of the Stomach, 287 



open room where the cireiilation of the air is languid or 

 interrupted, and the air of the room rendered impure by 

 the respiration of a multitude of persons, has a very per- 

 nicious effect on my own stomach. The effect is too 

 great to be wholly accounted for,^ on any other principle, 

 than that which 1 have suggested, viz. a saliva rendered 

 impure by mixture with a vitiated air, and recei\Td ia 

 that state into the stomach. Something ought undoubt- 

 edly to be attributed to the effect of the air on the lungs, 

 from a deficiency of oxygen, and through the lungs upon 

 the stomach, and wliole system ; and on some occasions 

 something is to be attributed to long continued attention 

 of the mind, and to weariness of the legs or body, from 

 an inconvenient posture* On what other principle can 

 we in many instances account for the typhus fevers gen- 

 erated in hospitals, and on board ships, and in jails, ex- 

 cept from the operation of an impure air, swallowed with 

 the saliva ? Hence all persons having weak stomachs, 

 should shun all crowded assemblies. Evening meetings, 

 where it is necessary in many instances to stand till great 

 weariness is induced, or to sit without support to the 

 back, or in a cramped posture, and to inhale and swallow 

 an impure air, are very injurious, and will often induce 

 disorder of the stomach, v/hich will not subside under 

 three or four days. Such persons when called to visit 

 sick rooms, should never go in with an empty stomach ; or 

 if that is unavoidable, should be cautious not to swallow 

 their saliva when present. When called to watch with 

 the sick through the night, they should keep a full stom- 

 ach, and drink two or three glasses of good Madeira 

 wine, or pure brandy and water. The contiguous efflu- 

 via, or the impure air when sw^allowed, will be so far di- 

 luted by the mass of food in the stomach, that it will be 

 in a great measure inefficacious. 



Too much study or engagement of the mind not only 

 occasions acidity in the stomach, a fact which I know 

 from my own experience, but also, as it appears to me,, 

 increases the irritability of the nerves, and renders them 

 more sensible to the operation of the acid. On this sub- 

 ject I shall only observe further, that study before break- 

 fast, and in hot weather by candle light in the evening. 



