“That a free, or at least an unsaturated acid usually exists in the stomachs of animals, and is in some manner connected with the important process of digestion, seems to have been the general opinion of physiologists till the time of Spallanzani. This illustrious philosopher concluded, from his numerous experiments, that the gastric fluids, when in a perfectly natural state, are neither acid nor alkaline. Even Spallanzani, however, admitted that the contents of the stomach are very generally acid; and this accords not only with my own observation, but with that, I believe, of almost every individual who has made any experiments on the subject. ... The object of the present communication is to show, that the acid in question is the muriatic [hydrochloric] acid, and that the salts usually met with in the stomach, are the alkaline muriates.” SciencePhilosopherObservationStomachAcidIllustriousLazzaro SpallanzaniSpallanzani Author:William Prout
“If I set out to prove something I am no real scientist-- I have to learn to follow where the facts lead me-- I have to learn to whip my prejudices...” ScienceMicrobiologyLazzaro SpallanzaniSpallanzaniMicrobe HuntersPaul De Kruif Author:Spallanzani