^88 On Chronic Debilityf 



is extremely injurious. One hour spent in study at those 

 periods, is more hurtful to a weak stomach, than three 

 hours after breakfast. Strong passions often indulged, 

 occasion in many instances^ palpitations of the heart, 

 headache, a loss of appetite, and universal debility. Ev- 

 ery person prone to the indulgence of bad passions, should 

 therefore watch with great care against their rise and ex- 

 asperation» Aside from the stupifying influence which 

 they exert upon the conscience, and the permanent inju- 

 ry done to the temper, a dyspeptic person cherishhig bad 

 passions, such as envy, jealousy and hatred, is the great- 

 est of all fools, since he punishes only, or chiefly himself. 

 A few minutes spent each day in meditating on the folly 

 and wickedness of them, with daily resolutions to over- 

 come, and the careful avoidance of all those causes which 

 give rise to them, are proper remedies. 



3. The remedies to lessen or remove acidity when it 

 is formed, are, various preparations of the alkalies, lime, 

 magnesia, chalk, and emetics. 



Emetics are useful only when there is a mass of fer- 

 menting matter in the stomach, which needs to be evac- 

 uated. The mildest, as they debilitate the stomach the 

 least, should be used for this purpose. Where the acid 

 is formed habitually, unmixed with other acrimony, and 

 unaccompanied with wind, or in other words where it is 

 a secretion, emetics uniformly increase the evil they 

 were intended to remove. 



Lime water appears to possess no important advanta- 

 ges over the alkalies ; and being astringent, is attended 

 with some disadvantages with which they are not. Mag- 

 nesia should be used only where a laxative effect is desir- 

 ed, because it disagrees with the stomach far more than 

 the alkalies ; and then instead of the small doses usually 

 prescribed, two thirds or the whole of a tea cup full should 

 be taken at once. A dose of this magnitude will occa- 

 sion three or four evacuations, and remove in many in- 

 stances the whole of the acid, and leave the stomach in a 

 fit state for the reception of tonics. The best preparation 

 of alkali I believe to be the soda water. This must be 

 properly made in all respects ; and to be of much efficacy 

 in a severe case, must be taken in considerable quantities. 



