JNDIGESTIOX. 57 



should be placed on the tongue, and washed down with a tablespoonful of 

 milk before nourishment is taken. 



With the food should be mingled either of the following agents — French 

 p epsin three to five grains, the saccharated pepsin five grains, one peptonic 

 pill, or five grains of lactopeptine. When pure pepsin can be secured it is 

 undoubtedly the most admirable agent which can be used to assist digestion. 

 It must be remembered however, that during the past few years the 

 quality has sadly degenerated, and rarely can a reliable preparation be 

 obtained. The saccharated is many times inert, and even the French pepsin 

 the most expensive form, will often be found inactive. The pill peptonic 

 and lactopeptine are more recent preparations, and will probably for a 

 time at least prove reliable. 



As the disease is in a measure controlled, and the need of such frequent 

 feeding and dosing is no longer manifested, the number of meals can be 

 lessened to three, continued for a time, and then restricted to two. The 

 tonics which may be advantageously used are many; among them the 

 elixir bark pepsin and bismuth, the elixir calisaya iron and bismuth, of 

 either a teaspoonful before eating. The chlorate potassa is sometimes 

 efficaciously employed and combined as follows.— 



R Elixir Calisayae Ferri et Bismuth. gij 

 Potass. Chloratis 3ij 



Aquae ad. £iv 



Ft. Mist. Sig. Dose one teaspoonful before eating. 

 Strychnine is a useful agent and may be given with pepsin and bismuth 

 as follows. — 



R Pepsini Sacch. 3iss 



Bismuth. Subnitratis 3iss 

 Strychniee gr. ss 



Ft. Pil. No. xxx. Sig. Dose one, three times daily before eating. 

 Where constipation exists with gaseous distension, the following is a 

 useful preparation.— 



R Sodse Bicarb. 

 Pulv. Rhei 

 Sacch. Pepsini 

 Pulv. Zingiberis 

 Bismuth. Subnitratis 

 Pulv. Cubebae aa 3 iij 



Ft. Pulv. Sig. Dose from one third to one half a teaspoonful after eating, 

 in milk. 



At times in cases of indigestion, it will be observed that the discharges 

 from the bowels are clay-colored, an evidence of liver derangements or 



