In 1822, fur trader Alexis St. Martin was shot in the stomach at close range. He survived, but the wound healed in a bizarre way—leaving a permanent hole (fistula) straight into his stomach.

Enter Dr. William Beaumont, a U.S. Army surgeon who saw this as a once-in-a-lifetime scientific opportunity.
Instead of closing the hole, Beaumont conducted groundbreaking real-time digestion experiments, literally dangling food into St. Martin’s stomach on a string and pulling it out to see what happened!

What Did Beaumont Discover?
Through this totally insane but scientifically brilliant experiment, Beaumont cracked the code on digestion, proving that:

• Stomach acid dissolves food—it’s not just about chewing!
  The stomach contracts and moves—helping break down meals.

• Different foods digest at different speeds—meat takes longer than veggies.

• Stress affects digestion—anger slows it down (so chill before you eat!).

Beaumont’s work laid the foundation for modern gastroenterology, making Alexis St. Martin the most important “open book” on digestion in medical history!

Your Ultimate Digestion Cheat Sheet: How & When to Eat for a Happy Stomach

• Eat Slowly – Rushing food = poor digestion.

• Chew More – The stomach works less when you chew properly. 

• Avoid Stress While Eating – Relaxed meals = better digestion.

• Space Out Your Meals – Overeating too often overwhelms digestion.

• Know Your Food Speeds – Proteins take longer; fruits digest fast.

Thanks to one gunshot accident, we now know how to eat smarter and feel better.
So next time you eat, remember: science (and one unlucky fur trader) has your back!