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OF THE HEART-BURN.

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WANT OF APPETITE

This may proceed from a foul stomach ; indigestion ; the want of freeair and exercise ; grief, fear, anxiety, or any of the depressing passions;excessive heat; the use of strong broths, fat meats, or any thing thatpalls the appetite, or is hard of digestion; the immoderate use of strongliquors, tea, tobacco, opium, &c.

The patient ought, if possible, to make choice of an open dry air: totake exercise daily or horseback or in a carriage ; to rise betimes ; andto avoid all intense thought. He should use a diet of easy digestion;and should avoid excessive heat and great fatigue.

If want of appetite proceeds from errors in diet, or any other part ofthe patient's regimen, it ought to be changed. If nausea and retchingsshew that the stomach is loaded with crudities, an emetic will be ofservice. After this a gentle purge or two of rhubarb, tartarized kali, orany of the bitter purging salts, may be taken. The patient ought nextto use a cupful of an infusion of camomile flowers drank cold everymorning for a week or ten days, or some of the stomachic bitters infusedin wine. Though gentle evacuations be necessary, yet strong purgesand vomits are to be avoided, as they weaken the stomach, and hurtdigestion.

Elixir of vitriol is an excellent medicine in most cases of indigestion,weakness of the stomach, or want of appetite. From twenty to thirtydrops of it may be taken twice or thrice a-day, in a glass of wine orwater. It may likewise be mixed with a tincture of the bark, onedrachm of the former to an ounce of the latter, and two tea-spoonfulsof it taken in wine and water, as above.

The chalybeate waters of Spa, Tunbridge, or Islington, if drank inmoderation, are generally of considerable service in this case. The sea-water has likewise good effects ; but it must not be used too freely. Thewaters of Harrogate, Scarborough, Moffat, and most other spas inBritain, may be used with advantage. We would advise all who areafflicted w ith indigestion and want of appetite, to repair to these placesof public rendezvous. Change of air, and the cheerful company, will beof service, not to mention the exercise, dissipation, and varied amuse-ments.

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OF THE HEART-BURN

What is commonly called the heart-burn is not a disease of that or-gan, but an uneasy sensation of heat, or acrimony, about the pit of thestomach, which is sometimes attended with anxiety, nausea, and voiaitirig.

It may proceed from debility of the stomach, indigestion, bile, theabounding of an acid in the stomach, &c. Persons who are liable tothis complaint ought to avoid stale liquors, acids, windy or greasy ali-ments, and should never use violent exercise soon afetr a plentiful meal.I know many persons who never fail to have the heart-burn if they ridesoon after dinner, provided they have drank ale, wine, or drank rum orbrandy and water without any sugar or acid.