Accidental Shooting of Alexis St. Martin

Date: June 6, 1822 • Location: Washington, United States

Alexis St. Martin, a Canadian voyageur, was accidentally shot in the stomach; medical investigations of his injury led to a greater understanding of the processes of digestion.

Alexis Bidagan dit St-Martin 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 digestive physiology, particularly in the role of gastric juices.