A critique of certain methods of gastric analysis / by David L. Edsall.

  • Edsall, David Linn, 1869-1945.
Date:
[1901]
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: A critique of certain methods of gastric analysis / by David L. Edsall. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

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    A CRITIQUE OF CERTAIN METHODS OF GASTRIC ANALYSIS. By David L. Edsall, M. D., Instructor in Clinical Medicine and Assistant Physician to the University Hospital; Associate of the William Pepper Lab- oratory of Clinical Medicine. {From the William Pepper Laboratory of Clinical Medicine. Phoebe A. Hearst Founda- tion. ) e If there is a wide diversity of opinion concerning the best method of accomplishing a purpose, it is generally fair to conclude that no one method is satisfactory. Such a conclusion seems wholly justi- fied in the case of the quantitative determination of the HC1 of the stomach contents. It would be difficult to find any small field of work in which there has recently been more active endeavor to provide measures suitable for clinical purposes and in which there are at the same time so many records of fruitless labor. There is no serious difference of opinion concerning the simple qualitative tests for free acids in general, for free HC1 or for lactic acid. The presence of free acids in general can be readily and satisfactorily determined by using Congo paper or solution. Free HC1 can be quickly shown with phloroglucin-vanillin or resorein solu- tions, and lactic acid can be demonstrated with Uffel- mann's reagent, using extraction with ether if neces- sary. The total acidity also is easily calculated by mere titration with decinormal sodium hydrate solu- tion. When, however, it is desired to determine the total quantity of HC1 or the total free HC1 present, one finds a number of widely different procedures recommended. It is customary in the more extensive treatises upon the subject of gastric disease to give descriptions of numerous methods, but of the more