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The Conscientious Stomach

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Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Jan 11, 1916

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 43, No. 2.

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The Conscientious Stomach

By Daniel H. Kress, M. D.

It Should Be a Faithful Sentinel to Warn Against Disease-Producing Habits—How It May Be Trusted if Treated Right

By DANIEL H. KRESS, M. D.
A PATIENT once said to his physician, "Doctor, I believe there is something wrong with my stomach." "Not a bit of it," replied the doctor. "God made your stomach, and He knows how to make stomachs. There may be something wrong with the stuff you put into it, or there may be something wrong with the way you cram the stuff down; but your stomach is all right."

THE STOMACH IS FAITHFUL

The stomach is not the unfaithful organ it is supposed to be. It will do its work without pain or inconvenience, provided it is properly treated.
The function of the stomach is to aid in converting food into such condition that it can be absorbed and appropriated in building tissue, repairing waste, and supplying heat and energy to the body.
In the army, faithful sentinels protect the camp from disaster by reporting the approach of the enemy. A normal stomach, like the sentinel, sounds the alarm when food is taken into it that is indigestible, and when other dietetic digressions occur.

WHEN THE CAMP IS NOT WARNED

When an enemy is allowed to enter camp without being molested, or without the camp's being notified, evidently something is wrong with the sentinel.
The man who boasts of being able to eat anything — pepper, mustard, pickles, vinegar, etc. — without stomach disturbance, may be certain that something is wrong with the sentinel. Gout, rheumatism, neuralgia, Bright's disease, diabetes mellitus, and other equally dangerous diseases, from which complete recovery may seldom be expected, are frequently found in persons who claim to have no difficulty with the stomach; yet the stomach, in nine cases out of ten, is the real seat of the disease.

THE STOMACH, AND NOT THE HEAD, WAS THE CAUSE

Patients have said to me, "Doctor, I have a bad headache," or, "I have nervous symptoms," or, "I have rheumatism," etc. When the question is asked, "Have you any difficulty with your digestion?" the reply is usually given: "Oh, no! My stomach is all right. I can eat anything." A physical examination may reveal foul breath and coated tongue. These conditions show that the real cause lies in the stomach.

WHY HIS STOMACH HURT

After being placed on a diet composed largely of well baked cereal foods, nuts, and fruits, the patient may say to the physician, "Doctor, I had no difficulty with my stomach before coming to you; but now everything I eat distresses me." When asked, "How are your other symptoms,—the headache, and the pains in your joints?" the usual reply is, "Oh, they are better, but my stomach bothers me." Now, what does this mean? — It means that the stomach is recovering from a state of chronic paralysis. The stomach nerves are assuming a more normal condition, and telegraphic communication is again established between it and headquarters. The real condition can be reported. The physician assures his patient that there is no need of alarm, that the stomach is being restored to a healthy condition, and that in time good food, thoroughly masticated, and eaten at proper intervals, will create no feeling of uneasiness or pain. A man ought not to be conscious that he has a stomach, if he eats right. If he departs from this course, he ought to be warned by the faithful sentinel.

A SEARED CONSCIENCE AND A BAD STOMACH

By frequent violation of moral law, the conscience may become seared; and in time, sin may cease to appear sinful. This is a sad condition of mind to be in. Yet many persons welcome such a state. What conscience is to the soul, ill feelings are to the stomach.
The man who is able to eat anything, with no local disturbing symptoms, and who yet has headache, gout, etc., is in as sad a condition physically as is the man spiritually who can do wrong without remorse of conscience. The stomach should be quick to report when errors in eating are made. The men and women who have sensitive, conscientious stomachs are the ones who live to old age; while those who say, "I can eat anything," are the ones who die prematurely of degenerative diseases.
The use of narcotics, as alcohol, tea and coffee, tobacco, and stomach bitters, frequently keeps concealed the actual state of the stomach. Often not until these are abandoned does one become conscious of having a stomach. Men unwittingly use these narcotics in order to be kept in ignorance of their true condition. This practice is responsible for the prevalent use of such articles. No one can afford to feel better than he actually is. No one can afford to deceive himself. We must have wide-awake stomachs, that will report digressions in eating and drinking, if we would live long and useful lives.