Pepsin is, of course, indicated in stomach-disorders characterized by a deficiency of this essential principle. As Fenwick has shown, the amount of pepsin secreted by the gastric glands un- dergoes great diminution in various morbid states, as in cancer, diabetes, typhoid fever, and heart-disease. In convalescence from fever, therefore, pepsin is indicated, and in the incurable morbid states, men-tioned above, it serves a useful purpose in maintaining the function of digestion. Fox "bears strong testimony in favor of pepsin " (p. 74) in cases of atonic dyspepsia and " irritative states of the mucous membrane." He prefers to administer it with chlorhydric acid. In the atonic dyspepsia of phthisis pepsin is highly beneficial, especially when given in connection with pancreatic emulsion. In other forms of dyspepsia, accompanied by imperfect solution of the fats and the formation of fat-acids, the addition of pancreatic solution greatly increases the activity of pepsin (Long).

In the apepsia of infants (Barthez), especially occurring in those artificially fed, great benefit is derived from the use of pepsin. Dr. Cummins has seen many apparently hopeless cases recover under its use, and he regards it as so valuable that he never recommends a wet-nurse, but relies on artificial food, the digestion of which is aided by the administration of pepsin. Corvisart used his nutritive powder (the so-called Boudault's pepsin) with happy effects in the same cases; and Barthez, who applied the term apepsia to this inability of infants to digest their proper aliment, has been equally successful in the same mode of treatment. The saccharated pepsin should be administered in these cases in doses of ten to thirty grains immediately after the child has taken its milk or other food, or thirty minims of the glycerole of pepsin at the same time. It is better, according to M. Barthez, to give pepsin without acid to infants (Trousseau et Pidoux).

Pepsin is one of the remedies which has been used with success in the vomiting of pregnancy. The heaviness and torpor which are felt during the progress of digestion in some subjects, and also the gastralgia which is produced in this way, may be relieved by its timely administration.

According to Hollman, the use of pepsin is attended with beneficial results in anaemia, chlorosis, atrophy, and allied states, due, no doubt, to the better preparation of the peptones for absorption into the blood.

In chronic ulcer of the stomach and in cancer of this organ, pepsin, by facilitating digestion, will diminish the distress of the patient, and will contribute to the cure of ulcer and prolong life in cases of cancer.

Very great success has been attained in the treatment of diarrhoea in infants by pepsin. The form of diarrhoea amenable to this remedy is due really to an atonic state of the intestinal mucous membrane. Every motion contains half-digested food. Soon after taking milk or other food, the child becomes uneasy and a discharge takes place. Frequently undigested food is vomited as well. If this condition of things continues for any considerable time, the child emaciates, and the skin wrinkles and becomes dry and harsh. The motions will be quickly changed in character, and the nutrition of the child improved, by giving pepsin immediately after each supply of food. Facts in illustration of this statement have been published by Corvisart, Barthez, Rilliet, Trousseau et Pidoux, Ellis, of Dublin, Davidson, of Liverpool, Hawley, of Brooklyn, and others.

In cases of entire inability of the stomach to digest food, or when surgical operations or accidental injuries prevent the introduction of aliments into this viscus, pepsin is added to the nutritive enemata in order to insure the preparation of peptones for absorption. Mr. Malcolm Morris reports the cure of an obstinate case of eczema by the administration of papäin. It was due to indigestion, it is probable.