The absorptive function of the stomach is as a rule tested by Penzoldt and Faber's1 method. One to two decigrams of potassium iodide are administered in a gelatin capsule and the saliva is examined every minute or two for the presence of iodine. This is done in the following manner:

Strips of starch paper (filter paper saturated with a starch solution and dried) are moistened- with the saliva of the patient and then a drop of fuming nitric acid is added. The presence of iodine gives to the starch paper a slightly violet or blue color. Under normal conditions, it takes as a rule eight to fifteen minutes until the appearance of this reaction in the saliva.

Herschell2 described another method of estimating the absorptive power by means of a capsule containing 2 decigm. of powdered rhubarb. If the stomach be normal, this should appear in the urine in fifteen minutes and will give a red color with liquor potassse.

According to my experience, the absorptive faculty of the stomach should always be examined under similar conditions, as the results will differ materially whether the test is made in the fasting condition or when the stomach is full. It seems to me that in many instances several writers have not laid much stress upon this point, and in this way have come to wrong conclusions.

1 Penzoldt und Faber: "Ueber die Resorptionsfahigkeit der menschlichen Magennchleinhaut und ihre diagnostische Verwer-thung." Bed. klin. Wochenschr., 1882.

2Herschell: "Indigestion,n London, 1895, p. 115.