Note 25 — Chapter IV · ORGANS OF DIGESTION—THE STOMACH—THE GASTRIC JUICE.

I cannot help thinking that, if St Martin be still alive, which is most likely, the Royal Society would do honour to themselves and render an essential service to science, by using their influence and means to have him brought over to this country and subjected, under the direction of a committee, to such further experiments as may throw light upon a variety of important points which Dr Beaumont, as an individual, had it not in his power adequately to investigate. In throwing out this suggestion, I need scarcely add, that I am far from undervaluing what that gentleman has accomplished, and that I consider it no disparagement to him to say, that he has left some subjects of interest connected with the inquiry still undetermined. Dr Beaumont has done his part too honourably and too well to risk any loss of credit by the subsequent researches of others; and as a case so pre-eminently favourable for carrying on the investigation may never occur again, it is the more necessary to turn it to the best possible account while it is yet time. If funds be wanting for the purpose, it is not unreasonable to suppose that Government would at once grant them, were the request urged by such an influential scientific body as the Royal Society, particularly as a few hundred pounds would suffice. If this suggestion shall ever be acted upon, special care should be taken not to injure St Martin’s health by withdrawing him entirely from his accustomed diet and mode of life, otherwise the whole value of the experiment may be lost—the object being to ascertain the laws and conditions of HEALTHY DIGESTION.