of the Stomach, 271 



grow worse ; yet nothing is commonly more difficult, 

 than to persuade patients of the importance of attending 

 to this direction. Against some of the causes they will 

 without much reluctance guard, but to others, they will 

 expose themselves with no small obstinacy. Study is 

 usually so irksome, that most cease to pursue it with 

 eagerness. A sedentary life is not unfrequently avoided, 

 and great active efforts entered upon, but not a small 

 number become so far discouraged, as to sit still more, 

 and exercise less. Those, who habitually use opium, 

 and ardent spirits- to excess, very rarely reform. To- 

 bacco chewers relinquish the use of this nauseous plant, 

 with less reluctance. The indulgence of evil passions, 

 instead of being repressed, as it ought sedulously to be, 

 is often greatly encouraged, and thus brings with it a 

 double present punishment. I cannot but think this 

 cause to be more operative, than is generally supposed. 



II. We are to mitigate or remove such symptoms as 

 are especially troublesome. In cases where a radical 

 cure is not speedily or at all expected, much may often 

 be done, by faithful and persevering elForts to palliate the 

 most painful symptoms. 



The first and most troublesome symptom, and the one 

 always demanding our attention, as being the cause of 

 many of the rest, is acidity in the stomach and intestines. 

 In endeavouring to remove or mitigate this evil, the ob- 

 jects to be kept in view are, twofold, viz. To remove 

 the various causes which aggravate or induce it ; and to 

 rid the stomach of the acid, when it abounds to such a 

 degree as to be troublesome. 



1. The causes which induce a paroxysm of acidity, or 

 increase the tendency in the debilitated stomach to gen- 

 erate it, are of two kinds, viz. primary and sympathetic. 

 The primary are those, which operate immediately upon 

 the stomach ; of these, it will be proper to treat first. 



Under this head, every thing relative to diet will be in- 

 cluded. It will be proper to begin with that species of 

 diet, which is most likely to produce acidity , and to close 

 with that which is least apt to have this effect ; or which., 

 in other words, is most suitable for dyspeptic persons^ 



