There are millions of nerve fibers leading out from the stomach and alimentary tract to every part of the anatomy, so that the nervous connection, especially between the stomach and the brain, is very direct and sensitive. The stomach seems to bear the same relation to the brain that a basket bears to a balloon so far as their nervous connection is concerned. Thus it is that the irritated stomach produces an irritable temper, insomnia, forgetfulness, and a lack of ability to concentrate the thoughts. These are the milder symptoms or first warnings.

Abnormal appetite for sweets and starches.

Nervous Indigestion - The Cause

The use of stimulants or narcotics, such as tea, coffee, liquor and tobacco are most prolific causes of nervousness. These drugs act upon the body in a dual capacity: (1) They excite or raise the nervous system above normal, only to drop it below when the reaction takes place. (2) In addition to this, they irritate the stomach and the intestines by causing superacidity.

Nervousness" caused by sedatives and narcotics acts both upon the mental and the physical organism, and the source of such nervousness can be easily traced by ascertaining the habits of the patient.

When the patient has used stimulants and narcotics long enough to cause nervousness, the mucous membrane of the stomach is usually in a state of irritation. The presence of blood, under these conditions, causes abnormal appetite, frequently followed by overeating, especially of sweets, starches, and acids, for which the patient usually has a great craving. This is followed by fermentation, and comes into or envelops super-acidity and must necessarily be classed with it.

Overeating and the constant use of stimulants and narcotics will, after a time, cause a chronic state of fermentation, and the stomach will seldom be free from acid, the constant presence of which will ultimately cause gastric ulcer, and perhaps stomach carcinoma.

Nature's final symptoms

Nervous Indigestion - The Symptoms

The more advanced stages of stomach irritation which are expressed by nervousness cause melancholia and a gloomy sort of pessimism. These are among the last signals the stomach gives to the brain before final collapse, and if these signals are not heeded, the victim may expect to go down in the maelstrom of nervous prostration within twelve months from the time the first signals are given. These fits or spells of melancholia often come on suddenly. The palms of the hands become moist with a cold, clammy perspiration, and the mind is flooded with a train of thoughts such as "What's the use' of living?" "Why all this struggle for mere existence?" The victim of this condition invariably believes that his mind is becoming affected; that he is becoming insane, and will soon be a public charge, and shunned by those whom he loves. While under these spells many people take their own lives rather than face what they believe to be insanity and ostracism.

The patient should be made acquainted with his true condition, and shown that it is only temporary, and that all such thoughts are mere mental aberrations which will disappear when the causes of stomach irritation are removed.

Difference between stomach and intestinal irritation.

The above-named symptoms always point with certainty to an irritated stomach, the severity of which can be determined by the symptoms above described.

Stomach irritation is expressed largely through the mind, as in irritability, nervousness and melancholia, while intestinal irritation is generally expressed by some physical symptom, such as restlessness, twitching of the muscles and a general lack of physical tranquillity.

There is another form of nervousness believed to be caused by overwork, business worries, etc. With these opinions the writer does not agree. If the body is properly fed one is not likely to overwork. Nature will demand rest, and sleep will come while at the desk, or when following the plow.

Acidity the cause of worry.

Investigators are much divided on the question of whether worry causes su-peracidity, or superacidity causes worry. The experience of the writer in treating several thousand cases of stomach acidity has proved beyond a doubt that acid fermentation and stomach irritation are the primary causes, and what is commonly called "worry" is merely a symptom or result of this condition. It is quite evident, therefore, that all forms of nervousness must go back to the food question for final solution.

Nervous Indigestion - The Remedy

Nervous indigestion should be treated as follows:

1 The patient should employ his time in pleasant but useful occupation

2 As to diet, omit the following:

All Red Meats Acid Fruits Bread And Cereals Condiments Pickles

3 The diet should consist of -

An abundance of green salads Baked potatoes (Including the skins) Egg whites Fats - limited quantity -

Such as - Dairy butter Nut butter Olive-oil Nuts

Fresh vegetables - not canned

In Cases Of Nervous Indigestion. Omit

Acid fruits

Bread and cereals

Coffee and tea

Condiments

Desserts and pastries

Pickles

Red meats

Stimulants of all kinds

Sweets

Tobacco

Eat

Baked potatoes

Fats (limited quantity)

Fresh vegetables

Green salads

Legumes

Limited quantity of milk

(preferably sour) White of eggs

The experience of the writer for many years has been that the fewer the articles composing the diet, the better the progress could be made in treating nervous indigestion. In many instances, the mono-diet system (eating only one kind of food at a meal) has been adopted with excellent results.