Part 16

In cases of superacidity the liver is nearly always more or less inactive. Just why this is so is not definitely known, but in the opinion of the writer it is caused by the neutralization of bile by the excess of acid. Be this as it may, nearly all cases of superacidity are accompanied by intestinal congestion, commonly called constipation, or by intermittent diarrhea and constipation.

CONSTIPATION--THE REMEDY

It is believed by the medical profession, and generally accepted by the public, that certain drugs act upon the alimentary tract with beneficial effect in cases of intestinal congestion. This is untrue. The facts are the intestines act upon the drug. The drug is an offense to Nature, and when it is taken into the stomach and passed on to the intestines, the body-fluids are severely drawn upon to neutralize the poison, and to cast it out. The result, therefore, of taking poisons, miscalled "laxatives," is that each time the act is repeated, the liver and the peristaltic muscles are weakened, and rendered more and more abnormal, and less and less able to perform their natural functions.

That system of treatment which has been prescribed for fermentation will, in most cases, relieve constipation. The treatment should be varied, however, according to the age and the occupation of the patient, governed by the season of the year, or the foods available at the time of treatment. If diagnosis of the patient reveals the fact that constipation has been caused primarily by overeating, the quantity of food should be reduced, and the articles changed so as to include a generous quantity of cellulose (coarse foods).

The following bill of fare may be given under ordinary conditions:

Immediately on rising, take two or three cups of water, the juice of one or two oranges, or half a pound of grapes, swallowing the seeds and pulp whole, masticating only the skins. Devote from eight to ten minutes to vigorous exercise, especially movements Nos. 3 and 5, as shown in "Exercise and Re-creation," Vol. V, pp. 1344 and 1345.

BREAKFAST

Half a cup of coarse wheat bran, cooked ten minutes; serve with thin cream

Whole wheat, boiled five or six hours

One or two very ripe bananas, with either nuts or thin cream

LUNCHEON

One or two fresh vegetables

A "two-minute" egg or a very small portion of fish

A heaping tablespoonful of bran

DINNER

Two of the following vegetables: Corn, carrots, peas, beans, parsnips, turnips, onions

A baked potato

Celery, lettuce, or anything green, with nuts

One egg

A tablespoonful of wheat bran

From one to two glasses of water should be drunk at each of these meals.

These menus are merely suggestive. They may be varied according to judgment, depending upon the habits and the environments of the patient. Curative feeding for constipation is one of the most important departments of this work, and will receive special consideration in the volume of Menus.

FOODS THAT MAY BE SUBSTITUTED FOR ONE ANOTHER

The menus may also be varied by substituting the articles herein given for other things of the same general class.

EXAMPLES:

{Evaporated peaches Dried fruits {Evaporated apricots {Prunes

The above are all in the same general class, and may be substituted for one another.

{Dates Sweet fruits {Figs --All form another class {Raisins