ACUTE DYSPEPSIA

Categories: 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.