The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-09-06
IS DYSPEPSIA A MYTH
a DISEASE NOBODY SEEMS ABLE TO
DEFINE OR LOCATE.

1T May Mean Worry. Too Much Imagined
Goodness or Twenty Other Things-Hard
Workers and Rough Eaters Do Not Have
tt-Don't Blame 1t on the Stomach.
Some time ago we read something in one
OF our exchanges in which the writer held
that it was all wrong that we should even
Tor moment entertain the idea that there
existed such thing as progressive phys
lcal racial deterioration, and this optimis.
tic writer would make MS believe that the
generally accepted idea that we are fast be
coming nation OF dyspeptics had no foun-
dation in fact, but that, on the contrary.
evidence would show that dyspepsia was
much more prevalent 30 years ago than
now
We hate TO undeceive any cheerful human
being, but we cannot but feel that the op.
timistic writer is laboring under fond de.
fusion, which it is our unpleasant task TO
dispel. What is this disagreeable and i'll
behaved condition that renders the lord of
creation so miserable, robs him Of all spirit
and makes him feel like the wicked and re-
pentant Nebuchadnezzar as he crawled on
all fours'
The discovery Of the art Of cookery may
have given alarger list Of food whence man
might make up his bill Of fare, and many
imagine that the art has greatly contribut-
ed toward health and the frightening Of
human life. There are many good reasons
TO make us doubt these conclusions. Prim-
tive man living on grapes, berries. nuts
and grasshoppers with milk and honey for
relishes and wild onions for appetizers
must have been the very soul OF optimism
and health. Those evil genii, the distiller.
brewer and cook, had not begun their inter
mnable duel with the apothecary and the
doctor, with poor miserable man and his
stomach for IA battlefield, and primitive
man was consequently not dyspeptic equity
nor uremic. Has the stomach Of man
changed since those hnppy days and what
has thestomach really to do with dyspepsia?
1t has been asserted. and not without
reason, that the Caucasian has more en-
durahce than any other race, and that in
comparison with contemporary animals he
eXcels in capacity for work and endurance.
There is no doubt but that his stomach has
endurance and capabilities that nearly
equal those Of the ostrich, rhinoceros or
camel.
The Scotch highlander swallows his I'M
derdone oatmeal porridge, feeling that its
rawness will retard its digestion, and not
compel him TO replenish his furnace for
many hours. On the same principle the
lrishman swallows his national mess Of no
tatoes boiled with a stone in the center'-
that is only the outer layer Of the potato
being boiled at all-also an expedient
learned by experience that a half raw pota-
TO will last as long as three well cooked
ones. The French peasant makes his meals /
Of q bread made Of mixture Of peas, rye,
beans or wheat -four ground up, husks and /
all, into one mass. This, with the addition
of a little cheese Of questionable age and |
some acrid wine, may serve for breakfast,
dinner or supper. Now, what is Of particu- /
lar interest TO us is the fact that none Of /.
the examples given are troubled with dys- /.
pcpsia. IL is well known that Ireland and /.
Scotland present the greatest number of /
past centenarians, while for an all round /
long liver there is no nation on earth that /
excels the French.
The German can take down his regular |
government length or allowance Of pea /
meal, sausage, sauerkraut, sour milk and /
home brewed lager beer handle the fail all |
day and dance in his hobnailed shoes all /
night, filling in the interval with lunches /
Of anything that comes handy.
The African stomach seems more TO as
simulate to that of the ostrich or the rhi
noceros. The amount required to satisfy
the ordinary appetite Of the son Of Ham is
something incredible. The more he eats
the SIMMER his skin CLOVIS. We never knew
one to require any pepsin even after din
ner Of q 8-pound fish, a pound Of roast,
half dozen eggs, olives, pickles, potatoes,
beets, turnips aud other things, with some
dessert and coffee.
Evidently dyspepsia cannot be said 10
depend on Oyeriilling the stomach with
odds and ends as if IL were a secondhand
junkshop or some back yard swilltub
BY describing the idea of stomach com
plicatiOn i'm any connection when treating |
dyspepsia we will be more likely 20 reach
the true origin, cause or seat Of the disease
Some cases have yielded up TO exercise sys-
employed, while others recover
under few days Of absolute rest. The
numbers Of so called dyspepsia that are
cured by the disappearance Of business, do
nestle or Social annoyance are nearly un-
limited. An overdue note inthe possession
IF bottle n0sed and beetle eyed creditor is
more productive Of dyspepsia than a meal
# secondhand carpet tacks. IN fact, il
nay be a safe thing 20 assume that in dys-
)epsia we had better look in the garnet.
.loset or cellar Of the dyspeptic's house, or
among his business or social relations,
ather than TO his stomach for the solution
# the difficulty.
With Americans dyspepsia has several
actors. The silly habit OF treating or be
ny treated In the saloons is a fruitful
ource Of renal disease, toxoemia and re-
ulting dyspepsia. There is no doubt that
D our system Of education we obtain "a pro
fc source of dyspepsia
There is one education that is sadly neg.
scted in Ameuca-that of the palate OF
tomach In the trying American climate
ian must either eat sufficiently or suffer
be consequences Of not doing so. Incom
lete nutrition and consequent eneryation l
lusU be the inevitable results Of the meager
let on which too many Of our people &C
lstOm themselves 10 live.
Another source of our dyspepsia is our
Iyilized and enforced antipathy to all IN
ocent and healthful amusements. Tosuch
) see only evil in amusements, dyspep
a-mental, moral and physical-lnust BE-
natural and incurable condition unless
leir natures are 50 intensely animal that
ley are unconscious OF their loss on the
,nne nrinciple that q cannibal Is uncOn.