Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1883-04-27
Indigestion and Disease.


DR. Henry Reynolds has an article i'll
the chronological Journal on indigestion
which seems to define the nature and
symptoms 6fth6 case very closely. lie
says:
The important relation of indigestion
TO many diseases which people suffer IS
not sufficiently realized. Difficulty IN
blrsthtng, occurring spont aneously or
on slight exertion, may be caused BY in
digestion. ----------.-.
Indigestion causes alterations in the
general nutrition of the body, which are
manifested in various ways, among
which are the following: Ansemia. or a
depraved state of the blood, involving
deficiency of the red globules ~of the
blood, and causing persons thus afocted
to be unnaturally pale, especially About
the lips; decay of the teeth; grayness of
the hair; excessive liability to infiam-
nation; from slight causes of sthe
mucous membranes, especially the eyes
and throat; to which may be added. in
eases OF those predisposed to such affec-
tons, liability to govt and rheumatism,
and affections of the lungs or kidneys.
Consumption has frequently been re-
garded as due in many cases to long
continued arrangement of the digestion,
whereby thUTgrneraf nutHtion-of the
System has become impaired. IL
The inflammation of the mucous
membrane Of THE throat, known as
''clergyman's sore throat, us product
of Indigestion, and the removal of the
cause by the adoption of a suitable Diet
airy, exerciseiin the open air and Job
servance of the laws of health generally
will be the best treatment for 1t. s.I =
Indigestion is the cause of various
alterations in the skin. manifested by
general GOODNESS or chilliness, especially
of the extremities, by changes in its
color or texture, which may be earthv
or sallow in tint, or dry and coarse, and
by various erIIptiOns, among which are
the well known eczema, acne, impetigo
and nettle rash. Most of the cases of
skin diseases affecting children are best
treated by attention to the diet, making
the diet easily digestibie, and sufficient
ly limited to insure complete digestion.
The causes of indigestion may be due
to the'food or condition of the stomach.
The. food may be defective in quality.
There may be excess or deficiency. OF
WV iACA tthiCHbo,
starchy, albnminOus, or fatty, or some
Of the naturally indigestible materials
which form a part of all food The
food may be introduced in an indigest-
ible form on account of defects in the
cooking of it, or imperfect mastieation,
or from its having undergone putre-
faction or fermentation, which arrests
the functions of the stomach. Emper-
feet. mastication of food is very COM
mon cause of Indigestion among Amer
leans. ., .-.t'i,-- .s....f.if- l.ar.>1 ,....
Eating too much is probably themost
common. of all causes of indigestion.
The secretion of the gastric Juice in the
stomach seems to be proportioned to
the amount of material required for
thsnourishment of the system. Food
taken in excess of this amount acts as
a foreign substance undergoing fer
mentatiOn and putrefaction, and iocca-
sioning much disturbance in the system.
Much may be done for the eufeof in
digestion by eating very absteniionslv
of suitable food, thoroughly imasticat~
ted, taking exercise in the open air
breathing pure air, and observing the
laws-o health generally The Amount
of food Should be reduced until the
quantity is reached which the stomach,
can digest without, evipcing any svmp-
toms Of indigestion. N Al