tfthe Stomach. 265 



thus discouraged. This most unpleasant state of mind 

 is greatly increased, and perhaps wholly caused, by acidi- 

 ty in the stomach. I have often observed persons of this 

 stamp, regularly elated and depressed, as the paroxysms 

 of acidity arose and disappeared, and have known but a 

 very small number of persons, subject to severe and long 

 continued attacks of that disease, who -were of a resolute, 

 decisive character. It is very difficult also, if not im- 

 possible, for a person who is called to encounter so many 

 sufferings, as dyspeptic persons often are, to be habitual- 

 ly cheerful. Gravity, and some degree of sorrowfulness, 

 seem to be the natural consequences of the disease. The 

 stomach is a viscus exquisitely sensible, and has a singu- 

 larly intimate connexion with other parts of the body. 

 Of course, when its functions are deranged, many pecul- 

 iar morbid sympathies are to be expected. For these, 

 most persons are utterly unable to account. The state 

 of the feelings is so strange, and so different from that 

 which is experienced in good health ; the actual distress 

 is often so severe ; so much indisposition is frequently 

 brought on by slight causes, or by causes unobserved, 

 and unthought of, by the subject of them; the complaints 

 also, are of such long continuance, and so little relief is 

 afforded, by the remedies customarily made use of; the 

 sufferings of the patient are so universally treated with 

 ridicule, or so often declared by others to be imaginarj^, 

 w^hile he knows them to be serious realities ; the loss of 

 strength and flesh, and the apparently hopeless situation 

 in which he finds himself, are circumstances sufficiently 

 disagreeable and alarming, to break down for a time, at 

 least, the resolution of most men. In some instances, 

 persons of high health, and sanguine constitutions, such 

 us are very impatient of the complaints of dyspeptics, be- 

 come from some of the causes beforementioned, them- 

 selves the subjects of this disease ; and then, all that har- 

 dihood of mind, that decisive, resolute character, on which 

 they prided themselves so much, and which they were 

 fond of attributing to superiority of understanding, van- 

 ishes at once. Such persons, it appears to me, more 

 than any others, are apt in this case to be extremely de- 



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