Xxx. the Relation of Salivary to Gastric Secretion. by Tomoichi

SALIVA, besides its main functions in assisting deglutition and exercising some amylolytic action, has other functions of secondary importance which also play a certain role in digestive processes. Maxwell [1915] found that boiled starch has a marked inhibitory action on peptic digestion, but that the products of amylolytic hydrolysis have not this effect. Thus the amylolytic ferment of the saliva acquires a new importance by removing the inhibitory factor and thus indirectly assisting in the gastric digestion. Maxwell, in all his experiments, used commercial pepsin. The object of the experiments described in this communication was to repeat Maxwell's experiments with natural gastric juice and to extend them to the rennet action of gastric juice.