How Are We To Determine These Different Conditions?

"Excessive acidity of the stomach is indicated by one of the most common expressions, 'heart-burn.' This is really not a condition of the heart as one would suppose from the sensation this feeling gives, although it seems directly in the region of the heart."

Yes, I have often experienced such a sensation, at times amounting to absolute pain, and have been alarmed, thinking it might be a disease of the heart.

Now, Doctor, Can You Not Give Me A Clear Explanation Of What This Is, And In What Manner It Is Brought About?

"I will try to do so, as it is one of those conditions which while not necessarily harmful, causes much uneasiness and alarm at the same time, and if the 'heartburn' be continuous, it is the forerunner of serious stomach trouble."

Then 'Heart-Burn' Is The Result Of Irritation Of Some Part Of The Stomach?

"Yes, the burning sensation is at the upper part, called the esophageal end, which is parallel and within an inch of the heart; hence the error in supposing that it came from the heart. You will better understand how the burning sensation occurs, when I explain that the esophageal end of the stomach lies in folds something like the gathered end of a tobacco pouch. Now, when there is an excess of acid in the stomach with gaseous distention, the folds at the esophageal end are stretched out, which leaves the entire surface exposed to the irritating influence of the corroding substance in the stomach. It is this that causes the burning sensation called 'heartburn.' "

May There Not Be An Excessive Acidity Without 'Heartburn?'

"Certainly. Acid eructations or uneasiness two hours after eating food, show too much acid; also excessive secretion of gastric juice (as distinguished from excessive acidity from fermentation) comes within the principles excluding the use of sour fruits."

Will You Explain The Symptoms Of Excessive Gastric Secretion?

"That will come under diseases of the stomach (see excessive or hyper-secretion, page ....)."

Doctor, Is It Not A Fact That Heart-Burn Often Results Because Of Torpid Liver And Inactivity Of The Bowels?

"Yes."

Then Acids Are Indicated For The Liver, And Contra-Indicated For The Stomach. How Do You Harmonize The Two?

"In such cases it may be well to neutralize the contents of the stomach by an alkali and then not eat the usual evening meal. By kneading the abdomen for ten minutes before retiring, the stomach should be entirely empty by morning. Now if the juice of a half lemon be added to a teacup of moderately hot water, and be drunk without sugar an hour before breakfast, and the abdomen again kneaded to clear the stomach, it will be in good condition for a breakfast of a soft boiled egg and a little milk. This treatment is only, for ordinary attacks of indigestion, resulting from torpidity of liver. Where the inflammation has been continuous and of long standing, fruit acids are harmful, because the membranes of the stomach are too sensitive, and acids increase the irritation."

Is There Any Serious Injury Done By Eating Fruits?

"Yes, great injury. Besides the acid condition of the stomach, where sour fruits are harmful, there are many acute attacks of diarrhoea, cholera morbus and similar complaints which are brought on by eating tainted, tough or green fruit."

What Do You Mean By Tainted Fruit?

"Fruit that has commenced to decay. As a rule, people have a keen relish for almost all kinds of fruit, and as the flavor is better in its natural state than when cooked, it is often served that way when it is really dangerous to health and life."

Why Is This?

"Because a large per cent of fruits are partially spoiled before they reach the consumer, and if eaten without being cooked, violent disturbances of the digestive organs are likely to result. If fruit of any kind be spoiled in the least, it must be cooked sufficiently to arrest all fermentation ; otherwise, it is unfit for use."

What Kind Of Fruits Are The Most Likely To Be Spoiled?

"Probably strawberries and peaches, but all fruits, such as berries of every kind, plums, pears, bananas, and even apples and grapes are sometimes tainted with decay."

I Suppose That A Speck Or So In An Apple Would Not Injure It Any, If All The Decayed Part Was Removed?

"An apple with a rotten speck is not fit to eat unless well cooked; no matter how sound a part of it may seem, the apple is contaminated."

It Would Seem That People Would Learn Better Than To Eat Spoiled Fruit?

"But they do it, and it furnishes the doctors half their business or more, at certain seasons of the year,, when fruit is moderately plentiful, and the weather favors decay."

Does Cooking Stop All Decay?

"Yes, for a time, but it must not be understood that cooking restores rotten fruit, but when the decayed parts are removed, the cooking makes what is apparently sound, but merely contaminated, eatable."

Then Fruit Is After All Dangerous?

"It ought not to be, but until the people learn that spoiled fruit begets familiarity with the doctor and the undertaker, the injury will go right on."

When Should Fruits Be Eaten?

"You ought to have added the purpose for which they are to be used; also the kind of fruit and the condition of the individual, for all these are modifying circumstances. To get the best effect, it should be eaten on an empty stomach, that means three or four hours after meals, or better still, an hour before breakfast. This of course applies only to acid fruits without solid matter. Rich fruits like figs and bananas should be eaten with regular meals."

Does Eating Acid Fruit On An Empty Stomach Aid Digestion?

"Very much, and relieves constipation, provided of course, the condition of the patient is such as to indicate the need of fruits."