The amount of actual harm done with the best intention, by continually
supplying the digestive organs with digestants, or ferments, instead of
encouraging them to generate their own, is doubtless greater than we
realize. It is not very often that one need order predigested food for a
patient, although occasions may and do present themselves when this is
advisable. But the indiscriminate use of pepsins and similar substances
from the vegetable kingdom, in the management of many patients with
weakened digestive powers, is scarcely to be justified. A much more
useful remedy, because of its being a true stimulator to the digestive
functions, gastric and intestinal, is Seng. This well known preparation
contains the active principles of Panax (Ginseng), and is especially
useful because it stimulates the physiologic activity of the digestive
glands and thus “helps them to help themselves”—obviously the most
desirable therapeutics in all functional cases. It should be remembered,
therefore, that Seng is not a ferment to digest food which weakened
organs can not care for in their natural manner. Instead, its action is
to restore tone and vigor to the secretory structures so that they are
able to evolve and supply their own ferments. Seng is a very agreeable
remedy to take, and its benefits are manifested in surprisingly short
order. In convalescence from fevers or diseases impairing the digestive
functions it is unquestionably one of the most efficient remedies being
used by medical men today.