of the Stomach, 223 



On this disease, viz. Permanent or Chronic Debility 

 of the Stomach and Intestines, I propose to offer some 

 observations. The Stomach I beheve to be, originally, 

 the seat of the disease ; but from the intimate connection 

 between it and the Intestines, by means of nerves, blood 

 vessels, continuation of membrane, and similarity of 

 structure and offices, they appear to be drawn in, in a 

 greater or less degree, for their share of suffering. That 

 the Oesophagus is affected in a similar manner, I have 

 seen no proof. 



Few^ diseases to which the human body is liable, and 

 which do not immediately endanger life, are so distres- 

 sing to the patient, or give rise to so great mistakes in 

 his mind, and in the minds of ignorant physicians, as" to 

 their nature and probable consequences, as that which is 

 proposed for consideration. To all such physicians there 

 is, by the common consent of mankind, an admirable re- 

 treat provided, in which they may happily intrench them- 

 selves ; a retreat, to which physicians of a superior char- 

 acter are often accused of resorting, viz. calling all those 

 diseases, of the nature and causes of which they are igno- 

 rant, by the magical name nervous. Bestowing this name 

 upon a disease, often removes many fears from the mind 

 of the patient, and has no small effect in satisfying him, 

 when little or nothing is done towards removing his suf- 

 ferings : for it seems to be admitted, by common con- 

 sent, that it is unreasonable to require of a physician that 

 he should be able to cure, or even that he should under- 

 stand any thing relative to the nature of, a nervous dis- 

 ease. Persons laboring under a Chronic Debility of the 

 Stomach, though their sufferings may be very severe, 

 and long continued, are generally believed by those 

 around them, to possess crazed imaginations, and to be 

 diseased in mind merely ; and all, almost, are ready to 

 join in the laugh at their whims, and to become impatient 

 of their complaints. 



The v/ise and the foolish, the learned and the ignorant^ 

 the old and the young, men and women, all unite in de- 

 ciding peremptorily on a subject which they have never 

 investigated. They experience no such troubles them- 

 selves, and therefore they conclude that they ai'e not ex- 



