ction of a
large class of most inveterate dyspepsias."

Underdone bread, cake, and pie, are unfit for any stomach, yet are seen
upon many tables. "Breakfast foods," cooked for ten or twenty minutes,
are also dyspepsia producers. All breads, cakes, pies and cereals,
require thorough cooking to fit them for digestion. Most cereals are
better for supper than for breakfast, as they should be cooked in a
double boiler for several hours. A young man, troubled with dyspepsia,
learned to his amazement that the oatmeal, which he supposed was his
best food, had much to do with the giddiness which often overcame him.
He was advised to use dry foods, such as toast, zwieback and shredded
wheat. This diet, together with the abandonment of nostrums, led to a
cure. Zwieback is bread sliced, and dried in a moderate oven until light
brown. Whole wheat bread is best. It is very delicious and is quite
easily digested. In the case of the young man, it is probable that the
difficulty with the oatmeal was the lack of sufficient cooking. Oatmeal
made into gruel, well cooked, and diluted with a large quantity of
scalded milk is easy of digestion.

Eating between meals, and excess in eating, lead to stomach derangement.

"The best remedy for acidity of the stomach is hot-water
drinking. Two or three glasses should be taken as hot as can be
sipped, one hour before each meal, and half an hour before going
to bed. The effect of the hot water is to wash out the stomach,
and so remove any fermenting remains of the previous meal.
Heartburn may be treated the same as acidity."

Persons troubled with slow digestion are better to eat only two meals a
day. The writer has personal knowledge of a goodly number of women who
have been benefited wonderfully by adopting the two meal a day plan.

Some persons, much troubled with dyspepsia, have adopted the plan of
prolonged fasting advocated by Dr. Dewey, and testify to a cure by this
method. While heroic, it is certainly more rational than drug treatment.
For acute dyspepsia a fast is requisite.

All that alcoholics can do for dyspepsia is to allay the uneasy
sensations for a time, while adding to the trouble. It has been
abundantly proved that alcohol must pass from the stomach before
digestion can begin.

Dr. Ridge says:--

"Many cases which seem to be relieved by the use of beer are
really benefited by the hop, or other bitter, which the ale or
beer contains.