It may proceed from debility of the stomach, indigestion, bile, the abounding of an acid in the stomach, &c. Persons who are liable to this complaint ought to avoid stale liquors, acids, windy or greasy aliments, and should never use violent exercise soon after a plentiful meal. I know many persons who never fail to have the heart-burn if they ride soon after dinner, provided they have drank ale, wine, or any fermented liquor; but are never troubled with it when they have drank rum or brandy and water without any sugar or acid.
When the heart-burn proceeds from debility of the stomach, or indigestion, the patient ought to take a dose or two of rhubarb; afterwards he may use infusions of the Peruvian bark, or any other of the stomachic bitters, in wine or brandy. Exercise in the open air will likewise be of use, and every thing that promotes digestion.
When bilious humours occasion the heart-burn, a tea-spoonful of the sweet spirit of nitre in a glass of water, or a cup of tea, will generally give ease. If it proceeds from the use of greasy aliments, a dram of brandy or rum may be taken.
If acidity or sourness of the stomach occasions the heart-burn, absorbents are the proper medicines. In this case an ounce of powdered chalk, half an ounce of fine sugar, and a quarter of an ounce of gum-arabic, may be mixed in an English quart of water, and a tea-cupful of it taken as often as is necessary. Such as do not chuse chalk may take a tea-spoonful of prepared oyster-shells, or of the powder called crabs eyes, in a glass of cinnamon or peppermint-water. But the safest and bed absorbent is magnesia alba. This not only acts as an absorbent, but likewise as a purgative; whereas chalk, and other absorbents of that kind, are apt to lie in the intestines, and occasion obstructions. This powder is not disagreeable, and may be taken in a cup of tea, or a glass of mint-water. A large tea-spoonful is the usual dose; but it may be taken in a much greater quantity when there is occasion. These things are now generally made up into lozenges for the conveniency of being carried in the pocket, and taken at pleasure.
If wind be the cause of this complaint, the most proper medicines are those called carminatives; as anniseeds, juniper-berries, ginger, canella alba, cardamom seeds, &c. These may either be chewed, or infused in wine, brandy, or other spirits. One of the safest medicines of this kind is the tincture made by infusing an ounce of rhubarb, and a quarter of an ounce of the lesser cardamom seeds, in an English pint of brandy. After this has digested for two or three days, it ought to be strained, and four ounces of white sugar-candy added to it. It must stand to digest a second time till the sugar be dissolved. A table-spoonful of it may be taken occasionally for a dose.
I have frequently known the heart-burn cured, particularly in pregnant women, by chewing green tea. Two table-spoonfuls of what is called the milk of gum-ammoniac, taken once or twice a-day, will sometimes cure the heart-burn.
CHAP. XLIII.
OF NERVOUS DISEASES.
Of all diseases incident to mankind, those of the nervous kind are the most complicated and difficult to cure. A volume would not be sufficient to point out their various appearances. They imitate almost every disease; and are seldom alike in two different persons, or even in the same person at different times. Proteus-like, they are continually changing shape; and upon every fresh attack, the patient thinks he feels symptoms which he never experienced before. Nor do they only affect the body; the mind likewise suffers, and is often thereby rendered extremely weak and peevish. The low spirits, timorousness, melancholy, and fickleness of temper, which generally attend nervous disorders, induce many to believe that they are entirely diseases of the mind; but this change of temper is rather a consequence, than the cause of nervous diseases.
CAUSES.——Every thing that tends to relax or weaken the body, disposes it to nervous diseases, as indolence, excessive venery, drinking too much tea, or other weak, watery liquors warm, frequent bleeding, purging, vomiting, &c. Whatever hurts the digestion, or prevents the proper assimilation of the food, has likewise this effect; as long fasting, excess in eating or drinking, the use of windy, crude, or unwholesome aliments, an unfavourable posture of the body, &c.
Nervous disorders often proceed from intense application to study. Indeed few studious persons are entirely free from them. Nor is this at all to be wondered at; intense thinking not only preys upon the spirits, but prevents the person from taking proper exercise, by which means the digestion is impaired, the nourishment prevented, the solids relaxed, and the whole mass of humours vitiated. Grief and disappointment likewise produce the same effects. I have known more nervous patients, who dated the commencement of their disorders from the loss of a husband, a favourite child, or from some disappointment in life, than from any other cause. In a word, whatever weakens the body, or depresses the spirits, may occasion nervous disorders, as unwholesome air, want of sleep, great fatigue, disagreeable apprehensions, anxiety, vexation, &c.