The daily monitor leader. [volume] (Mount Clemens, Mich.) 1942-19??, 1942-09-04

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might not greatly change the
amount or character Of the diges-
tive juices.
I have seen this test disclose
much hydrochloric acid, due to the
irritation of inserting the tube. and
in q week or two have found that
the acid was entirely absent. In
quiry disclosed that the patient had
Just suffered some extensive finan-
cial losses and consequent mental
depression, followed by digestive
depression.
The most common form OF Stom-
ach disturbance up to the age OF
forty is called by the general term
of excessive acidity. This means
that the stomach is in a state OF
irritation from some provoking
reason. This irritation may come
from various sources, mostly errors
In eating and drinking.
Condiments Irritate
From childhood, we eat many in
digestible foods. We swallow these
without sufficient chewing. and
stomach irritation results from the
presence of unreduced food. Be-
cause it cannot be properly digest
ed, fermentation occurs with re-
Sulting chemical irritation. AS we
grow older. We still do not have
time to chew our food we'll. Fried
foo s especially, and an over
supply of sugars and starches tend
to ferment.
Because we want things TO taste
well, or in order to stimulate our
appetiteS, we add to our meats,
pepper, salt, mustard. hot sauces
and hot drinks, thus adding much
to the acid wastes and irritation.
At the beginning of this trouble,
the patient has ravenouS appe-
tite and thinks he is in fine health.
AS the time approaches tor the
next meal, he becomes extremely
hungry and cannot wait to eat. He
says he Is so hungry that his stom-
ach hurts him. We call this hun
cry pain" He is likely to become
irritable and quarrelsome until he
gets something to eat. Then he
feels better, until his stomach is
empty again. He may complain Of
. burning pain. and take baking
soda to overcome the acid. Food
absorbs the acid and stops irrita-
ton. Soda neutraliZes the acid for
q time, but gradually it stimulates
the flow Of more acid.
The pains come on more quickly
after eating. and the demand for
food Is more frequent. Ulcers may
develop at this time. Gradually, the
stomach glands become exhausted,
with q lessened flow of gastric
Juice: slow digestion, fermentation
and lack OF appetite appear. The
pain becomes less severe and the
patient thinks he is better.
Acid q Digestive
One must have an abundance OF
hydrochloric acid to digest his food.
It retards the growth of bacteria
and keeps itself clean. An excess OF
acid renders some spoiled foods
harmless and prevents putrefac-
ton. After the acid disappears,
meats and other proteins decay
and bacteria multiply. thus caus-
Ing general stomach and intestinal
poisoning.
The blood becomes laden with
poison and condition called auto
intoxication exists. The signs Of
excessive acidity are a red tongue.
. good appetite followed by a
gnawing. burning pain in the re-
gion Of the stomach about two or
three hours after meals The pa
tient is irritable and nervous, in
somnia Is common and any excite
ment or worry increases the dis
comfort. After a while the stomach
glands become exhausted and no
longer produce so much acid. The
appetite dwindles. the tongue is
coated; there is a bad odor to the
breath. The patient is languid and
tirowsy, and may take on waXy
and pale appearance.