Indigestion

“ When the action of the stomach and bowels is impaired, much gas becomes generated by the fermenting or putrescent aliment, and to this indigestion is catenated languor, coldness of the skin, and fear. For when the extremities are cold for too long a time in some weak constitutions, indigestion is produced by direct sympathy of the skin and the stomach, with consequent heart-burn, and flatulency. The same occurs if the skin be made cold by fear, as in riding over dangerous roads in winter, and hence conversely fear is produced by indigestion or torpor of the stomach by association. ”

“ When you tell such patients that their trouble is indigestion, they are often mildly indignant, and loudly protest that they can eat anything with impunity; that they never have heart-burn, feelings of heaviness after eating, pains in the abdomen, or other symptoms referable to the stomach and intestines. We are rather disposed to be proud of our digestive powers, just as we are of our bodily strength, and nothing is more common than for chronic dyspeptics to maintain that they have never had indigestion in their lives, [Pg 146] and to resent any insinuation to the contrary. ”

“ Persons are affected with indigestion sometimes from the badness of their food, and sometimes owing to a redundance of depraved humours. Wherefore, if the patient be seized with nausea and lancinating pains, while the food remains [516] in the stomach undigested, we must order him to drink tepid water, and to produce vomiting by putting his fingers or feathers down the throat. We must also encourage the discharge by the bowels. After the evacuation of the superfluities, he must take rest, and apply warmth to the hypochondrium, by means of sweet oil, with some wine ”

“ In consequence of debility, over-exertion, anxiety, or chronic inflammation of the stomach, there is not a proper secretion, in quantity or quality, of digestive solvents, and it matters not whether it be a deficiency of the fluids of the stomach, or of the intestines, or of the pancreas and liver, the result is indigestion. The question of what important agent is lacking, naturally presents itself to the physician. ”

“ An infant seldom has real inflammation of the stomach. Gastric, or stomach, indigestion is the better name, because it actually signifies the true condition. It is indigestion that causes a child to vomit, though it is possible to have a true inflammation caused by the taking of irritant or corrosive drugs.
Gastric indigestion causes sudden, repeated vomiting, with prostration and occasional fever. It is caused by unsuitable food, the wrong quantity of food, irregular feeding, and food the quality of which is not good. ”

“ For it can’t be too often repeated that indigestion is the root of a great deal of evil; the origin of a great many disorders which no man quite understands how he came by. And why this is can easily be explained. Disease is poison; its symptoms are the manifestation of the poison. Indigestion creates many dangerous poisons, and is therefore the cause of many diseases.
So let us get rid of the smoke by putting out the fire, and purify our blood and system with Mother Seigel’s Syrup, which will sweep away the poisons and make us healthy and strong. ”

“ How shall I treat acute indigestion? Give castor oil to clean out all undigested food from the bowels. Vomiting usually frees the stomach of food; stop food for from twelve to thirty-six hours, only boiled water being allowed. Let the stomach rest.
Can I then begin with the former diet? No, give at first only broth gruel, very much diluted milk or whey. Increase the diet slowly as the appetite and digestion improve, but this should consume a week or ten days in most cases before the full diet is resumed.
Give the symptoms of chronic indigestion (dyspepsia) in children? ”

“ Indigestion, however, with undue formation of acids proper, or acids unnatural, to the stomach, is a much more annoying affliction than slow digestion. The sufferer from indigestion may be debilitated, anemic, may have a general want of tone; or he may be a more or less vigorous and plethoric person. In some cases flatulence is very troublesome. But the most usual symptoms are heartburn, acid eructations that produce burning sensations, sour taste at intervals or constantly in the mouth, setting the teeth on edge. ”

“ The food may be introduced in an indigestible form on account of defects in the cooking of it, or imperfect mastication, or from its having undergone putrefaction or fermentation, which arrests the functions of the stomach. Imperfect mastication of food is a very common cause of indigestion. Eating too much is probably the most common of all causes of indigestion. The secretion of the gastric juice in the stomach seems to be proportioned to the amount of material required for the nourishment of the system. ”

“ It should be the duty of the State of New York to add to the list its stupendous cataract.
Dyspepsia.—The late Dr. Leared, in his recently published essay on "The Causes and Treatment of Indigestion," lays down as a fundamental principle that the amount of food which each man is capable of digesting with ease always has a limit which bears relation to his age, constitution, health, and habits, and that indigestion is a consequence of exceeding this limit. Different kinds of food are also differently adapted to different constitutions. ”

“ Food taken in excess of this amount acts as a foreign substance undergoing fermentation and putrefaction, and occasioning much disturbance in the system. Much may be done for the cure of indigestion by eating very abstemiously of suitable food, thoroughly masticated, taking exercise in the open air, breathing pure air, and observing the laws of health generally. The amount of food should be reduced until the quantity is reached which the stomach can digest without evincing any symptoms of indigestion. ”

“ Everybody is aware that certain articles of food are now and again held responsible for more or less severe "attacks of indigestion" or other physiological disturbances that have followed their consumption, but in many cases the evidence for assuming a causal connection is of the slightest. ”

“ Manifold and enormous must have been our sins against the dietary code of Nature before we could succeed in making indigestion a chronic disease. Deviations from the chemical standards of her menu are insufficient to account for her wrath. With all their unmistakable structural evidences of a frugivorous purpose, our digestive organs have been permitted to adapt themselves, not only to a carnivorous and herbivorous diet and various innutritive substances, but to a considerable number of positive poisons. ”

