[pg 60]

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CHAPTER XII

INDIGESTION

"We know how dismal the world looks during a fit of indigestion, and what a host of evils disappear as the abused stomach regains its tone. Indigestion has lead to the loss of battles; it has caused many crimes, and inspired much sulphurous theology, gloomy poetry and bitter satire." - Hollander.

The nervous dyspeptic suffers no marked pain, but often feels a "sinking", has no appetite, and cannot enjoy life because his stomach, though sound, does not get enough nerve-force to run it properly.

A great deal of nerve-force is required for digestion, and if a man comes to the table exhausted, bolts his food, uses nerve-force scheming while he is bolting, and, immediately he has bolted a given amount, rushes off to work, digestion is imperfectly performed, nutriment is not assimilated, the nerve-force supply becomes deficient. He continues to overdraw his account in spite of the doctor's warning, and stomachic bankruptcy occurs, followed by a host of ills.

Nervous dyspepsia is a very obstinate complaint, but if tackled resolutely, it can to a great extent be mitigated; but let it be emphasized at once, that medicines, patent or otherwise, are useless. If dyspepsia be aggravated by other complaints, these should receive appropriate treatment, but the assertions so unblushingly made in patent-pill advertisements are unfounded. The very variety of the advertised remedies is proof of the uselessness of all.

[pg 61]

Set aside certain periods three times a day for meals. Fifteen minutes before meal times, sit in a comfortable chair, relax all your muscles, close your eyes, and try to make your mind a blank. Rest!

Then eat the meal slowly and thoroughly. Conversation may lighten and lengthen a meal, but avoid politics, "shop" and topics of that type. What is wanted at table is wit, not wisdom.

Water may be drunk with meals, provided it is drunk between eating, and not while masticating, for it has decidedly beneficial effects upon the digestive functions. Water is usually forbidden with meals because if patients drink while eating, the water usurps the functions of saliva, and moistens the bolus, which is then swallowed with little or no mastication. If you cannot drink between mouthfuls, then drink only between meals. Never drink while food is in the mouth!

After the meal, lie down on the right side for half an hour, resting, and so directing all available nerve-energy to getting digestion well under way.

Indifferent appetites must be tempted by wholesome dishes made up in a variety of enticing ways. Fats are good, but must be taken in a tasty form. Eat fruit deluged with cream.

The crux of digestion is to

"Chew! CHEW!! and KEEP ON CHEWING!!!" for until food is thoroughly masticated there will be no relief. The only part of the whole digestive process placed under the control of consciousness is mastication, and, paradoxically, it is the only part that consciousness usually ignores.

A healthy man never knows he has a stomach; a dyspeptic never knows he has anything else, because he will not eat his food, but throws it into his stomach as the average bachelor throws his belongings into a trunk.

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A varied, tasty diet, thoroughly chewed and salivated, with rest before and after meals, is the only means of curing dyspepsia, for no medicine can supply and properly distribute nerve-energy.

Digestive pills are all purgatives, with a bitter to increase appetite, and occasionally a stomachic, bound together with syrup or soap. Practically all contain aloes, and very rarely a minute quantity of a digestive ferment like pepsin. Taken occasionally as purges, most digestive pills would be useful, but none are suited to continuous use, and the price is, as a rule, out of all proportion to the primary cost, while one or two are, frankly, barefaced swindles.

The analyses of the British Medical Association give the following as the probable formulæ for some well-known preparations:

Beecham's Pills	Aloes; ginger.
Holloway's Pills	Aloes; ginger.
Page Woodcock's	Aloes; ginger; capsicum; cinnamon and oil of peppermint.
Carter's Little Liver Pills	Aloes; podophyllin; liquorice.
Burgess' Lion Pills	Aloes; ipecacuanha; rhubarb; jalap; peppermint.
Cockle's Pills	Aloes; colocynth; jalap.
Barclay's Pills	Aloes; colocynth; jalap.
Whelpton's Pills	Ginger; colocynth; gentian.
Bile Beans	Cascara; rhubarb; liquorice; peppermint.
Cicfa	Cascara; capsicum; pepsin; diastase; maltose.