Influence of gastric pH on gastric and jejunal flora

In the first part of this investigation 33 subjects were investigated. Ten (nos. I to 10) had previously undergone operations for peptic ulcer (eight Billroth II and one Billroth I partial gastrectomies and one gastroenterostomy) (Table I). Seven patients (nos. 11 to 17) suffered from idiopathic steatorrhoea (Table II). Eight patients (nos. 18 to 25) had pernicious anaemia, untreated or treated (Table III). Eight patients (nos. 26 to 33) had miscellaneous disorders (Table IV). Of these, three had x-raynegative dyspepsia and of the remaining five, one had a gastric ulcer, one duodenal ulcer, one megaloblastic anaemia of intestinal origin, one diarrhoea of unknown cause, and one jejunal diverticulosis. By choosing these groups of patients we hoped to investigate those with intact stomachs and therefore providing a wide range of gastric pH (23 patients) and those in whom direct continuity between the stomach and jejunum had been established by operation (10 patients).