Experience has shown that in the evolution of treatment cycles occur. This may be due to the changing incidence of the disease or to its severity. Of great influence, of course, are the results which follow different methods of treatment. Generally speaking, response to conservative methods of treatment is more likely to occur when economic and social changes have improved the general health of the community. Under such circumstances, routine methods of therapy may produce an increasing incidence of benefit or cure, which increases further when improved methods of therapy are developed and instituted.
These remarks apply particularly well to the treatment of gastric ulcers. As a result of a better understanding of these lesions and their earlier recognition, while the lesion is still small and without the complicating features of hemorrhage, perforation and obstruction, relief of symptoms and healing of the ulcer have resulted from a medical regimen in