248 Oh Chrome Debility 



sels, and the feet, rendered torpid by unusual exposure to 

 cold. I have often experienced similar eifects, from 

 similar causes, but much more suddenly following them* 



6. This opinion is rendered probable from the state of 

 the saliva, in some dyspeptics. In those severe cases of 

 the disease where the stomach is affected with mere acid, 

 the saliva is acid also* This fact I have experienced 

 many hundred times, and for months together, without 

 any mitigation. The kind, and degree of sourness, it is 

 difficult for me to describe definitely. If the acid in the 

 stomach is occasioned bv fermentation, how shall this 

 phenomenon be explained ? In those paroxysms of acid- 

 ity, unquestionably occasioned by a fermentation of the 

 alimentary mass, I have not known an acid state of the 

 saliva. But if we admit that there may be a morbid se^ 

 cretion, or a decomposition of the gastric liquor^ the diffi- 

 culty will be removed, since the former fluid is employed 

 in preparing the aliment for the action of the latter, since 

 it possesses corrosive and antiseptic properties, and has a 

 far greater affinity to the gastric liquor than any other an- 

 imal fluid, except the pancreatic. 



7. The following case affords additional evidence in 

 favour of tjie opinions which I have endeavoured to sup- 

 port. 



In the summer of 1 804, 1 Was called to visit Mrs*-^, a la- 

 dy aged about 30, of an exceedingly delicate and irritable 

 habit. She inherited a feeble constitution, had been mar- 

 ried very early, and went through her first labour when she 

 ^was a little more than sixteen years old* She was short- 

 ly after attacked with puerperal fever. From this disease 

 she with difficulty escaped, and continued in a low state, 

 a long period of time. When I saw her she was the 

 subject of great general debility, and of singular weak; 

 ness of the stomach. She was also greatly distressed by 

 a continual and copious influx of acid, into that viscus. 

 The paroxysm had been on about twenty-four hours. 

 During that period, and for some time previous, she had 

 taken no sustenance, and was unable to retain any thing 

 upon her stomach, but was afflicted with very frequent 

 and painful vomitings. She brought up nothing, how- 

 ever, but thin mucus, and this was discharged in great 



