The human stomach can hold a surprising volume (just think about what we might ask it to hold at Christmas or other festive occasions), and if it doesn’t empty properly, initially it just stretches, tickling the local nerves and causing hiccups. Finally, when it is just too full to take any more, there is a sudden feeling of ‘I’m going to be sick!’ and then a spectacularly large vomit, which empties the stomach, relieves all the symptoms, and lets the cycle start again.
