Part 21

CIRRHOSIS OF THE LIVER--THE TREATMENT

The diet should be nutritious, yet simple, so as to put as little labor as possible upon the already impaired digestion. Fats should be restricted, and starchy foods should be closely limited, so as not to set up additional fermentation.

A liberal service of plain wheat bran should be taken at least twice a week in order to insure active intestinal peristalsis.

All stimulants, narcotics, sweets, condiments and irritating foods of every character should be omitted. The patient should drink copiously of pure water at meals, omitting all other beverages.

In cases of Cirrhosis of the Liver:

OMIT EAT

Acid fruits, except the All legumes citrus fruits Edible succulent plants Condiments Fresh vegetables Fats Green corn Gravies Liberal quantity of wheat Red meats bran Stimulants and narcotics Limited quantity of-- Sweets Apples Oranges White bread Bananas Peaches Grapes Pears Grape fruit Plums Lemons Nuts Potatoes Salads Whole wheat thoroughly cooked

Cirrhosis of the liver is always aggravated by the overconsumption of sweets, starches, fats and intoxicating beverages. Sweet and starchy foods should be limited and intoxicants of all kinds should be entirely omitted. An abundance of pure water should be taken at meals.

PILES OR HEMORRHOIDS

THE CAUSE

Piles or hemorrhoids are usually the result of chronic constipation; or, they may occur from violent exercise, or a shock. The straining at stool when constipated has a most potent influence in causing piles, as well as the passage of hard, dry feces. In both of these cases the rectal mucous surfaces are torn loose or detached from the supporting walls, and the cells fill with blood, thereby becoming very greatly distended.

PILES OR HEMORRHOIDS--THE SYMPTOMS

The first symptoms are usually itching of the mucous membrane of the anus. In the second stage a bloody discharge will appear with the feces, and in the more advanced cases the rectal mucous membrane will protrude.

PILES OR HEMORRHOIDS--THE TREATMENT

When it is first discovered that there is a slight protrusion of the rectal mucous membrane from the anus, great care should be taken in evacuation of the feces. The first or direct cause of this condition is usually congestion; that is, the feces in the rectal cavity forms into a hard mass. When this condition appears, just before each evacuation, inject into the rectum, with a small rectal syringe, a tablespoonful of olive-oil, followed by a pint or two of lukewarm water, taken as an ordinary enema, and retain two or three minutes. Then place the first and the middle fingers, one on each side of the anus, and press gently so as to relieve the strain upon the rectal lining. The feces, if very hard, can be worked back and forth until broken up, and evacuation made easy. By this means I have known many cases of bleeding piles or hemorrhoids to be permanently cured.

It is exceedingly difficult to cure chronic cases in which the membrane has been torn from the walls for many years. However, Nature never tires of doing her work of repair, and if these suggestions are religiously observed, even chronic cases can be greatly relieved, and sometimes permanently cured.

For diet, see menus for constipation and fermentation.

Every night, just before retiring, take a light enema and retain it over night; also, take an enema just after rising.

DIARRHEA

THE CAUSE

Diarrhea is in reality not a dis-ease, but a symptom behind which there are always primary causes, usually--

1 Overeating

2 Irritating condiments

3 Wrong combinations of food at meals

4 Poisonous laxative drugs

5 Excess of acids

6 Excess of sweets

7 Sometimes nervous excitement