume and acidity was found. In duplicate analyses histamine elicited consistently higher values for free and total acid than the Ewald and alcohol tests. The maximum secretion of acid was attained 30-45 min. after the injection of histamine. After the Ewald and alcohol tests the maximum response came at the end of 1 hr. or later. The alcohol test gave higher values for free acid than the Ewald meal, but the latter evoked higher total acidities in duplicate analyses. In duplicate analyses, achlorhydria appeared more frequently after the Ewald meal than after alcohol, and least frequently after histamine. Administration of repeated gastric stimuli induced a temporary augmentation of acidity after each, followed by a pronounced falling off, suggestive of a fatigue phenomenon. Atropine in moderate doses tended to prolong the high level of titrable acidity which ordinarily occurs after histamine. A previous breakfast tends to cause lower acid values and higher total acidities in response to a standard stimulus. Intravenous CaCl2 increased gastric secretion.

This publication has 3 references indexed in Scilit: