A DYNAMIC. 373 



so I suppose and expect it will appear, from the consideration 

 of the remote causes, that the dyspepsia may be often an idio- 

 pathic affection, and that it is therefore properly taken into the 

 system of methodical Nosology, and becomes the subject of our 

 consideration here. 



MCXCV. There can be little doubt, that, in most cases, the 

 weaker action of the muscular fibres of the stomach, is the most 

 frequent and chief cause of the symptoms mentioned in 

 MCXC. ; but I dare not maintain it to be the only cause of 

 idiopathic dyspepsia. There is, pretty certainly, a peculiar 

 fluid in the stomach of animals, or at least a peculiar quality in 

 the fluids, that we know to be there, upon which the solution of 

 the aliments taken into the stomach chiefly depends : and it is 

 at the same time probable, that the peculiar quality of the dis- 

 solving or digesting fluids may be variously changed, or that 

 their quantity may be, upon occasion, diminished. It is there- 

 fore sufficiently probable, that a change in the quality or quan- 

 tity of these fluids may produce a considerable difference in the 

 phenomena of digestion, and particularly may give occasion to 

 many of the morbid appearances mentioned in MCXC. 



MCXCVI. This seems to be very well founded, and points 

 out another proximate cause of dyspepsia beside that we have 

 already assigned : but, notwithstanding this, as the peculiar na- 

 ture of the digestive fluid, the changes which it may undergo, 

 or the causes by which it may be changed, are all matters so 

 little known, that I cannot found any practical doctrine upon 

 any supposition with respect to them ; and as, at the same time, 

 the imbecility of the stomach, either as causing the change in 

 the digestive fluid, or as being induced by that change, seems 

 always to be present, and to have a great share in occasioning 

 the symptoms of indigestion ; so I shall still consider the imbe- 

 cility of the stomach as the proximate and almost sole cause of 

 dyspepsia. And I more readily admit of this manner of pro- 

 ceeding, as, in my opinion, the doctrine applies very fully and 

 clearly to the explaining the whole of the practice which expe- 

 rience has established as the most successful in this disease. 



MCXCVII. Considering this, then, as the proximate cause 

 of dyspepsia, I proceed to mention the several remote causes of 

 this disease, as they are such as, on different occasions, seem to 



