, 1889-05-17
THE HOT WATER CURE
A VERY SIMPLE AND AGREEABLE
REMEDY FOR DYSPEPSIA.

HarmonizIng Conflicting Opinions on the
Subjcct How and When Hot Water
should Re Uscd-"The Hair Of the Dog
Is Good for the BIte-"
\ constant reader" writes that he is in
n fog rs TO the effects of hot water in the
treatment of dyspepsia. He has seen it
advocated in these columns and con-
demncd by an esteemed contemporary,
who maintains that hot winter brings on
the disease for which it was recommend
ed. He now writes to know which state
mcnt is correct. Hot water, hot tea or
coffee, in fact, hot food, whether liquid
or solid, if used pcrsistently, viii in time
~irritatc the stomnch and so impair its
power to digest. Practically. it will bring
on dyspepsia.
NOT ALWAYS DYSPEPSIA.
Now ms to the efficacy of hot water in
the treatment of that disease. As n rem
edy it doubtless appears Of the ''hair of
the dog" sort 1t must be remembered
that there is decided difference between
n healthy stomach and one in disease.
In health, nothing ought to be habitually
put into that organ which is much more
than blood warm" But in disease tho
condition of things is very different.
What is known MS d~yspepsia springs from
variable conditions, too many in fnct, to
discuss here. But in nearly all of hem
the stomach is less active han 1t ought
10 he. or it works to a disadvantage, and
needs n spur or corrective.
Hot water acts in several ways. When
taken into the stomach it not only stimu-
latos it and quickcns its action, but it
tends-as do all hot applicntions-to al
lay irritation. Beside that, it acts me
ch~anically, and washes out that organ,
hurrying its contents down into the in
~tcstinc, when without it the came would
be retained longer than there is any need
of. Lot n person who four or five hours
after n hearty meal still feels uncomfort-
able sip acup of very hot water, and it
will bring him great relief, stimulating
the Etomach and washing out of it much
of its contents which would have been
sent on into the intestines had not that
organ been fatigued by overwork.
Now, in. what passes under the head of
dyspepsia there is often n catarrhal
trouble OF Che stomach, and the same sort
Of affection, also, frequently exists in tho
intestine. The lining is more or less ir-
ritatod, and, in consequence of it, not
only is the secretion of mucus greater
than in health, but tho same is changed
in character, Is thicker. more adhesive,
etc. While tho stomach Is empty this
mucus pours out of its walls and CLUES
them over, as 1t were With such n de-
posit upon them, let food DO taken into
1t and soon the same Is coated with mu-
tho digestive fluids. Not only that, but
the mucous in question. while on the walls,
keeps back to n certain extent the gas-
trio juice, and prevents it's free entrance
into the stomach. For such n condition
of things as this hot water is the simplest,
most grateful and effective remedy
known.
A PHYSICIANS TESTIMONY.
But by no water is not, by any means,
meant water ''scalding hot" Water too
hot may injurc the lining of tho stomach
and cause other ill effects. Hot water to
be taken internally as a medicine should
bc ut n temperature of from 40 to 100
dogs, or about Ms hot MS the coffee one
INDUCES in after dinner. 1t should he
taken before mCals-from onc-half to an
hour and n hnlf-and be slowly sippcd.
If one il even fifteen or twenty minutes
in drinking n glassful all the better.
There are some precautions to be used in
taking hot water.
a person who is liable TO h~cmorrhagcs
should only take it blood warm" One
with heart trouble-who has n weak
heart-must sip it more slowly than
others need to do, occupying the longest
ttUnn u1Niaa1 ANlfln fIfa rnn,al.~ To-