Death from Indigestion.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IX, Issue 137, 15 May 1885, Page 2

Death from Indigestion.

No doubt it is possible that the irritation set ti|» by the presence of large masses of nu masticated food m tlio stomach may, m au exceptional case of weak heart, lead to .the occurence of syncope and death. Such it combination of evils has recently been found to produce a fatal result. The moral of this occurrence clearly must be. to see that all food and puticukrly that taken before retiring to rest, is properly ciuih<kf by the teeth, and, which is not less important,' well satuiated with the ' Secretion of the salivary glands, which it cannot possibly be unless the process of mastication be slowly performed. It i« too commonly-^ -forgotten/ that ..the food needs not only to be* Huely divided, but to be well mixed with the saliva. Duration, m font, as we. knowi commences m the mouth, aud this early stage of the process must be perfected by due elaboration if tho later stages, which take place m tho stomach and the irilestittciy are to I* of avail a* preparatory to; absorption, assimilation, and nutrition. Artf. ficial teeih are helpful m the perfor* niance of a necessary function when the natural teeth have ceased to be useful, and ought to »-c procured by all who stund m need of tlu'm. This m not a tnH'itcr i»f \an:ty or taste, Imt oue of personal expedience, of health, and even, it way bo, of life itwelf. -Zmwt,