DIGESTION TROUBLES

Greymouth Evening Star, 28 April 1937, Page 9

DIGESTION TROUBLES

A HISTORY OF THE STOMACH. “The stomach may well be characterised as the organ of social adjustment,” remarks Professor T. Wingate Todd of Western Reserve University in the “Scientific Monthly.” “In it are reflected the social blights or blessings of our time.” Thereupon he proceeds to explain the reason for this seemingly odd interpretation of what happens to the food we eat. Twelve years ago (writes the science correspondent of the “New York Times”), Dr. Todd and Miss Kuenzel started to investigate “the natural history of the stomach, hoping eventually to draw up some schedule of its habits in work and play, its moods and eccentricities.” Most physicians are called upon to z study only the disordered stomach. Dr. Todd was concerned with the healthy organ. All told, more than 800 students placed their digestive mechanism at his disposal, as it were, to be watched with the aid of X-rays. Ho found that stomachs examined in, September were large and sulky; in February small and active. Yet the -same amount of food was consumed. So it was in the following year when a new squad of freshmen presented themselves.

Why did stomachs cheer up in thi'-i way, grow smaller and become more active? Fright—more temperately “disquiet” in the report—was the cause. The subjects did not know what was happening to them. Lurid suggestions from past victims added to their apprehension. • Next camo a study of the actual mechanism that interfered with digestion. Though only four ounces of fluid were given to a student on a, demonstrably empty stomach, yet in Jive minutes, several times as much was noticeable. It turned out that gastric juice varies in volume with the food EFFECTS OF MENTAL STRESS. A mathematically-inclined student calculated the v amount of juice secreted and found that the increase held good only for uneasy stomachs. Dr. Todd decided that "something must have occurred to bank up the juice.” It turned' out I hat the pylorus or outlet of the stomach closes in uneasy stomachs and remains closed long after food is swallowed. In (he stomachs of students familiar with the purpose of investigation food passed though in two minutes. Thu mystery was solved. It follows that mental stress of any kind, incipient illness, hurry, physical fatigue, anxiety, close the pylorus. When that happens undigested foods bank up. Hence the sensation of heaviness, distension. acid risings. Specific foods act as triggers to bring

about closure. Bicarbonate of' soda that standbx - of sufferers from indigestion, tricks the pylorus into opening. Belaldona, amyl nitrate, and other sedatives have similar effects. So has a, good sneezing fit. Pepper is good. too. Dr. Todd confescs that lie lias still a good deal to learn about this strange behaviour of the pylorus. It is not worry, fear, and fatigue-'that close the pylorus but certain foods. Some of us can’t drink milk without disturbing the digestion, or cat an egg or a piece of lobster. Why should this be so? The pylorus closes for sonic reason still to be established.