FoodNet

A manual of home-making

1919

Page 260

Presented as published in 1919. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
OH ptiKsible during tfiiit tinio in a well-vc*iitihited but comfortably warm nHiui, Avoid drafts and duingeH in tenjjM^rature. 5. Fooft. Whrn the r<ild bt^gins to yii'ld» as it will in most cases in 12 to 24 hours, break the fant with m lipht iiic^al of milk toast. Bo^n thon with a light laxative diet of Inw fuel value. Fruits and mild vegetables, fruit juices, crisp toast » and woll-euoked ttire^iLi, lightly cooked eggs^ milk, milk soups or gruels, CARE AND FEEDING FOR CONSTIPATION Many serious illnesses may \ye caused by chronic constipa- tion. Liver, kidneys, pancreas, and even the heart may be- come (ianiaged }>y continiieil absorption of the poisonous prod- ucts of a clogged intestine. It is always dangerous to allow a chronic condition to become established in which day after day intestinal wiistcs accumulate. They may ferment or putrefy and produce poisons wliich damage the body seriously. Use of drug^. Whereas it is probably better to empty the inte^stines with some medicine rather than to retain the waste material, this is nevertheless a poor makeshift. The continued yse of laxative drugs is certainly not advisaljle. If a pei'son suffers from chronic constipation, every effort should be made to locate the cause and to correct the difficulty. The cathartic should be used as an emergency measure only. Use of saH water. Perhaps the simplest and least harmful way of cleaning out the intestine of an adult is by the use of what is known as a physiological salt solution^ — 1 slightly rounding teaspoon of salt (7 grams) to 1 quart of w^arm water. The entire quart may be necessary, and it should l>e taken on an empty stomach. One-half honr or more t>efore breakfast satisfies this condition. Slightly more or less salt may be needed in some cases to make this solution effective. Causes of constipation. Constipation is in many cases due to the following conditions: 460 A MASVAL OF HOME-MAKIXG L_^V faillire to «labtMi regularin^ in empuini; the inU^tiifis; lade of proper exercise; wrong diet ; and insufficient water. Its em^ in time eoMi, mmi be: taking time to coltiVBla llie ImbH of cmptyiiig tbe intastfaie at a rc^^ar liour each day; caieneMiiig in «uch a way a^ to strengthen the abdominal mtiadcs (rmpid waQdog is ^ood for this); following a laative diet; drinking more water. LaxaiimfoodM, I.axativc foocJ;^ include most fruit.s and vei^etables, and fooda and bremLn containiofc the whole of the cereal grain. i» inadvijiiable if a finer meal will accomplish the result* tinoed uae of over-coarse foods i» unwiise. Hyffienic ireaimefU arui dki for eonstijniiwn, Tho following treatment is recommended for persona ing fnjm coru^tipution : licfoTt IrreaMfaM: Oo rbitipt drink two glaaies o/ imler, or lake Hw nit anhition MUggimicd on pngc 4.59, Ttikc tight cXffdse for 6c*vrnil minutiv to §trpn|£thf*n the alxlominjil mti^ics* Brrakfatft: SUm^wJ pruiiMi» or fiiotj or other fniit; oatmeal, or nlbcr whole ocroal, tiud milk; egg^, if desired; graham^ or whole whmt, or oatnitml bread; water to driiik^ if di'sirod, ftetwrrn brtuk/oMl and hiuth or dinneri S*j<in after hreakfaet make ihm \M%irmufi of eftahlishing the habit of omptyini^ the intestitus datly ail thiM hoiir. Allow 20 to 30 numittti for this purpose, if necessary. Drink j orir* or two gloMca of wattT, Take a brLnk walk,