1900 DYSPEPTICS- IN BLENHEIM

Marlborough Express, Volume XLVII, Issue 156, 4 July 1913, Page 6

1900 DYSPEPTICS- IN BLENHEIM

PHYSICIAN TELLS WHAT TO!

EAT, AND GIVES SOUND ADVICE TO ALL STOMACH SUFFERERS.

A well-known medical practitioner recently made the startling statement that a careful estimate shows that nearly 50 per cent, of us have some degree of dyspepsia—that's about 1900 people here in Blenheim. When it was suggested that 50 per cent, is a pretty large percentage, the doctor, seeing that he was not being taken quitei seriously, spoke as follows, amd with an emphasis that at once dispelled all doubt as to whether or not he was in earnest:—lf 50 per cent, of the people of your town had just been exposed to smallpox, the whole town would be panic-stricken, and yet such exposure probably would not cause anywhere nearly as many deaths as will be caused, in time, by complications following mild cases of dyspepsia that aire being neglected right at this minute. One drink of whisky doesn't make a drunkard. One day's neglect of a mild attack of dyspepsia isn't going to kill anybody. But nearly everyone neglects an abnormal condition of the stomach for months or years before becoming conscious of being an actual victim of real dyspepsia. And neglect," from that time on, can do damage pretty fast. It may lead to stomach ulcers or cancer, and terminate fatally. The enormous amount of dyspepsia, and its alarming increase from year to year, are due to the fact that we don't live normal lives. It's not normal to eat fast, to eat ultra-fancy foods, to sit all day at a desk, to live an inactive indoor, life, etc. These abnormal conditions of Jiving cause hyperacidity of the stomach. That means..an: excess, of acid Lti the stomach contents. . That•,excess leads to dyspepsia, indigestion, belching, distress after eating, wind, acid stomach, etc. For the cure of any of these troubles, I prescribe, first of all, the use of some common sense. Don't starve or go on any freak diet, but eat moderately, avoid fancy dishes, go light on stimulants, and see if you can't get a little more exercise. Don't take any pepsin or patent medicines, or drugs to act on the stomach, but go to your, chemist and get a little ordinary bisurated magnesia, and take one-half to one teaspoonfui in a little hot or cokl water after each meal. The bisurated magnesia is an antacid. It is not to act on the stomach at all, but to act entirely upon the contents of the stomach—to neutralise the excess acid. That is the way to get rid of your dyspepsia, indigestion, etc., and keep out of danger of developing stomach ulcers or cancer.