The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1883-07-14
Indigestion and Disease.

The important relation of Indigestion
to many diseases which people suffer is
not sufficiently realized. Difficulty in
breathing, occurring spontaneously, or
on slight exertion, may be caused by
indigestion.
Indigestion causes alterations in the
general nutrition of the body, which are
manifested in various ways, among
which are the following: Anemia, or
depraved state of the blood, involving
q deficiency of the red globules of the
blood, and causing persons thus affected
to be unnaturally pale, especially about
the lips; decay of the teeth, grayness of
the hair; excessive liability to inflam-
nation. from slight causes. of the mu-
cous membranes, especially the eyes
and throat; to which may be added, in
cases of those predisposed to such af-
fections. liability to govt and rheuma~
tism and affections of the lungs or kid
neys. Consumption has frequently been
regarded as due in many cases to long
continued arrangement Of the diges-
ton, whereby the general nutrition of
the system has become impaired.
The inflammation of the mucous MEM
brane of the throat, known as clergy
mans sore throat, is q product of in
digestion, and the removal of the cause
by the adoption of suitable dietary
exercise inthe open air, and observance
of the laws of health generally viii be
the best treatments of it.
Indigestion is the cause of various
alterations in the skin, manifested by
general eoldness or chilliness, especially
Of the extremities, by changes in its
color or texture, which may be earthly
or sallow in tint, or dry and coarse, and
by various eruptions, among which are
the wellknown 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 digestible and sufficiently
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
the normal ingredients. saccharine,
starchy, albuminous. or fatty. or some
of the naturally indigestible materials
which form part of all food. The
food may be introduced in an indigest-
ible form on account of the defects in
the cooking of il, or imperfect mastica-
ton, or from its having undergone pu-
| trefaction or fermentation, which ar
rests the functions of the stomach. Inn
| perfect mastication of food is q very
common cause of indigestion among
Americans.
Eating too much isprobably the most
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 the
nourishment of the system. Food taken
in excess of this amount acts Is for
eign substance undergoing fermentation
and putrefacticn and occasioning much
disturbance in the system.
Much may be done for the cure of in
digestion by eating very abstemiously
of suitable food, thoroughly masticated,
taking exercise in the open air, breath
ing pure air and observing the laws of
health generally. The amount of food
should be reduced until the quantity is
reached which the stomach can digest
without evincing any symptoms of indi-
gestion- ID. Henry Reynolds, IN RIre-
nol00icol Journal