On Absorption of Strychnine and Hydrocyanic Acid from the Mucous Membrane of the Stomach.—an Experimental Study on Rabbits

iT has always been, and still seems to be, the prevailing opinioa that the stomach is capable of absorbing soluble and diffusible substances, and there seemed, indeed, to be no reason to suppose that the mucous membrane of the stomach should with regard to absorption be inferior to any other mucous membrane. Recent investigations, however, have brought to light some new facts with regard to the power of absorption of the stomach, the most striking of which is surely the unexpected result that the stomach does not absorb any water. Edkins t introduced into the stomach of cats, after the ligation of cardia and pylorus, a measured quantity of salt solution, and recovered after an hour exactly the same quantity again. Von Mering,~: who experimented on dogs with a duodenal fistula, found that a larger quantity of water came out through the fistula than the dogs had taken by the mouth. As my experiments have reference mainly to the absorption of strychnine and of hydrocyanic acid, I shall restrict my references to literature to those having direct bearing upon this subject. As far as I can ascertain,