The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1944-05-06

times we modify the patients way
of life to conform to the changed
circumstances produced by the d.
sease.
In the last class belongs the
management Of ulcer Of the stom-
ach or duodenum. Our manage
ment in these conditions is quite
scientific in that it is based on an
understanding Of the deranged
physiology involved. In the great
majority of instances it relieves
the symptoms completely, pro-
vided il is faithfully continued for
about year or two. A disadvant-
age is that our ulcer management
is not 100 per cent perfect and in
the very severe cases the more
drastic measures Of surgery must
be called in.
.a The cause Of ulcer Is not GER
tAinly known. It is a round punched
out solution Of continuity on the
wall Of the stomach or duodenum,
from which the mucous membrane
has become denuded, leaving a ten
der, raw surface exposed to the
rough elements in the food and
the gastric juice. This is what
causes the pain and discomfort
Peptic Ulcer
Most Of these ulcers are not in
the stomach proper, but just out
side in the first part Of the small
intestine, the duodenum. Incidence
shows that there are from ten to
thirty Of these duodenal ulcers
to one stomach ulcer. Hence for
convenience we prefer to call the
group peptic ulcer. Incidentally
lay writers are always talking
about Stomach ulcers: they are
almost never multiple: "ulcer" is
the proper term: one is enough.
Perhaps one feature Of the eau
sation is that the stomach juice is
always higher in acidity than
normal in these cases. The gastric
secretion always contains a pro-
portion of hydrochloric acid in
health: this is necessary for diges-
ton, breaking up the proteins in
the preparatory stage Of protein
digestion But in ulcer cases this
acid is proportionately high and
undoubtedly the highly acid secre-
ton plays a part in irritating the
delicate base Of the ulcer and
keeping it from healing.
Hence one feature Of our attack
on an ulcer is TO neutralize this
excess acid in the gastric juice.
For this we have excellent renis-
dies in the alkali powders-soda
bicarbonate or plain baking soda,
and magnesium oxide tcslcined
magnesia). Other valuable anti
acids are bismuth and the newest
is colloidal aluminium hydroxide.
The latter not only neutralizes the
acid secretion but by its astrin-
gent action Is thought to hasten
healing Of the ulcer. II is nom
toxic and can be used over long
periods Of time without deleteri-
Gus effects.
Diet In Treatment
Diet is a valuable adjunct in all
ulcer treatment, and in many cases
the ulcer can be controlled by diet
alone. The standard Sippy diet,
used at the beginning Of all ulcer
treatments, when the symptoms
are severe, Is q glass e ounces)
Of half milk and half cream every
hour through the day from 7 am.
to 7 pm. This simple diet can be
continued for several weeks as it
furnishes from 1900 to 1000 calo-
ries depending on the richness Of
the cream.
Graduating from this the ulcer
patient eats q bland diet Of WELL
cooked lean meats, toast, milk,
eggs, pureed or mashed vegeta-
bles and fruit juices. Coffee or tea
are allowed. To avoid are the
three S's-sweet, sour and spiced
foods. Desserts upset and so do
fried foods. The worst article Of
diet is fresh white bread-always
use toast. The best is the breast
of q lean broiled spring chicken.
Experiments show that many ulcer
patients are on . low level Of
Vitamin c and thiamine intake
and perhaps should correct this
by adding concentrated utamin
preparations.