THE VOLUME OF N/10 HYDROCHLORIC ACID NEUTRALIZED PER DAY IN THE TREATMENT OF PEPTIC ULCER.

1. A report is made on 3,877 peptic ulcers treated, using the concept that at least 14 liters of N/10 hydrochloric acid must be neutralized per day in order to inactivate the corrosive effects of acid in peptic ulcer for a period of more than four months. 2. It is pointed out that only 83.4 per cent of these cases were able to gain granulation tissue on this program and that 7.62 per cent could not be healed by any medical therapy. 3. The use of the roentgenogram as a criterion of the healed ulcer is felt to be inadequate. 4. Criteria are given for defining the healing and healed ulcer. 5. The merits of unrestricted diet in peptic ulcer are enumerated with reference to medical methods which permit its use. 6. The importance of approaching the problem of peptic ulcer in terms of amount of hydrochloric acid to be neutralized per day is accentuated, particularly in complications and short-history gastric ulcer. 7. The inadvertent healing of peptic ulcer in three categories is outlined. 8. Personal interview follow-up on 1,278 patients shows that most of this group remained healed three or more years and evidence is given which excludes them from a "healing by accident" group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]