Horrifying Experiment That Revealed Human Digestion

Back in the 1800s, if a doctor wanted to examine a person’s internal organs, they had to do it the hard way by physically cutting the patient open. Unsurprisingly, patients weren’t eager to volunteer for such procedures. Then, an unusual case presented a unique opportunity: a man had survived a shotgun blast to the stomach. The injury left a permanent hole in his abdominal wall, creating a rare chance for doctors to observe the human digestive process in real-time. The question arose could this opening be kept accessible long enough to study digestion as it happened?

Who is William Beaumont?

William Beaumont, a 19th-century American physician, was famous for his discovery of how the human digestive system works.

Yes possible, a 19th-century doctor left a porthole on the side of a man. He could open the wrapper, put a piece of food in it, and wait. Take it back to find out what happened. Even though it sounds crazy, it’s true. It’s not difficult to imagine that this is how we discovered that digestion is Chemical process and not a Mechanical process.

What’s The Story Behind It?

The story starts back in 1822, William Beaumont was an army surgeon. Northern Michigan – A popular area for fur trapping.

As Beaumont was going about his day when he received an urgent call from a neighbor. Fur store that claims someone was just shot with a shotgun.

When he arrived, Beaumont found Canadian man Alexis St. Martin, who was well-known for his reputation as a notorious criminal. Drinking too much and causing trouble, severely wounded from the blast. He was hit in the abdomen and chest by the gunshot, leaving a large wound in his midsection.

Beaumont – who, by the way, had no formal medical training. Apprenticeship was the only way to be a doctor back in those days. St. Martin was saved after a long operation. Metal was removed from his wounds.

Beaumont’s skills as a surgeon helped Alexis survive, despite the fact the gunshots caused a large wound to his stomach. This wound did not heal completely and eventually became a fistula.

What Alexis Discovered About Human Digestion?

Alexis’ unique circumstance made it possible to examine digestive processes in depth as never before. Beaumont offered to the boy to be his laboratory assistant or, more accurately, his guinea-pig by allowing him to undergo a series of reproducible experiments.

It was being debated at the time whether food was digested mechanically or chemically. Beaumont solved that mystery using a spoon to insert food in Saint Martin’s stomach to extract it and then examine it. Beaumont made other observations such as placing meat in a hole and then pulling it from.

Beaumont conducted more than 200 experiments with Saint Martin’s body.

These studies enabled Beaumont to establish that food is digested through chemical action. This is why he is called the “father” of gastric physiology.

More About How Human Digestion Process Takes Place

Alexis Beaumont was able to quantify in detail the different rates for food digestion and was the first person to conduct in vitro digestion experiments, taking gastric juices out of the stomach and studying how they function at different temperatures.

Beaumont’s inextricable relationship with Alexis and his impetuous temperament made it difficult for him to finish his research. St. Martin left 1825, and returned four years later. However, he returned in 1831. In 1833 he saw the publication of Experiments and Observations On the Gastric Juice and The Physiology Of Digestion.

This initial discovery paved the way for other scientists to figure out all of the complexities of digestion and has even influenced other fields.

Later Years

As for the duo, Beaumont lived until 1853, dying at the age of 67 after suffering a fall down some icy steps. St. Martin who was fortunate to be alive in first place, returned to Quebec, eventually becoming a farmer. He died in 1880 at age 78.

There you have it. Thanks to the crazy experiments of a single man and his trusting live-in patient, These formed the foundations that would lead us to an understanding of a vital part of our bodies.

Thank you for your attention.

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