Annals of Gynaecology and Pediatry Volume 9 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1896 Excerpt: ...the capacity is in direct ratio of the weight of the child. Hydrochloric and pepsin.--The former only appears about one-half hour after taking of food. In the absence of it the stomach contains lactic acid and other organic acids. When the child is taking milk alone this acid is furnished in large quantities, and its presence is due probably to a special ferment. Reichstein has shown that in digestion in adults, a few minutes after taking milk, clots of caseire are found in the stomach with a certain quantity of parapeptones and traces of lactic acid. Starting from this lactic acid increases and then HCL and peptones take its place, digesting the coagula of caseine and parapeptones. When milk is given boiled the process is quickened, and this is also the case in presence of water. This shows the necessity of adding water to the food of infants. The result of these transformations is the production of chyle, which contains an acid liquid, fats and fatty acids not yet transformed. In, children nourished at the breast few bacteria are found, but in those fed artificially germs are numerous. Hepatic secretion.--The large size of the liver in young children is a proof that it plays an important part in digestion. Its functions are but imperfectly known, however. It is probable that the bile acts in children in much the same way as in adults. The pancreatic secretion contains tlu-ee ferments--trypson, steapepsin and amylopsine. Intestinal digestion.--The secretions of the glands of Brunner and Luberkuhn, in addition to those of the liver and pancreatic, convert the chyine in chyle. Peptones, sugars and fats pass easily into the blood current, probably because the glandular tissue is so abundant. The mineral salts are not well absorbed, as is shown by the fact tha...