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The prevalence of the symptom pyrosis was investigated in 700 cases subjected to gastroduodenoscopy. The incidence of pyrosis was considered in relation to sex, age, "vices" (consumption of coffee, alcohol, cigarettes), character traits, family and pathological medical histories and the diagnosis formed during endoscopy. The incidence of pyrosis proved to be identical for both sexes and slightly higher in the first decades of life. There was no correlation between familial gastroduodenal or intestinal diseases and pyrosis. There seems to be no connection between cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption (assessed quantitatively) and a higher incidence of pyrosis; the consumption of coffee, however, does appear to increase the incidence of pyrosis. When interpreting these data, it should be remembered that many subjects may have modified their habits as a result of pyrosis. The incidence of pyrosis was always found in cases of oesophagitis, current bulbar ulcers, the initial stage of gastric tumours (not advanced cases) and, although with less certainty, in pyloric stenosis and duodenitis. A low incidence was recorded for cases of hypotrophic gastropathies, and cicatricial gastric or duodenal ulcers, for males with oesophageal varices or with a history of chronic hepatopathies. To conclude, pyrosis does not seem to show any characteristics of specificity or sensitivity.

700 cases subjected to endoscopic examination were investigated to find the relationship between dyspepsia and personal characteristics, lifestyle, family and pathological history and formulated diagnosis. Dyspepsia is taken to represent: epigastric heaviness following meals, prolonged and difficult digestion accompanied by the sensation of slow gastric emptying and fullness. Dyspepsia occurs with equal frequency in both series and is more common during the first decades of life. Dyspepsia is not affected by whether or not the patient lives in the town or the country, smokes, drinks significant amounts of alcohol or coffee. Neither a family history of gastroduodenal or intestinal complaints or gall bladder stones or chronic liver diseases have many bearing on dyspepsia. An attempt to connect endoscopic diagnosis with dyspepsia had no positive result. Dyspepsia was observed with the same frequency in subjects free from upper digestive tract diseases, subjects with organic disease and subjects with functional diseases.