SYMPTOMS OF DISEASES. ic 



no other part of the system is materially involved. This is indigestion, *irell 

 marked, and distressing enough ; but it is only a part of what is understood by 

 a case of modern dyspepsia. In tJi.is, either the indigestion, in its course, dis. 

 turbs and involves the nervous system, or the nerves become themselves dis- 

 ordered, and produce the indigestion. Sometimes one happens, sometimes thfc 

 other, it matters not which; both are present, — the affection of the stomach and 

 of the nerves, in a case of thorough dyspepsia. To make out a full^ase, in its 

 tormenting completeness, we must add to the above symptoms, great depression 

 of spirits, amounting at times to complete hopelessness and despondency; a 

 dread and fear of some impending evil; a lack of interest in passing events; 

 unwillingness to see company or to move about; an irritable and fretful temper; 

 i desire to talk of one's troubles, and nothing else; a sallow, haggard, sunken, 

 and sometimes wild expression of countenance; a dry, wrinkled, and harsh 

 skin, with unrefreshing sleep, disturbed by all sorts of annoyances and diffi- 

 culties, such as shipwrecks, falls down precipices, and nightmare. 



The man who has all these symptoms, or any considerable portion of them, 

 has dyspepsia, and is about as miserable as if all the sorrows of life were 

 electrical currents, and were running through him continually. 



Causes. — Accidental fits of indigestion are of frequent occurrence, and 

 arise for the most part from overloading the stomach with food, and indulging 

 freely in wines, spirits, or other intoxicating lir^uors. Confirmed or chronic 

 indigestion may depend on debility or want of tone of the stomach, or it may 

 be caused by the lining or mucous membrane of this organ being in a state of 

 irritation or chronic inflammation. Drinking large quantities of cold water 

 while eating is a prevalent cause. Over indulgence of the sexual act is a 

 predisposing cause. One of the most frequent causes of indigestion 

 is not masticating the food we eat properly, by which such food is 

 bolted, instead of being reduced to a natural pulp, thereby presenting to the 

 digestive organs a hardened mass, which it has the greatest difficulty to oper- 

 ate upon. Another cause is habitual inattention to diet, both as regards 

 the quality and quantity of food, irregularity in the times of eating, drinking 

 large quantities of warm, relaxing fluids, and using malt liquors too freely. 

 A third cause is insufficient exercise; a fourth cause, impure air; and, beside 

 these, there are numberless other causes, which in a greater or less degree 

 exercise their baneful influence upon this vital and all-important function of 

 our natures. Remedy, pages 59, 61, 135, 147, 148, 149. 



ECZEMA, OR HUMID TETTER. — This is a cutaneous disease, 

 which is characterized by an eruption of small vesicles on various parts of the 

 skin. These arise principally from some irritation, as from the heat of the sun 

 or air in the summer season and in warm climates, as we see on the back of the 

 hands and on the face; also on the neck and forearms in women. The eruption 

 continues for two or three weeks, and there is not much internal disorder. 

 Little can be done by medicine; much washing and rubbing is hurtful, and 

 ointments and stimulants are to be avoided. Simple washing with tepid water 

 relieves the smarting and tingling. Some persons have an eruption of this kind 

 and even more severe, by the application of acrid substances; thus it occurs 

 semetimes in grocers from handling sugar, and is then called the grocers' itch 



