This may proceed from various causes; as indigestion; wind; the acrimony of the bile; sharp, acrid, or poisonous substances taken into the stomach, &c. It may likewise be occasioned by worms; the stoppage of customary evacuations; a translation of gouty matter to the stomach, the bowels, &c. Women in the decline of life are very liable to pains of the stomach and bowels, especially such as are afflicted with hysteric complaints. It is likewise very common to hypochondriac men of a sedentary and luxurious life. In such persons it often proves so extremely obstinate as to baffle all the powers of medicine. When the pain of the stomach is most violent after eating, there is reason to suspect that it proceeds from some fault either in the digestion or the food. In this case the patient ought to change his diet, till he finds what kind of food agrees best with his stomach, and should continue chiefly to use it. If a change of diet does not remove the complaint, the patient may take a gentle vomit, and afterwards a dose or two of rhubarb. He ought likewise to take an infusion of camomile flowers, or some other stomachic bitter, either in wine or water. I have often known exercise remove this complaint, especially sailing, or a long journey on horseback, or in a carriage. When a pain of the stomach proceeds from flatulency, the patient is constantly belching up wind, and feels an uneasy distention of the stomach after meals. This is a most deplorable disease, and is seldom thoroughly cured. In general, the patient ought to avoid all windy diet, and every thing that sours on the stomach, as greens, roots, &c. This rule however admits of some exceptions. There are many instances of persons very much troubled with wind, who have received great benefit from eating parched pease, though that grain is generally supposed to be of a windy nature[133]. This complaint may likewise be greatly relieved by labour, especially digging, reaping, mowing, or any kind of active employment by which the bowels are alternately compressed and dilated. The most obstinate case of this kind I ever met with was in a person of a sedentary occupation, whom I advised, after he had tried every kind of medicine in vain, to turn gardener; which he did, and has ever since enjoyed good health. When a pain of the stomach is occasioned by the swallowing of acrid or poisonous substances, they must be discharged by vomit; this may be excited by butter, oils, or other soft things, which sheath and defend the stomach from the acrimony of its contents.