Acute Inflammation of the Stomach. Gastritis.

THIS is a rare disease. It is generally induced by irritating and corrosive substances taken into the stomach. Poisons, as arsenic, aquafortis, corrosive sublimate, and the like, are the most common causes of it. Blows, sudden stoppage of sweat, and excessive use of ardent spirits, may also excite it.

Symptoms. It is marked by burning pain in the stomach, Thirst, restlessness, anxiety, constant vomiting, prostration of strength, a quick, hard, and small pulse, incessant retching, a sunken countenance, hiccough, cold hands and feet, and a damp skin.

Treatment. If the inflammation be excited by poison, the remedies named under antidotes for poisons must be first employed.
The poison being neutralized or thrown off, the inflammatory condition must, be combated with the remedies usual for such states. Mustard poultices to the feet, along the spine, and particularly over the pit of the stomach, will be among the first things to be employed, and should be followed by hot fomentations of stramonium leaves or hops, both the fomentations and the poultices to be repeated as occasion may require. Repeated doses of bismuth, or ,grain closes of cocaine, are generally very soothing to the stomach, and relieve the terrible vomiting.

Drinks. Cold water, bread water, rice water, arrowroot gruel, infusion of slippery elm bark, and of marshmallow. These should be taken in very small quantities, say a teaspoonful at a time, about twenty drops of tincture of aconite root being added to a half tumblerful. Lumps of ice may be held in the mouth, and occasionally swallowed. >Injections. Emeties and physic are not proper, but injections (248), (253), or simply soapsuds, will be required.
The remedies must be pursued until all tenderness has disappeared from the pit of the stomach.
While the patient is recovering, great care must be taken not to overload the stomach with food. Arrowroot, sago, and milk are among the first articles to be allowed. After these, will come gradually beef tea, chicken broth, soft boiled eggs, and beefsteak, until the whole diet can be restored.