The Washington times., 1933-07-29
Secrets Of
Health
BY LOUIS E. BIsCH, MD, .Ph,D.

40 \ UuA 0tUAASNAA ANAAS~SAASNAAAA
Persons who can boast Of
having least iron stomachs"
are becoming rarer as each
year passes. Now and again
one still hears someone claim
he can digest anything, even
nails, usually it is a COM
plaint instead that greets the
ears, one concerned with mis-
behavior on the part Of the
stomach.
Seldom is the stomach itself
to blame. however. Almost
without exception is it the in
dividual who is at fault be-
cause he has forgotten to re-
spect his stomach. This organ,
as might be expected. is in
revolt.
After all, the stomach iS o
muscular bag designed primar-
lily to churn food and to mix
it thoroughly with the stomach
(gaStric) juices. These juices
come from glands situated in
the stomach wall and these
glands, as we'll as the move
mentS of the stomach, are con-
trolled by the nervous system.
This is the very reason why
thousands of individuals suffer
from stomach disorders. The
nervous system, of course, 10
largely directed by the brain,
which acts like a switchboard
in a telephone exchange. Ex-
citement, worry and the like
in other words, mental pro-
cesses-have direct effect
upon the functions Of the
stomach. The way we think,
one might say, is the way the
Stoma I will react.
Small wonder then that
people who talk shop while
eating, or who grab a sand
wich" while thinking Of the
next problem to face at the
office, or who eat at irregular
times and then either too little
or too much, have stomach
trouble.
In these cases the cause Of
the disorder is usually excessive
amounts Of hydrochloric acid
"a normal ingredient Of gas
trio juice-which literally fry
the food into hard luI1pS,
which it is impossible to break
up, and which the intestines
cannot absorb later on through
their delicate walls. Pain in
the stomach, of course, results;
gas may form; heartburn Or
p sour eructationsL may occur.
To be sure, there may be
other causes for stomach up
set than too much acid due to
mental and emotional excite
ment. Badly cooked food may
be responsible or food that is
not strictly fresh Eating too
much Of one kind Of food,
such as pies or pastries, or of
pork and the like, may also be
causative factors.
In fact, too little acid in the
stomach may prove as distress
ing as too much. Then again,
heart or kidney disease may
give rise to stomach symptoms.
Infected tonsilS and carious
teeth are major offenders. An
undiscovered tuberculosis in the
lungs may cause indigestion.
EyeStrain has been known to
derange the stomach. Gall
bladder disturbances, overian
trouble, a diseased appendix
these too may be the root Of
the trouble.
Nevertheless there can be no
doubt but what most stomach
disorders are the direct result
of careleSSness on the part of
the patient, particularly as con-
Germs the state of his mind.
What is more, the trouble can
be readily corrected. When
such neglect is allowed to 90
on for months and years, how
ever, a chronic condition re-
suits which may be extremely
difficult to cure.
DIR. BiSch'S Daily Diet Hint.
Nervous persons should select
food that is easily digested.
For them milk is specially valll-
able while a food like poHk
should be avoided. Particularly
careful should such highstrung
people be to chew the food
thoroughly SO that it gets well
mixed with saliva. A peaceful
environment while eating, Iiker
wise regularity as to time %
eating, are also helpful.
Copyright. 1923. King Features
Syndicate, Inc.)