■ ACUTE GASTRITIS. 623 



cases, even the simplest and where the cause of the disturb- 

 ance is most patent, but certainly in cases of suspected gas- 

 tritis, where the probability or possibility of having obtained 

 deleterious material exists, it is of infinitely greater moment. 

 In all doubtful cases the mere necroscopic examination must 

 never of itself be confided in, but chemical analysis be had 

 recourse to. In cases which terminate fatally from eating 

 the yew or other foliage, the finding of this in any amount 

 amongst the ingesta, or even in some cases the characteristic 

 smell of the vegetable irritant, together Avith concomitant and 

 locally coincident inflammation, is proof sufficient to satisfy most 

 minds of the cause of death. Where metallic irritants are the 

 suspected agents in the production of the diseased condition, 

 the only convincing proof that these have acted as the active 

 and directly inducing agents in the inflammatory process is 

 their detection and isolation by certain chemical processes. 



Treatment. — When inflammation of the stomach is fairly 

 developed we have good reason to believe that its course is 

 rapid and its termination a fatal one ; for rarely, even when 

 we have been fortunate enough to diagnose the chief morbid 

 condition, are we able, either by medicinal agents or dietetic 

 treatment, to arrest the progress of the disease. In cases which 

 have recovered, the re-establishment in health and restoration 

 of functional activity have been a tedious matter, necessitating 

 much patience and careful dietetic management. The treat- 

 ment which, from a consideration of the nature of the diseased 

 action and the teachings of experience, seems most rational, 

 and is alike applicable to similar morbid activities occurring" 

 in other parts of the canal, is that which rests upon the recog- 

 nition of the well-known fact — that any organ or structure 

 suffering from such perversion of nutrition, and such tissue- 

 changes as occur in inflammation, have these abnormal condi- 

 tions aggravated by being called upon to exercise normal func- 

 tion. When we suspect that gastritis exists, all our endeavours 

 must be directed to soothe the already irritable structure, 

 and to place it in a condition of rest or repose, or as near 

 this as possible ; while, should we believe that the morbid 

 action progressing in the stomach is the result of the opera- 

 tion of any special and specific agent, either mineral or vegetable 

 irritant, we must, in the employment of the antidotes appro- 



