732 PLAIN FACTS FOR OLD AND YOUNG 



ment, made a very careful study of the digestive proc- 

 ess in more than 2,500 different persons suffering 

 from various forms of indigestion. The patient is 

 first given a test breakfast consisting of a measured 

 quantity of bread and water. At the end of an hour 

 the contents of the stomach are withdrawn by means 

 of the tube, and a minute chemical analysis is made. 

 By this means it is possible to determine exactly the 

 nature of the disorder of digestion from which the 

 patient is suffering and the extent of the disease, and 

 from this information a very exact prescription may 

 be formulated. In very many instances the condition 

 of the stomach is found to be the result of germs in 

 the stomach. By washing the stomach thoroughly, so 

 that these enemies are removed, the condition of the 

 patient is at once improved. So accurately may the 

 condition and treatment of such cases be determined 

 by this method, that it is usually possible to say to a 

 person who has undergone an examination of this kind, 

 ''Take the treatment and diet prescribed, and in less 

 than a week you will be a great deal better, and in due 

 time, by perseverance in the use of the measures 

 ordered, you will be restored to good health. Of course 

 it is not always possible to restore tbe patient to per- 

 fect health, but a vast improvement may be expected 

 in all cases where the patient is not suffering from 

 some malignant or other structural disease. 



A person whose stomach is dilated should avoid 

 all coarse vegetables, and such fruits as have a hard, 

 firm flesh, as raw apples, pears, etc. But he can eat 

 all of the grain preparations, and most cooked fruits. 

 Small fruits having a soft pulp are good, such as straw- 

 berries, blueberries, peaches, oranges, and grapes. 

 Baked apples are also excellent food. 



