GASTRITIS, inflammation of the stomach, in which catarrh, or irritation of its mucous membrane, is the most frequent and most readily recognized sign. This may he acute or chronic and depends upon some local or general condition which induces con gestion in the walls of the stomach (see ALIMENTARY CANAL). Acute Gastritis may arise from various causes. The most in tense forms, if the patient live long enough, follow the swallowing of corrosive poisons, such as strong mineral acids or alkalis which extensively destroy the mucous membrane. Other, non-corrosive, poisons cause acute degeneration of the stomach wall (see Poi soNs). Acute inflammatory conditions may be secondary to zymotic diseases such as diphtheria, pyaemia, typhus fever and others. Gastritis may also be caused by the ingestion of food which has begun to decompose, or may result from eating sub stances which themselves remain undigested. The symptoms con sist in loss of appetite, sickness or nausea, and headache, frontal or occipital, often accompanied with giddiness. The tongue is furred, the breath foetid, and there is pain or discomfort in the region of the stomach, with sour eructations, and frequently vom iting, first of food and then of bilious matter. An attack of this kind tends to subside in a few days, especially if the exciting cause be removed. Sometimes, however, the symptoms recur with such frequency as to lead to the more serious chronic form of the disease.
The treatment bears reference, in the first place, to any known source of irritation, which, if it exist, may be expelled by an emetic or purgative (except in cases due to poisoning). This, however, is seldom necessary, since vomiting is usually present. For the relief of sickness and pain the sucking of ice and counter irritation over the region of the stomach are of service. Further, internal administration of bismuth or weak alkaline fluids, and along with these, a light milk diet, are usually sufficient to remove the symptoms.
Chronic Gastric Catarrh may result from the acute or may arise independently. It is not infrequently connected with antecedent disease in other organs, such as the lungs, heart, liver or kidneys, and it is especially common in persons addicted to alcoholic ex cess. In this form the texture of the stomach is more altered than in the acute form, except in the toxic and febrile forms above re ferred to. It is permanently in a state of congestion, and its mu cous membrane and muscular coat undergo thickening and other changes. The symptoms are those of dyspepsia in an aggravated form (see DYSPEPSIA) , of which discomfort and pain after food, with distension and frequently vomiting, are the chief ; and the treatment must be conducted in reference to the causes giving rise to it. The careful regulation of the diet, in amount, quality, and the intervals between meals, demands special attention. Feeding on artificially soured milk may be useful. Lavage or washing out of the stomach with weak alkaline solutions has been used with success. Bismuth, arsenic, nux vomica, the mineral acids and pepsin are all of use.