Chapter 38
DIET FOR CONSTIPATION AND OBSTIPATION.
Diet is too often a makeshift for ignorance, or it may be an aid until the cause of indigestion is removed; or if not curable, a compromise effected on the best possible terms for continued existence. We have found out the almost universal cause for constipation, obstipation and costiveness; therefore until you can have the proper local treatment we suggest the following foodstuffs, trusting to the sufferer's judgment how much and how often to take the nourishment.
Coarse foods, stimulants and laxatives unduly excite the bowels. Avoid them if possible. Be regular in your habits as to meal-times; eat three times daily, and about an equal amount at each meal.
You may take:
_Soup_: all kinds of meat and vegetable soup; broth; bouillon. Reliable preparations of beef juice, jelly, etc.
_Fish_: all kinds, broiled or baked; raw oysters; Doxsee's clam preparations.
_Meat_: boiled or roasted; poultry; game, etc.
_Bread_: graham; brown; whole wheat; corn; rye; ginger; shredded-wheat biscuit.
_Cereals_: wheaten grits; wheatena; granose; oatmeal porridge; Milkine; Horlick's and Mellin's food.
_Vegetables_: cauliflower; spinach; beans; asparagus; carrots; onions; Brussels sprouts; tomatoes; peas; celery; cabbage.
Vegetables should be especially well cooked to render them soft and easy of digestion.
_Salads_: may be eaten if dressed with a generous supply of olive oil.
_Dessert_: oranges; melons; prunes; tamarinds; figs; apples (raw or baked); pears; plums; peaches; cherries; raisins; stewed fruit; honey; blackberries; strawberries; huckleberries; bananas.
Some may find it advantageous to eat fruit before or between meals.
_Beverages_: water--pure spring water preferably; if this cannot be had, get, if possible, distilled water that has been aërated; buttermilk; fresh cider; beer; ale.
Mineral waters like Hunyadi, etc., irritate the cause of constipation (proctitis) in a way similar to cathartic remedies.
Drink a tumbler or more of hot or cold water an hour before meals--preferably hot water. If the hot water be distasteful add a little salt. Drink freely of water about the temperature of 60° during the meals, but not for the purpose of emptying the mouth of food.
On retiring at night and rising in the morning sip slowly from a quarter to half pint of water (hot or cold). In the morning be sure to rinse the mouth free of the accumulated mucus before drinking the water.
The use of tea, chocolate, coffee and alcoholic drinks is so abused by those even who consider themselves temperate in their habits, that I recommend these beverages as remedies only in certain conditions of the system.
About four pints of pure water (_i.e._, free from all salts or other foreign ingredients) should be imbibed in twenty-four hours.
_Avoid_: sweets; pastry of all kinds; puddings; rice; milk; cheese; new bread; nuts; fried foods; rich gravies; farina and sago puddings; salt meats; salt fish; veal; goose; liver; hard-boiled eggs; pork; tea; tobacco; spirituous liquors; uncooked strawberries and huckleberries. Avoid also tomatoes and peaches when not fresh, as the acid generated by keeping them a few days is very irritating to an already inflamed bowel.
Avoid substances that would inflame the tissues or cause congestion of any organ of the body. If the tongue be coated avoid sugar, starchy foods and fresh milk.