In the early stages of the disease, the ejections
consist of chyme and mucus, streaked with blood. As it progresses, the
vomiting becomes a sort of regurgitation, the contents of the stomach
being ejected without any apparent nausea or effort. The ejections then
consist of a dark-colored granular matter, resembling what is known in
yellow fever as _black-vomit_.

CAUSES. Formerly it was supposed that this was a very common disorder,
and the term _acute gastritis_ was applied to every development of
symptomatic fever. But late clinical and pathological investigations
clearly indicate that acute gastritis is of rare occurrence. It may be
caused by the excessive and habitual use of alcoholic drinks, especially
if taken without food, by copious draughts of cold water, or by intense
emotions. But its _general_ cause is the ingestion of irritating and
corrosive poisons.

Where the former causes are known not to exist, the presence of poison
should always be suspected. As the cause sometimes becomes a matter of
legal investigation, it is very important that the practitioner should
be able to determine the _real_ origin. If caused by poison, the disease
is very suddenly developed, the patient complaining of a very intense
burning sensation in the throat and the lining membrane of the mouth,
which will generally show the action of the poison. A diarrhea is also
more apt to accompany the disease. If inorganic or vegetable poisons are
known or suspected irritants, the appropriate antidotes should be
promptly administered. For a list of the principal poisons and their
antidotes, with practical suggestions for treatment, the reader is
referred to the article in this volume, on Accidents and Emergencies.

TREATMENT. The inflammation should be allayed, and a tea made of
peach-tree leaves is very serviceable. Small pieces of ice, swallowed,
will generally allay the thirst and vomiting, and a mucilage of
slippery-elm is very soothing to the inflamed mucous membrane. This is
an important disease, and its management should be entrusted to a
skillful physician.

CHRONIC INFLAMMATION OF THE STOMACH.

_Chronic Gastritis_ is sometimes mistaken for dyspepsia or gastralgia.
It is very necessary to discriminate between these diseases, as the
appropriate remedies of the latter will often only aggravate and augment
the former.

A chronic inflammation of the stomach is a very common affection and has
many phases, but the term chronic ga