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520 DIGESTION.
Schmitz 1
has shown in man that on the administration of hydro-
chloric acid, producing a hyperacidity of the gastric juice, the putrefac-
tion in the intestine may be checked. The question arises whether the
reaction in the small intestine is always acid and whether the acidity
is strong enough to prevent putrefaction. In this connection it must
be recalled that the acidity of the contents of the small intestine is not
due to hydrochloric acid, but chiefly to organic acids, acid salts, and
free carbon dioxide. There are several observations as to the reaction
of the intestinal contents, by Moore and Rockwood, Moore and
Bergin, Matthes and Maequardsen, I. Munk, Nencki and Zaleski,
Hemmeter,2 although they are somewhat contradictory. From these
reports one can conclude that the reaction may vary not only among
different animals, but also in the same animals under varying conditions.
There is no doubt that the acid reaction in many cases is due to the pres-
ence cf organic acids. On testing with various indicators it has been
shown that sometimes the upper parts, and often the lower parts, are
acid, due to acid salts such as NaHCC>3 and free C02 ,
and finally that
in certain animals the intestinal contents are alkaline throughout. The
question how, under these conditions, putrefaction is excluded, and how
the acidity of the gastric contents influences the intestinal putrefaction,
cannot be explained. It is very probable that the bacterial flora of the
intestine is of very great importance and it is possible, as Bienstock
admits, that the explanation lies in an antagonistic bacterial action and
that the carbohydrates, especially lactose, which retard putrefaction,
form a good nutritive media for those bacteria which destroy the putre-
factive producers or retard their development. According to Horo-
witz an unequal division of the various bacteria occurs in dogs in the
different parts of the intestine and certain varieties of bacteria occur
in greater quantities than others, according to the kind of food taken.
The influence of the kind of food upon the intestinal flora has also been
studied by Kendall. Perhaps, also, agreeing with the experience of
Conradi and Kurpjuweit,3
the toxins produced by the intestinal bacteria
may, by their antiseptic action, keep the putrefactive processes in the
intestine within bounds.
1
Zeitschr. f. physiol. Chem., 19, 401, which includes all the pertinent literature.
2 Moore and Rockwood, Journ. of Physiol., 21; Moore and Bergin, Amer. Journ.
of Physiol., 3; Matthes and Marquardsen, Maly’s Jahresber., 28; Munk, Centralbl. f.
Physiol., 16; Nencki and Zaleski, Zeitschr. f. physiol. Chem., 27; Hemmeter, Pfluger’s
Arch., 81.
3 Bienstock, Arch. f. Hygiene, 39; Horowitz. Zeitschr. f. physiol. Chem., 52; Ken-
dall, Journ. of biol. Chem. 6, 499 (1909); Conradi and Kurpjuweit, Munch, med.
Wochenschr., 1905.
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