INDIGESTION
"We know how dismal the world looks during a fit of indigestion, and
what a host of evils disappear as the abused stomach regains its tone.
Indigestion has lead to the loss of battles; it has caused many crimes,
and inspired much sulphurous theology, gloomy poetry and bitter
satire."--Hollander.
The nervous dyspeptic suffers no marked pain, but often feels a "sinking",
has no appetite, and cannot enjoy life because his stomach, though sound,
does not get enough nerve-force to run it properly.
A great deal of nerve-force is required for digestion, and if a man comes
to the table exhausted, bolts his food, uses nerve-force scheming while he
is bolting, and, immediately he has bolted a given amount, rushes off to
work, digestion is imperfectly performed, nutriment is not assimilated, the
nerve-force supply becomes deficient. He continues to overdraw his account
in spite of the doctor's warning, and stomachic bankruptcy occurs, followed
by a host of ills.
Nervous dyspepsia is a very obstinate complaint, but if tackled resolutely,
it can to a great extent be mitigated; but let it be emphasized at once,
that medicines, patent or otherwise, are useless. If dyspepsia be
aggravated by other complaints, these should receive appropriate treatment,
but the assertions so unblushingly made in patent-pill advertisements are
unfounded. The very variety of the advertised remedies is proof of the
uselessness of all.
Set aside certain periods three times a day for meals. Fifteen minutes
before meal times, sit in a comfortable chair, relax all your muscles,
close the eyes, and try to make the mind a blank. _Rest_!
Then eat the meal slowly and thoroughly. Conversation may lighten and
lengthen a meal, but avoid politics, "shop" and topics of that type. What
is wanted at table is wit, not wisdom.
Water may be drunk with meals, provided it is drunk between eating, and not
while masticating, for it has decidedly beneficial effects upon the
digestive functions. Water is usually forbidden with meals because if
patients drink while eating, the water usurps the functions of saliva, and
moistens the bolus, which is then swallowed with little or no mastication.
If you cannot drink between mouthfuls, then drink only between meals.
_Never drink while food is in the mouth!_
After the meal, lie down on the right side for half an hour, _resting_, and
so directing all available nerve-energy to getting digestion well under
way.
Indifferent appetites must be tempted by wholesome dishes made up in a
variety of enticing ways. Fats are good, but must be taken in a tasty form.
Eat fruit deluged with cream.
The crux of digestion is to
"_Chew_! CHEW!! and KEEP ON CHEWING!!!" for until food is thoroughly
masticated there will be no relief. The only part of the whole digestive
process placed under the control of consciousness is mastication, and,
paradoxically, it is the only part that consciousness usually ignores.
A healthy man never knows he has a stomach; a dyspeptic never knows he has
anything else, because he will not _eat_ his food, but throws it into his
stomach as the average bachelor throws his belongings into a trunk.
A varied, tasty diet, thoroughly chewed and salivated, with rest before and
after meals, is the only means of curing dyspepsia, for no medicine can
supply and properly distribute nerve-energy.
Digestive pills are all purgatives, with a bitter to increase appetite, and
occasionally a stomachic, bound together with syrup or soap. Practically
all contain aloes, and very rarely a minute quantity of a digestive ferment
like pepsin. Taken occasionally as purges, most digestive pills would be
useful, but none are suited to continuous use, and the price is, as a rule,
out of all proportion to the primary cost, while one or two are, frankly,
barefaced swindles.
The analyses of the British Medical Association give the following as the
probable formulæ for some well-known preparations:
Beecham's Pills.............................Aloes; ginger.
Holloway's Pills............................Aloes; ginger.
Page Woodcock's ............................Aloes; ginger; capsicum;
cinnamon and oil of
peppermint.
Carter's Little Liver.......................Aloes; podophyllin;
Pills liquorice.
Burgess' Lion Pills.........................Aloes; ipecacuanha; rhubarb;
jalap; peppermint.
Cockle's Pills..............................Aloes; colocynth; jalap.
Barclay's Pills.............................Aloes; colocynth; jalap.
Whelpton's Pills............................Ginger; colocynth; gentian.
Bile Beans..................................Cascara; rhubarb; liquorice;
peppermint.
Cicfa.......................................Cascara; capsicum; pepsin;
diastase; maltose.
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