The prevailing views on gastric digestion in infants may, I believe, be fairly stated by quoting from a recent text-book on pediatrics:1
The opinion has been steadily gaining ground that the function of the stomach is largely that of a reservoir.......The only part of the food acted on in the stomach is the proteids, which are transformed successively into acid-albumins, albumoses, and peptones. This is accomplished by the agency of the pepsin and the acid of the gastric juice — generally hydrochloric acid, although lactic acid may take its place.......The reaction of the stomach contents in fasting is acid, and at this time usually HCl can be demonstrated; soon after a meal of human milk it is alkaline or neutral; after one of cow's milk it is acid or neutral. In fifteen minutes after feeding the reaction is always acid. Free HCl can usually not be demonstrated until about