ACUTE DYSPEPSIA

Category: Digestive Organs

(Acute Indigestion, Acute Gastritis). "Gaster" is the
Greek for stomach; "itis" means inflammation,--thus acute inflammation of
the stomach. It may be acute or chronic. When acute it may be called acute
gastritis, acute gastric catarrh, acute dyspepsia or acute indigestion.
When chronic it may be called chronic gastritis, chronic catarrh of the
stomach, chronic dyspepsia or chronic indigestion.

Causes. This is a very common complaint and is usually caused by eating
foods that are hard to digest, which either themselves irritate the
stomach, or remain undigested, decompose, and so excite an acute
dyspepsia, or indigestion, or it may be caused by eating or taking in more
than the stomach can digest. A frequent cause is eating decomposing food,
particularly in hot weather. Alcohol is another great cause.

Symptoms. In mild cases. Distress in the stomach, headache, weary
feeling, thirst, nausea, belching of wind, sour food, and vomiting; the
tongue is heavily coated and the saliva increased. In children there are
loose bowels and colicky pains. It lasts rarely more than twenty-four
hours. Vomiting usually relieves the patient.

Severe cases. These may set in with a chill; fever 102 or 103. The
tongue is much coated, breath foul and frequent vomiting, loss of
appetite, great thirst, tenderness in region of the stomach; repeated
vomiting of food at first, then of bile stained fluid with mucus;
constipation or diarrhea. Attacks last one to five days.

MOTHERS' REMEDIES. 1. Indigestion or Dyspepsia, Mustard and Molasses
for. "Mustard is an excellent household remedy kept in every home. A
tablespoonful of white mustard mingled with two ounces of molasses and
then taken once a day will act gently on the bowels and is a beneficial
remedy in dyspepsia." By acting upon the bowels it relieves the stomach of
any food that may have caused a disturbance and relieves the dyspepsia.

2. Flatulent Dyspepsia, Wormwood tea for. "Wormwood, one to two
teaspoonfuls, water one pint. Make a tea and take from one to four
teaspoonfuls daily." This is an old tried remedy and one that should be
given a trial if affected with dyspepsia.

3. Indigestion or Dyspepsia, Dry salt for. "One-half teaspoon dry salt
taken before each meal. Knew a gentleman who was nearly worn out with this
trouble and entirely cured himself with this simple remedy." It is always
well to give these simple remedies a fair trial, before resorting to
strong drugs. Salt is a good stimulant.

4. Indigestion or Dyspepsia, Chicken Gizzard Skin for. "Four ounces good
brandy, one-fourth pound of loaf sugar, one tablespoonful pulverized
chicken gizzard skin, one teaspoonful Turkish rhubarb dried on paper
stirring constantly; this prevents griping; the chicken gizzard skin is
the lining of the gizzard which should be thoroughly cleaned and dried
then pulverized. To prepare put brandy and sugar together (crush the
sugar), light a paper and set fire to the brandy; let burn until sugar is
dissolved, then add the gizzard skin and rhubarb, stir together and if too
thick add a little water and boil up. Dose :--Infant, one-half teaspoonful
every four hours; child, one teaspoonful every four hours; adult, one
tablespoonful every four hours. Have used this remedy for a great many
years and given it to a great many people who have worn out all other
remedies."

5. Indigestion or Dyspepsia, an Excellent Tonic for.

"Tincture Gentian Compound 2 ounces
Tincture Rhubarb 2 ounces
Tincture Ginger 1/2 ounce
Essence Peppermint 2 ounces
Bicarbonate Soda 1/2 ounce
Water to make 8 ounces

Mix.

For acute cases of indigestion where the stomach and bowels are full and
distended, or sour stomach, spitting up of food. This will often relieve
at once and with continued use relieves entirely."

6. Indigestion or Dyspepsia, Fruit Diet Cure for. "Persons afflicted with
this disease would find great relief if they would confine themselves to a
diet of fruit only for several days." This gives the stomach an
opportunity to rest up and get back to its natural state.

7. Indigestion or Dyspepsia, Hickory Ashes for. "Take a swallow of
hickory limb ashes and water three times a day."

8. Indigestion or Dyspepsia, Salt and water for. "Drink sal and water
before eating breakfast."

9. Indigestion or Dyspepsia, Slippery Elm for. "Chew slippery elm; it
aids digestion."

10. Indigestion or Dyspepsia, Cold Water for. "A glass of cold water half
hour before eating."

11. Indigestion or Dyspepsia, Hot Water for. "Sip a cup of boiling hot
water before eating anything."

12. Indigestion or Dyspepsia, Yolk of Egg and Salt for. "A very simple
but good remedy is the yolk of one egg, with a small quantity of common
salt before breakfast. This treatment has been tried and known to cure in
many cases."

