DYSPEPSIA Lat. dyspepsia, (:k.
dysp Asia, from ha-, tlys-, bad + irerr6s, pen t OS, cooked, frown retrrav, prplf ill, 10 Disordered function of the stomach, resulting in impaired digestion. The symptoms are: Feeling of pressure or weight after a meal. burning (py •osis). ammuldation of gas, headache, coated tongue, drowsiness, and general weakness and discomfort. There nay be a diseased condition of the mucous membrane of the stomach (gas t•itis), with pain and vomiting in addition to the symptoms noted: there may be a delieieney in the hydrochloric and lactic acids in the gastric juice: there may be excessive production of these acids: there may be a rapid fermentation of the food, with the production of gas and toxins, causing great pain in the stomach, severe head ache, palpitation of the heart, and frequent raising of gas, this condition being termed flatu lent dyspepsia. There may be a general nervous COIldition. With waste of nerve energy, the stom ach being the first organ to fail in its this condition being termed nervous dyspepsia.
Gent, or lithemia. may be a cause of dyspepsia. Ill many cases constipation is also a symptom. and the use of cathartics has made the dyspepsia worse. Treatment must be directed to the cause, and in all eases diet must be regulated and daily out-of-door exercise practiced. Indigestion or irritating food should he avoided, such as smoked or salted meat, smoked or salted fish, hot breads, all fried articles of food, generally potatoes and roots, sweets. pastry, and oatmeal. Tea and coffee and all alcoholic liquors should he avoided, in general. Food should be thoroughly masti cated and eaten slowly. in some cases the stomach should be washed out every day or two. Bitter tonics, such as strychnine, are helpful, also creosote, carbolic acid. kola, ginger. and various digestants. such as pepsin and papoid. in certain eases. Alanagement is better than me dicinal treatment in many cases.