In its normal state the stomach barely transmits any sensations whatever to our consciousness. As a rule we lose track of the food we take as soon as it has passed the palate and has been swallowed. Plain articles of food and the most delicious dishes are equally quickly forgotten. Cold articles of food and warm beverages do not manifest their presence by any special sensations within the stomach. Notwithstanding these facts it is certain that the stomach physiologically is not void of sensation. Thus ice-water taken in large quantities on an empty stomach gives rise to a sensation of slight cold in the gastric region, especially near the scrobiculus. The faradic current applied within the stomach (one electrode within the organ, the other at the back) produces a sensation either of slight burning or of weight in the gastric region, provided the current is sufficiently strong. If it were not for these experiments, we might imagine that the stomach is an organ which normally does not transmit any perception to the brain.

This fact, which applies alike to the stomach as well as to the other vegetative organs of our system, is of great importance and a wise provision of nature; for it enables us to occupy ourselves with all kinds of brain work without being constantly disturbed by the functional processes and needs of our digestive organs.

In contrast to the small degree of sensation which physiologically exists in the stomach, the activity of the sensory apparatus may be pathologically increased and thus give rise to marked discomfort.