Circumstances Affecting Digestion
LONG hours at school, or other occupations involving close work, poor light, small type, poor printing, and eye defects, such as far sight, astigmatism, and muscular insufficiency, may result at first, not in headache, pain about the eyes, or disturbances of vision, but in dyspeptic symptoms; and physicians and friends of the patient, not discerning the cause, may attempt all sorts of dietetic experiments, and wear out the various forms of treatment for stomach disorder without producing any noticeable alleviation of the symptoms. Nothing is more firmly settled in medicine than that disturbance of the nervous equilibrium, however brought about, is often an important cause of disordered digestion; and often the first intimation of trouble comes from the stomach, rather than from the organ where the mischief originated. In the July number reference was made to the evil effect of modern school life on children's eyes. Many cases of obscure stomach trouble can be traced to this cause. But the eyes should not be made a scapegoat for dietary errors, as is often done. A child can not stuff with candy, pastries, pickles, and other abominations, eat at all hours of the day, and otherwise violate natural law, and then escape digestive disturbance by being fitted with glasses. Some oculists (and they are apt to be men who stepped from the medical college into their specialty without a previous all-round experience in general practise) see in every dyspeptic a case of eye strain which must be fitted with glasses or have the eye muscles cut in order to obtain a cure. One writer on hygiene goes so far as to say, “Eye strain may be lessened or obviated by the wearing of spectacles that are made accurately and adjusted precisely; or by attending to the direction in which light enters the room, or, perhaps, by prohibiting the use of books printed with small, illegible type. Observance of these precautions may render it unnecessary to give special attention to his diet.” This is right if due emphasis be placed on the last may, for there are few cases in which the digestive function gives way as the result of eye strain or other reflex cause, where the diet is a matter of indifference. In nearly all these cases it will be found an advantage also to place the patient on a more rational diet. That is to say, while eye strain or reflex from some other irritated organ may be an important cause of stomach difficulty, it is probably not the only cause in most cases; and though it may not be possible to effect a cure while overlooking the eye trouble or other reflex cause, the relief of these will not be sufficient, in themselves, to secure good digestion, without paying proper attention to the food and the manner of eating.—Pacific Health Journal.