5.  Cramps in Stomach, Mustard Poultice and Eggs for.—­“Make a mustard poultice with whites of eggs instead of water, and apply same to bowels.  Give a teaspoonful of blackberry tea every fifteen or twenty minutes until relieved.”  The poultice acts as a counter irritant and will almost always relieve the cramps without further medicines.

6.  Pains in Stomach, Hot Plate for.—­“Hot plate laid on stomach.  Use the heavy English made plates, common to us in Canada, as they will hold heat longer.”

[Digestive organs 105]

Physicians’ treatment for Chronic Gastritis.—­Most cases can be cured if the patient is willing to do the proper thing in eating and drinking and regulating the habits.  It takes time to cure such cases, and plenty of grit and courage and “stick” on the patient’s part.  Remember it has been a long time coming, longer than it will be going if the patient does right.  Diet and habits must be corrected.  You cannot help the trouble if you put into the stomach what has caused it.  We eat too much fat and too much improper and improperly cooked foods, our bread, etc., is half baked.  Gravies are rich and greasy, everything is highly seasoned, very much like the life we lead.

Diet.—­A regular time for eating and no eating between meals.  Do not eat too much or too fast, or anything that you know disagrees with you.  Fried foods are generally harmful, pies, cakes, hot breads, strong tea and coffee and alcohol, gravy and highly spiced foods; vinegar pickles, preserves, etc., are generally bad.  If there is acid belching gas on stomach, the starch foods should be restricted, particularly potatoes and the coarser vegetables.  Potatoes fried in lard or butter are always bad unless you are a hard physical worker.  Dr. Osler, England, says breads, pancakes, pies, and tarts, with heavy pastry and fried articles of all sorts, should be strictly prohibited.  As a rule, white bread toasted is more readily digested than bread made from the whole meal.  Sometimes graham bread is better.  Sugar and very sweet articles of food should be used in great moderation or avoided altogether.  Ice cream frequently aggravates it.  Soda water is a great dyspepsia producer.  Fats, except a little good butter, very fat meats, and thick greasy soups and gravies should be avoided.

Ripe fruits are good in some cases.  Bananas generally are not digested.  Berries are frequently harmful.  Milk is splendid diet for some people.

Cautions.—­The bowels must be kept “moving” every day, try to do it by dieting, rubbing the abdomen and exercise.  Bathing the abdomen in cool water is good.  Go to the closet at a regular time every day and try to have a passage, as this helps.  Never put off going to stool when nature calls.  Dyspepsia is frequently made worse by constipation.  Seek good cheerful company.  Do not worry over your condition.  By care and diet you will soon be all right.