Part 48

Immediately on rising, drink a cup of water, and devote from five to ten minutes to vigorous exercise, with deep breathing.

BREAKFAST

Melon or peaches A large red banana, baked, or broiled in butter; eat with soaked prunes One egg, either coddled or whipped

LUNCHEON

Melon or cantaloup A liberal portion of gelatin, with thin cream

DINNER

A light vegetable soup A very small portion of green salad A very little tender fish or chicken--white meat Baked potatoes or green corn Any fresh vegetables A small portion of wheat bran, cooked

FALL MENU

INDIGESTION (CHRONIC)

Immediately on rising, drink a cup of water, and devote a few minutes to vigorous exercise.

BREAKFAST

A bunch of Tokay or Malaga grapes One or two eggs, coddled or poached A baked white potato A cup of hot water

LUNCHEON

Purée of corn or beans One or two egg whites, whipped

DINNER

Stewed pumpkin or squash A baked white potato One extremely ripe banana (black spotted), eaten with cream

WINTER MENU

INDIGESTION (CHRONIC)

BREAKFAST

A cup of coarse wheat bran Whole wheat, cooked until the grains burst open; serve with thin cream or rich milk, and either a spoonful of nuts or nut butter (This should be masticated exceedingly fine)

LUNCHEON

One egg whipped very fine, or boiled one and one-half minutes; if whipped, add a sprinkle of sugar; if boiled, eat with a baked potato A very small vegetable salad--grated carrots, onion, and lettuce leaves

DINNER

Boiled onions, carrots, or parsnips A baked white potato Half a glass of milk, mixed with one whipped egg white

Take a spoonful or two of wheat bran and a spoonful of pineapple juice at the close of this meal, either cooked, or in hot water, uncooked.

The above menus are the minimum of food for this condition. The quantity may be increased according to the demands of normal hunger. Hunger, however, should be determined by labor or exercise. Abnormal appetite, caused by supersecretion of acid in the stomach, is very often mistaken for hunger. In such cases, the patient should cease eating before the appetite is satisfied.

INDIGESTION (ACUTE)

In nearly all cases of acute indigestion, food should be omitted. The patient should be given hot water morning, noon, and evening, and, if possible, a stomach tube should be inserted, and the hot water and stomach contents removed. If this cannot be done, the patient should drink copiously of hot water, and vomit as much of it as possible. After the stomach has been cleansed, a cup of coarse wheat bran, or a large bunch of Concord or blue grapes may be given (if they are in season), swallowing skins, seeds, and pulp. Both bran and grapes are preferable to laxative medicines, and much more effective. The high enema should be administered, thus removing the contents of the lower bowels. After the stomach and the bowels have been thoroughly cleansed, if the patient is not able to exercise, artificial manipulation of the abdomen should be administered for a period of half an hour three times a day. These suggestions may be repeated until the patient is relieved, when the diet for chronic indigestion may be followed in rather modified form, omitting the heavier vegetables, and increasing the lighter foods.