GASTRIC DISORDERS.—In atonic dys pepsia, dilute hydrochloric acid may be given alone or combined with some prep aration of pepsin, immediately after meals. Thus given, it is also useful when there is a deficiency of acid in the gastric juice, as in gastric cancer, a con dition often made manifest by alkaline eructations.
in excessive acid formation, acid eruc tations, pvrosis, and ulcerative stoma titis it should be administered before meals. If the use of this remedy be too long continued the improvement which at first follows its use lessens and then ceases, and a train of symp toms arises which require an oppo site plan of treatment: a catarrhal in flammation of the gastrointestinal tract is induced, which is accompanied with diarrhoea, and perhaps wasting.
Weak solution of hydrochloric acid by internal administration recommended as remedy for nausea and vomiting. S. Alkiewiez (Nowiny Lakarske, Feb., '92).
Hydrochloric acid is capable of exercis ing a double action upon the digestion: an enpeptic action and an antiseptic ac tion. As an enpeptic, it should be em ployed in all cases in which the digestive power is diminished and the amount of gastric juice is lessened. The following is the method of administration:— n Hydrochloric acid, 15 minims. Distilled water, S fluidounces.
AL Sig.: A wineglassful toward the end of each meal and one-half hour after. Or FI Hydrochloric acid, 45 minims. Distilled water, fluidounces.
M. Sig.: A tablesponful in half a glass of warm or cold water at the end of each meal.
The contra-indications to the employ ment of this drug are: all forms of hy peracidity and dyspepsias accompanied by hypenesthesia. The treatment should
not be continued for more than three weeks or a month, to be resumed, if nec essary, after a remission of fifteen days. As an antiseptic it has produced good re sults in cases of fermentation with pyro sis due to the formation of organic acids, in dilatation of the stomach, etc. It should be given in these cases two or three hours after the meal. Huchard (Jour. des Praticiens; Then Gaz., Aug., 93).
FEVERS.—The treatment of fevers by hydrochloric acid is an old and favorite one. The use of the acid increases the secretion of the salivary glands and of the mucous membranes of the mouth, relieving the dryness of the tongue and fauces; it makes good the deficiency of acid in the gastric juice, which deficiency is a characteristic of most febrile affec tions. In typhoid fever, alone, or, better, combined with pepsin, it restrains the diarrhoea, increases the digestive powers, relieves the dryness of the mouth and tongue and aids in preventing the mulation and production of sordes. In scarlet fever and other eruptive fevers it relieves adynamia by improving diges tion and assimilation. PHTHISIS.—Associated with this dis ease there is usually a deficiency of the normal acid of the stomach and of the pepsin. Hydrochloric acid is useful in these cases, especially when the adminis tration is stayed occasionally for a short time and then resumed.