“ One element which aided immensely in this remarkable cure, was the absence of great variety in the food. Indigestion is the enemy to be overcome; and he must be “killed dead.” Variety is this enemy’s right-hand man—encouraging excess and the indulgence in questionable articles; and, above all, prohibiting the adaptation of the digestive organs to any class of all the ailments thrust upon them. ”

“ Neglect of acute indigestion may mean convulsions, intestinal inflammation or other ailment which will quickly prove fatal. Slight but chronic indigestion should be corrected because it disturbs and weakens the entire system, fills it with poison and makes the child liable to disease. The child who “takes cold easily” or “teethes hard” is generally the child whose digestion is out of order. ”

“ This disorder, which is supposed often to cause consumption, is rather a disease of indigestion, and is especially apt to attack patients already in consumption, because of their chronically disordered nutritive and respiratory organs. ”

“ In attempting to cure indigestion, notwithstanding the most scrupulous adherence to the rules given for the proper selection of food, if we set at defiance all the other conditions of healthy digestion, our adherence will be of little avail. ”

“ And hence, although these conditions are not unfrequently of much greater importance to the general health than even the right selection of food, yet, when indigestion arises from neglecting them, the food alone is blamed, and erroneous conclusions are drawn, by relying on which, upon future occasions, we may easily be led into still more serious mistakes. ”

“ Fluids in large quantities too much dilute the gastric juice, and over-distend the stomach, and hence weaken it, and thus produce indigestion: indeed, it might truly be said that the stomach often takes broths and soups in a grumbling way! ”

“ IV. The food is increased too rapidly, particularly after some disturbance of digestion. If, in an infant three or four months old, an attack of somewhat acute indigestion occurs, the food should seldom be given in full strength before two weeks. The increase in the diet should be made very gradually, the steps being made only one half those indicated in the series of formulas on pages 70 and 71. Otherwise it generally happens that the attack of indigestion is very much prolonged and much loss in weight occurs.
V. When symptoms of indigestion occur, the food is not reduced rapidly enough. ”

“ When the feet are long cold, as in riding in cold and wet weather, some people are very liable to indigestion and consequent heart-burn. The irritative motions of the stomach become torpid, and do their office of digestion imperfectly, in consequence of their association with the torpid motions of the vessels of the extremities. Fear, as it produces paleness and torpidity of the skin, frequently occasions temporary indigestion in consequence of this association of the vessels of the skin with those of the stomach ”

“ A further cause of indigestion must be sought in the haste with which food is too often eaten. The failure to rise at the appointed time leads to a hasty breakfast, and this must eventually cause indigestion. ”

“ But, in a still more comprehensive sense, indigestion is caused by disturbance of organs directly associated with the stomach in the digestive process. All organs closely associated with each other in their physiological functions are apt to become associated in morbid action. ”

“ The natural consequence is, that we educate the stomach to demand more food than the system requires, and more than it can itself continue to digest; and hence the numerous evils which we daily witness as fruits of indigestion. ”

“ In almost every case of indigestion brought on by fermentation there will be an accompanying diarrhea. As a rule the carbohydrates are more liable to the attacks of bacteria in the stomach than the other food constituents. ”

“ The mildest form of intestinal catarrh characterized by intestinal indigestion and constipation or by the passage of fecal matter more or less solid, mixed or coated with mucus, is best treated by a diet such as is advised for intestinal indigestion, bathing with friction, outdoor life, exercise on horseback or by walking, pleasurable occupations, and travel. ”

“ When people take little exercise, and overload their stomachs, there lies within them a fermenting mass of undigested aliment; and it is not surprizing that this should irritate and heat the body during the night. This is likewise the foundation of stomach complaints, flatulencies, and all other symptoms of indigestion; which more frequently proceed from intemperance in eating and drinking than any other cause. ”

“ That the prevalence of over-eating is a general error in society, especially among the sedentary classes, is strongly presumable, even without direct proof, from two almost characteristic circumstances,—namely, the frequency of indigestion in one or other of its numerous forms, and the almost universal use of purgative medicines, with a view to remove from the system the superfluous materials which have been poured into it without any natural demand. ”

“ A second type about which we shall have something to say presently is the result of poisoning by substances which are products of the putrefaction of the intestinal contents. A third type, and the one in which we are particularly interested at this moment, is the one which results from the failure of gastric juice to be properly secreted. A fourth occasional cause of indigestion, which should be mentioned in passing, is that which results from eyestrain, and is avoided by properly fitted glasses. There is comparatively little food poisoning ”

“ Inasmuch as these patients frequently suffer from digestive disturbances, it is wise to refrain from those articles of diet that ordinarily cause indigestion. Such articles are, sweet dishes, pies, pastries, candies, fresh bread, fried food, sugars, and the relishes and seasoning extras which constitute the et ceteras of the table. Meat should never be taken to excess, alcohol and all stimulants are to be avoided. Water may be taken freely to advantage. ”

“ Excessive secretion of saliva is only another indication of indigestion, and rarely troubles one who lives plainly. Drinking hot water will relieve it. Also holding in the mouth very hot or very cold water, or pieces of ice, will give temporary relief. It rarely fails to disappear under the fruit diet. Eating a few almonds or a peach kernel after a meal frequently produces desirable results. Indeed, these are often valuable for indigestion.
Greedy appetite is more to be feared than loss [Pg 81] of appetite. One is hungry at all times, complains she can not get enough to eat. ”

“ On the contrary, too little drink disposes persons of a sedentary life to indigestion; because many particles of solid food are, for want of dilution, passed unassimilated through the alimentary canal; and the blood becomes viscid, and inert in its circulation. The active and laborious should, therefore, drink more than the idle or phlegmatic ”