Although neither absence of hydrochloric acid from the gastric contents or the presence of lactic acid on the one hand nor hyperchloracidity on the other hand is any longer considered pathognomonic of carcinoma or ulceration of the stomach respectively, each of these phenomena must be conceded certain diagnostic significance. It is important, however, to be on guard for the exceptions and anomalous conditions, and a forcible illustration of this necessity, as well as that of avoiding dogmatism in our conclusions is afforded by a recent communication of Krokiewicz (Wien. klin. Woch., 1898, No. 48, p. 1101), in which he reports a case of multiple ulceration of the stomach, with disappearance of free hydrochloric acid from the gastric contents in spite of the fact that the patient received dilute hydrochloric acid as a therapeutic agent.
The patient was a servant-girl, 40 years old, who for a year and a half had