THE RELATION OF GASTRIC FUNCTION TO NAUSEA IN MAN

Abstract

Nausea was induced by caloric vestib-ular stimulation, by rotation, by swinging, and by administering mustard in water. Records of gastric contraction, acid secretion, skin resistance, pulse and (in one fistulous subject) of color of the gastric mucosa, revealed that cessation of spontaneous gastric contractions and decrease in tone of the stomach were consistent accompaniments of the sensation of nausea, and preceded the onset of the sensation. Other gastric changes and more widespread autonomic effects occurred only when nausea or discomfort had developed. Nausea failed to develop when gastric motility was maintained by administering prostigmine and atropine together. It was concluded that gastric relaxation and hypomotility were essential to the mechanism of nausea.