GASTRIC ULCERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22250, 26 October 1935, Page 7 (Supplement)

GASTRIC ULCERS

ANXIETY AND OVERWORK The stress and strain of modern life is often blamed for tho increase in certain diseases, and of these gastric ulcer soems to be very often connected with anxiety and overwork. In the production of this condition, two factors are necessary, injury of tho lining membrane of the stomach, either by physical, bacterial or even nervous action and then delayed healing and irritation of this spot due to the acidity of tho secretions. Lt is difficult to say which comes first, the injury or tho over acidity; but probably tho mucous membrane is moro suscep-

tible to injury when some degreo of gastritis and excessive acidity are present. Best, absence of worry, diet and suitable drugs can do wonders in the early stages; and continuous indigestion of tho " acid " type is always an indication that treatment should be sought before it becomes too well established. In many cases tho surgeon has to take the field, but very often the necessity for his intervention should have been avoided. Again it is a case where one can say confidently that proper treatment in tho early stages will prevent a lot of trouble later on.