The word dyspepsia is used to designate those cases of indigestion that are due to functional instead of structural changes in the stomach.

The functional derangements may consist in feeble peristalsis, exaggerated secretion of gastric juice, diminished secretion, or an entire absence of secretion. The cases may be acute, but are oftener chronic. Abnormal fermentation in the stomach, and the production thereby of irritating organic acids, is common in dyspepsias and often finally causes inflammation in the organ.

It will be noticed that the disturbances of motility and of the digestive secretions are the same in dyspepsia as in inflammation of the stomach; so the dietetic treatment of both must be the same. It is, therefore, unnecessary to elaborate the treatment of those kinds of indigestion that are fully described under the headings of Acute and of Chronic Gastritis. It must, however, be remembered that in most cases there is a nervous basis for dyspepsia that must be considered in its treatment. This does not modify the regulation of diet, but it may affect the other features of the patient's treatment.

When mental and nervous disturbances do not underlie dyspepsia, bad habits of living, such as the taking of too little exercise, the excessive use of tobacco, and habitual indiscretions in eating, are fundamental causes of this ailment. It is also secondary to many diseases that cause general enfeeble-ment. For instance, chronic and severe anemias are common causes of dyspepsias and tuberculosis, and many other illnesses lessen the ability of patients to digest food and provoke functional indigestion. All such predisposing conditions must be removed or mitigated in order to effect a permanent relief of dyspepsia.

Many individuals have naturally weak digestion and cannot eat heartily without suffering for it. In them acute and chronic imflammation of the stomach is easily provoked. They must be advised to eat only moderate amounts of food and the simplest kinds.