HEART-BURN.

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betimes ; and to avoid all intense thought. He should use a diet ofeasy digestion ; and should avoid excessive heat and great fatigue.If want of appetite proceed from errors in diet, or any otherpart of the patient's regimen, it ought to be changed. If nauseaand retchings show that the stomach is loaded with crudities, avomit will be of service. After this a gentle purge or two of rhu-barb, or any of the bitter purging salts, may be taken. The pa-tient ought next to use some of the stomachic bitters infused inwine. Though gentle evacuations be necessary, yet strong purgesand vomits are to be avoided, as they weaken the stomach, andhurt digestion. After proper evacuations, bitter elixirs and tinc-tures with aromatics may be used.

Sulphuric acid is an excellent medicine in most cases of indiges-tion, weakness of the stomach, or want óf appetite. From twentyto thirty drops of it may be taken twice or thrice a day in a glassof wine or water. It may likewise be mixed with the tincture ofthe bark, one drachm of the former to an ounce of the latter, andtwo tea-spoonsful of it taken in wine and water, as above.

The chalybeate waters, if drank in moderation, are generally ofconsiderable service in this case. The salt water has likewisegood effects ; but it must not be used too freely. The waters ofHarrowgate, Scarborough, Moffat, and most other spas in Britain,may be used with advantage. We would advise all who are af-flicted with indigestion and want of appetite, to repair to thoseplaces of public rendezvous. The very change of air and thecheerful company, will be of service ; not to mention the exercise,dissipation, amusements, &c.

A want of appetite and loathing of food is not usually an origin-al affection, but prevails as a symptom of some other disease, suchas indigestion, and is therefore, to be obviated by aromatics, bit-ters, bark joined with chalybeates, sulphuric acid, «fcc. as underthat head. In spontaneous anorexy or loss of appetite, where thestomach is loaded with bile, an emetic in the evening, with somekind of stomach purgative next morning, will seldom fail to effecta cure. — See Indigestion.

Heart-Burn. (Cardialgía.)

What is commonly called the heart-burn is not a disease of thatorgan, but an uneasy sensation of heat or acrimony about the pitof the stomach, which is sometimes attended with anxiety, nausea,and vomiting.

It may proceed from debility of the stomach, indigestion, bile,the abounding of an acid in the stomach, &c. Persons who areliable to this complaint ought to avoid stale liquors, acids, windyor greasy aliments, and should never use violent exercise soon af-ter a plentiful meal. I know many persons who never fail to havethe heart-burn if they ride soon after dinner, provided they havedrank ale, wine, or any fermented liquor ; but are never troubledwith it when they have drank rum or brandy and water withoutany sugar or acid.

When the heart-burn proceeds from a debility of the stomaeh,or indigttstion, the patient ought to take a dose or two of rhubarb ;afterwards he may use infusions of the Peruvian bark, or any oth-