13. Indigestion or Dyspepsia, Lemon Remedy for. "Drink a half glass of
water into which has been put the juice of a lemon (no sugar) morning and
evening. This is a fine remedy."

14. Indigestion or Dyspepsia, Hops Excellent for. "Pour one quart of
boiling water over one-half ounce of hops, cover this over and allow the
infusion to stand for fifteen minutes; the tea must then be strained off
into another jug. A small cupful may be drank in the morning, which will
create an appetite and also strengthen the digestive powers. It is an
excellent medicinal drink." Hops does its work by the soothing and
quieting action on the whole system, and should be taken regularly for
some time.

15. Indigestion or Dyspepsia, Tested Remedy for. "A good digestive is
made as follows:

Tincture of Leptandrin 1 ounce
Tincture of Hydrastis 1 ounce
Tincture of Colombo 1 ounce
Wine of Pepsin 1 ounce

Mix. Dose, two teaspoonfuls after each meal."

The leptandrin acts on the liver, the colombo is a bitter tonic and
hydrastis is a good tonic for the stomach.

16. Indigestion or Dyspepsia, Chamomile Tonic for Aged Persons also for
Children. "Put about one-half ounce chamomile flowers into a jug, pour a
pint of boiling water upon them, cover up the tea, and when it has stood
about ten minutes pour it off from the flowers into another jug; sweeten
with sugar or honey. A cupful in the morning will strengthen the digestive
organs, a teacupful in which is stirred a large dessert spoonful of moist
sugar and a little grated ginger is an excellent thing to give to aged
persons a couple of hours before dinner," It is remarkable to see how this
treatment aids the digestion, especially in chronic cases. It may also be
given to fretful children in small doses.

PHYSICIANS' TREATMENT in mild cases of acute Dyspepsia. These recover by
themselves by giving the stomach rest, and taking a dose of castor oil.
Hot water is good to help to clean out the stomach.

Treatment in severe forms. Promote vomiting by drinking large amount of
warm water. This cleans the stomach of the sour, foul, decomposing food.
If warm water does not cause vomiting, give any simple emetic you may have
at your hand, such as mustard, etc., one teaspoonful. If the stomach
tastes very sour, take some baking soda; subnitrate of bismuth (ten
grains) is good, if you have it. If the bowels are constipated you should
take an enema (injection) or salts. Soda water can be drank freely. Rest
the stomach for a day from food. For the thirst cracked ice is relished.
As the patient is usually very thirsty the mouth should be rinsed
frequently with cool water and some can be swallowed. As stated before for
nausea and sour belching, baking soda or bismuth subnitrate can be used
when there is much gas, sour belchings; crust coffee is very good. Burn
the toast and make a hot coffee of it.

DIET. Given us by the Lady Superior of one of the largest Catholic
Hospitals in Ohio.

May take--

Soups--Clear thin soups of beef, mutton or oysters.

Fish--Oysters raw, shad, cod, perch, bass, fresh mackerel.

Meats--Beef, mutton, chicken, lamb, tripe, tongue, calf's head, broiled
chopped meat, sweetbread, game, tender steak.

Eggs--Boiled, poached, raw.

Farinaceous--Cracked wheat, hominy, rolled oats, rice, sago, tapioca,
crackers, dry toast, stale bread, corn bread, whole wheat bread, graham
bread, rice cakes.

Vegetables--Spinach, string beans, green peas, lettuce, cresses, celery,
chicory, asparagus.

Desserts--Rice, tapioca or farina pudding, junket, custards, baked apples,
apple snow, apple tapioca, ripe fruits--raw or stewed.

Drinks--One cup of milk and hot water equal parts, or one glass of pure
cool water, sipped after eating, Panopepton or cracked ice.

Must Not Take--Rich soups or chowders, veal, pork, hashes, stews, turkey,
potatoes, gravies, fried foods, liver, kidney; pickled, potted, corned or
cured meats; salted, smoked or preserved fish; goose, duck, sausage,
crabs, lobster, salmon, pies, pastry, candies, ice cream, cheese, nuts,
ice water, malt or spirituous liquors.

Next: CHRONIC DYSPEPSIA (Chronic Indigestion)
Previous: GANGRENOUS STOMATITIS

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ACUTE DYSPEPSIA