The indigestion associated with gastric catarrh, and more particularly in its acute form, is distinguished from other forms of indigestion by the suddenness of its onset, and by the fact that a definite cause can usually be assigned for it. The most common causes are irritating or toxic articles of food, and excessive indulgence in alcohol. Contributory causes are defective mastication, hurried meals, and septic state of the teeth. It must be borne in mind that an acute gastritis may be an early symptom of one of the infective fevers, and a late symptom in advanced cardiac or renal disease. In some cases the catarrh spreads to the duodenum and bile-ducts, inducing jaundice, and to the small and large intestines, inducing diarrhoea.

Dietetic Treatment Of Acute Gastric Catarrh

Complete rest in bed, with the application of hot fomentations to the abdomen, will give some relief. All food should be withheld for the first twenty-four to thirty-six hours, the nourishment being restricted to the administration of 10 to 15 ounces of normal saline by the bowel every six hours. If the patient is collapsed, it may be advisable to give an ounce of whisky or brandy with each saline injection. Thirst may be relieved by the administration of teaspoonful sips of hot water, or, if preferred, the patient may be given ice to suck. After thirty-six hours, milk is given in 4 to 6 ounce doses, diluted one-third with lime-water or barley-water; 1 to 1 1/2 pints may be given in the first twenty-four hours. Milk should be gradually increased by lessening the amount of dilution, and the addition of albumin water, whey, and raw-beef juice. On the third or fourth day, an addition to the food of arrowroot (thoroughly well boiled) or invalid food, crisp toast, or rusks may be made. After this, some of the milk may be used for making into blancmange, or added to an egg, forming a custard, a good meat tea (p. 75) or clear soup, and an egg, lightly boiled or scrambled - i.e., about the fourth or fifth day the diet may be as follows: -

8 A.M. - 1 cup of milk, flavoured with tea.

Crisp toast, half-slice. 10.30 A.M. - Cup of clear consomme and toast. I P.M. - 1 lightly-boiled egg, with toast.

6 ounces milk. 4 P.M. - A cup of tea, flavoured with milk.

Crisp biscuit. 7 P.M. - Blancmange or custard (baked). 9.30 p.m. - Cup of chicken tea.

The diet is gradually increased by the addition of bread, eggs, fish, and chicken, and in favourable cases the patient may, at the end of ten daws, be taking a full convalescent diet (p. 295). In cases where the acute gastritis has supervened on a chronic catarrh, the progress may be slower, as there is usually in these cases some slight dilatation of the stomach, with corresponding weakness in the digestive secretions (see Chronic Gastritis).