Alexis St. Martin
Alexis St-Martin | |
|---|---|
St. Martin in a 1912 portrait: 298 | |
| Born | Alexis Bidagan dit St-Martin April 8, 1802 |
| Died | June 24, 1880 (aged 78) Saint-Thomas, Quebec, Canada |
| Occupation | Voyageur |
| Known for | Digestion experiments carried out on him by William Beaumont |
Alexis Bidagan dit St-Martin (April 8, 1802 – June 24, 1880) was a Canadian voyageur who is known for his part in experiments on digestion in humans, conducted on him by the American Army physician William Beaumont between 1822 and 1833. St-Martin was shot in a near-fatal accident in 1822. His wound did not heal fully, leaving an opening into his stomach. Studies of St-Martin's stomach led to greater understanding of the stomach, gastric juices and the processes of digestion.