Case XXV: Use of Stomach-Pump Before and After Holy Communion

The following interesting case appeared in the Monitore ecclesiastico: The priest Papyrius, afflicted with chronic stomach trouble, is directed by his physician to wash out his stomach every morning by means of a stomach-pump. He does this sometimes before, but more frequently after, Mass. The question is asked: Is the use of a stomach-pump permissible before or after Mass, i. e., before or after holy Communion?

The stomach-pump is constructed of a rubber tube, which is lowered through the mouth into the stomach to flush it with water or other fluid. Attached to the tube is an arrangement by which the fluid and undigested food are brought up. Such a pump serves, therefore, chiefly the purpose of extracting undigested food from the stomach. Often the tube is lubricated with some kind of oil to facilitate the introduction.

With these facts in mind, we will take up the first question: Is the use of the stomach-pump permissible before holy Communion. The jejunium naturale is imperiled, either by particles of the oil with which the tube is greased, or through the fact that some of the water may be sucked up by the stomach. It is certain that any lubrication with oil must be omitted in order to preserve the jejunium naturale, and it can be omitted all the more easily as physicians do not consider such lubrication necessary. But is the jejunium naturale violated by the water introduced by the pump into the stomach? The jejunium naturale is broken in the opinion of theologians under the following conditions: (1) that the thing taken have the character of food or drink, i. e., it must be digestible; (2) that it be taken from outside. Saliva or blood from nose, mouth or lungs may enter the stomach without interfering with the jejunium; (3) that it be taken after the manner of eating or drinking (S. Alph. 1. vi., n. 280). In explaining this last condition Lehmkuhl states explicitly that food and drink do not break the jejunium naturale if taken either after the manner of saliva, or after the manner of inhalation, or after the manner of drawing in through the nostrils (II. n. 160). Per modum salivae means that something has been taken into the mouth for cleansing teeth or mouth, or for tasting, and, upon spitting it out, some of it remains. Even the Mass rubrics allow rinsing the mouth, even at the risk of a little water entering the stomach. (De defectibus Missae tit. 9, n. 3.) Per modum aspirationis means that gnats, dust, snow, are accidentally taken into the stomach by inhalation. Per modum attractionis per nares: it is not forbidden to take a pinch of snuff before holy Communion, even if accidentally a particle of it should be swallowed. St. Alphonsus adds that even the chewing of tobacco (though extremely filthy) does not violate the jejunium, even if unintentionally some particles enter the stomach by getting mixed with the saliva. It is evident from all this that the Church does not prohibit food and drink to enter the stomach before holy Communion, but merely forbids it to be taken per modum cibi et potus. Lacroix explains this in the words: Then something is taken after the manner of eating or drinking if what is swallowed, and the manner of swallowing it, suffice in moral estimation for someone to be considered to have eaten or drunk. (L. vi, P. i, n. 554.) There is no doubt, then, that the stomach-pump may be used without violating the jejunium, for it cannot be asserted that by its application the patient eats or drinks.

The other question is asked: Is the use of the stomach-pump permissible immediately after holy Communion? To this question we must answer “No,” for there is danger that the sacred species may be brought up with other matter and desecration would take place. It is true that the process of digestion begins as soon as the sacred species comes in contact with the saliva in the mouth. Nevertheless, the process is retarded in a weak stomach, where it takes place very slowly, and there should therefore be an interval of a half hour at least—under circumstances even a whole hour—before the stomach may be so treated without irreverence to the Blessed Sacrament. (Capellman, Medicina Past.: ed. III. lat p. 124.)