Causes.—­This is a very common complaint and is usually caused by eating foods that are hard to digest, which either themselves irritate the stomach, or remain undigested, decompose, and so excite an acute dyspepsia, or indigestion, or it may be caused by eating or taking in more than the stomach can digest.  A frequent cause is eating decomposing food, particularly in hot weather.  Alcohol is another great cause.

Symptoms.—­In mild cases.  Distress in the stomach, headache, weary feeling, thirst, nausea, belching of wind, sour food, and vomiting; the tongue is heavily coated and the saliva increased.  In children there are loose bowels and colicky pains.  It lasts rarely more than twenty-four hours.  Vomiting usually relieves the patient.

Severe cases.—­These may set in with a chill; fever 102 or 103.  The tongue is much coated, breath foul and frequent vomiting, loss of appetite, great thirst, tenderness in region of the stomach; repeated vomiting of food at first, then of bile stained fluid with mucus; constipation or diarrhea.  Attacks last one to five days.

Mothers’ remedies.—­1.  Indigestion or Dyspepsia, Mustard and Molasses for.—­“Mustard is an excellent household remedy kept in every home.  A tablespoonful of white mustard mingled with two ounces of molasses and then taken once a day will act gently on the bowels and is a beneficial remedy in dyspepsia.”  By acting upon the bowels it relieves the stomach of any food that may have caused a disturbance and relieves the dyspepsia.

2.  Flatulent Dyspepsia, Wormwood tea for.—­“Wormwood, one to two teaspoonfuls, water one pint.  Make a tea and take from one to four teaspoonfuls daily.”  This is an old tried remedy and one that should be given a trial if affected with dyspepsia.

3.  Indigestion or Dyspepsia, Dry salt for.—­“One-half teaspoon dry salt taken before each meal.  Knew a gentleman who was nearly worn out with this trouble and entirely cured himself with this simple remedy.”  It is always well to give these simple remedies a fair trial, before resorting to strong drugs.  Salt is a good stimulant.

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4.  Indigestion or Dyspepsia, Chicken Gizzard Skin for.—­“Four ounces good brandy, one-fourth pound of loaf sugar, one tablespoonful pulverized chicken gizzard skin, one teaspoonful Turkish rhubarb dried on paper stirring constantly; this prevents griping; the chicken gizzard skin is the lining of the gizzard which should be thoroughly cleaned and dried then pulverized.  To prepare put brandy and sugar together (crush the sugar), light a paper and set fire to the brandy; let burn until sugar is dissolved, then add the gizzard skin and rhubarb, stir together and if too thick add a little water and boil up.  Dose :—­Infant, one-half teaspoonful every four hours; child, one teaspoonful every four hours; adult, one tablespoonful every four hours.  Have used this remedy for a great many years and given it to a great many people who have worn out all other remedies.”