Hygienic Regimen

Besides the diet it is of importance that the patient should lead a rational hygienic life. The business hours should not be too long, and plenty of exercise should be advised. Walking, driving, horseback and bicycle riding, rowing, are all to be highly recommended. It is, however, necessary to tell the patients not to overexert themselves. Gymnastic exercises at home, especially with an exercising machine, are also in place. I usually tell the patient to exercise in the morning for about ten minutes. A cold sponge bath on arising, and a thorough rubbing of the skin with a thick rough towel, are valuable. It is furthermore of importance to see that the patients live in well-ventilated rooms. A prolonged stay in places where there is much smoke (restaurants) should be prohibited.

In many instances, the regulation of diet and hygiene will be sufficient to improve the patient's condition. The direct means, however, of accomplishing this purpose comprise the four following:

1. Lavage; 2. Electricity; 3. Mineral springs; 4. Medicaments.

1. Lavage

In most cases of chronic gastric catarrh washing out of the stomach will prove beneficial. The mucous form of gastritis is especially benefited by this means. The lavage should be performed in the morning in the fasting condition of the patient. Pure, lukewarm water should be used in this procedure. Occasionally a small quantity of common table salt may be added. The lavage should be employed every other day for a period of two or three weeks. It is not advisable to entrust this procedure to the patient, as he is apt to overdo it.

2. Electricity

In order to stimulate the stomach, the faradic current has frequently been made use of. While at first the percutaneous method of electrifying the stomach was used, lately the direct or intragastric mode of electrization has been more often employed. For percutaneous electrization a very large sponge electrode (18 by 12 cm.) is put over the abdomen, covering the entire gastric region, while the other, smaller electrode (diameter about 5 cm.) is held to the left of the seventh dorsal vertebra.

Intragastric electrization is by far more effectual and therefore preferable to the percutaneous method. Here the current reaches the inside of the stomach in undiminished strength, while in the percutaneous mode of electrization the greater part of the current is distributed over the skin and muscles of the abdominal cavity, and, if any, only a small fraction of the current reaches the gastric mucosa. The method of intragastric electrization has been described above (page 166). In chronic gastritis the faradic current should be employed. By means of intragastric faradization all the subjective symptoms frequently disappear, and if the electric treatment is administered over a period covering from two to three months there is often a lasting amelioration in the condition of the patient. The cases most suitable for this mode of treatment are those forms of chronic gastric catarrh in which not much mucus appears in the stomach.