Kenneth D. Blackfan

THE DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF CHRONIC INTESTINAL INDIGESTION IN CHILDREN

This paper relates exclusively to chronic intestinal indigestion in children beyond the second year of life. It is not our intention to go into a detailed description of the condition, but rather to point out certain of its features which are of special interest and importance. Its etiology, as is well known, includes bad conditions of hygiene, food of poor quality, improperly prepared foods, overeating, eating at improper intervals, too rapid eating, insufficient mastication, defective teeth, exercise too soon after eating, fatigue, insufficient hours of rest, educational over-work, nervous influences, etc. Any and all of these conditions may result in disturbances of the gastro-intestinal tract in children who are primarily entirely normal and eventually bring about the form of disturbed digestion under consideration. In addition to the causes mentioned it must be borne in mind that many children, either as a result of inheritance, previous acute illness or environment, suffer