Show treating the peptic ulcer patient by dr james W barton S SEVERAL EVERAL YEARS AGO a young man who had been treated tor for ulcer of the stomach met his physician on the street and the physician complimented him on his appearance pe arance the patient admitted that he looked good but stated that for months he had been unable to eat solid food 1 I drink several quarts of milk a day and for solids I 1 drink egg bogs using dyphon soda instead of milk the physician advised him to return to his present physician because he should be able to eat solid food now that his ulcer was healed an xray X ray test using barium sulphate was made which showed that while the ulcer had healed it had left a large amount of scar tissue which tissue was as blocking the passage from the stomach to intestine so that instead of having an inch 0 oy more passage the scar tissue had reduced it to the size of a lead pencil so that only fluids could pass from stomach to small intestine where of course most of digestion takes place the mills milk and eggs accounted for his gain in and good appear ance although the ulcer was healed by diet and medical treatment this sear scar obstruction obstruct ion made it necessary for a passage to be made from stomach to small intestine I 1 am writing the above because some ulcer patients are undecided as to whether to have an operation or undergo medical treatment the fact act is that the majority ot of these patients are treated by diet and al kalies and recover some years ago I 1 quoted dr joseph daly toronto in the canadian medical association journal in which he stated that it is now admitted that no one treatment Is suitable for all peptic ulcers ulcer of stomach or small intestine te the physician no longer alms aims to treat the ulcer but to 10 cl direct the management of the patient who has the tendency to ulcer ulcer patients have a tendency to worry and the symptoms disappear when there Is a prolonged period of relief from the wear and tear of life A return to usual work worry or mistakes in diet brings on a return of ulcer symptoms S |