Cereals and Fruit: grapes at all hours, eaten without seeds or skin; arrowroot; tapioca; sago; barley mush; macaroni; rice boiled with milk; milk toast; dry toast; crackers; junket; bread pudding; egg pudding, not sweetened; hasty pudding, with flour and milk; mashed potatoes.
Avoid: pork; veal; nuts; salt meats; fish; fried foods; sugary foods; fruits, cooked or raw; oatmeal; brown and graham bread; new bread; vegetables; and most soups.
A FINAL WORD TO THOSE TO WHOM I HAVE DEDICATED THIS BOOK.
It is very evident from the perusal of this work that the symptoms of proctitis, both general and local, proceed from no trifling disease; and also that the disease may have existed for a very long time, perhaps as much as twenty, forty or more years. During the greater part of its existence all sorts of medication have been tried to allay this or that annoying prominent symptom with a hope of a cure.
At the congress of physicians that met in Paris in 1900, one of the subjects discussed was chronic constipation and their "wise" conclusion was that man needed more grease, therefore they mourned the loss of the frying-pan.
Symptoms induced by proctitis in various parts of the body are often accompanied by painful local symptoms, called piles or a "touch of the piles." Then local medication is added to the general treatment, and as usual matters go from bad to worse. Physicians consulted have been honest and kind, but with all their advice the increasing troubles continue. Your demands grow more pressing on your doctor and as a last resort he mentions a surgical operation for the removal of one or more painful local symptoms. The fright is sufficient in most cases to make the sufferer endure the ills he has rather than flee to others he knows not, even risking life itself. Others more bold submit to an examination by the surgeon, which proves so painful at the time and causes so much subsequent suffering that they are now really content not to importune any more for help.
A few in desperation make up their minds to have the local anal symptom removed regardless of the final result.
Thus millions of human beings have suffered and died and countless numbers are enduring the ills they have, not knowing of a rational and humane system of treatment; a treatment that not only removes the numerous annoying symptoms, but the cause as well; a system that will stand the test of time, of common-sense, of constant investigation to know the why and wherefore of both disease and treatment.
For over twenty years I have concerned myself with this and allied ailments, and have treated—without the use of the knife—all cases of piles, polypus, fissure, stricture, ulcerations, etc. At the present time physicians are writing me in this wise: "I want to take a course of instruction from you. I have performed some successful surgical operations on the rectum, but it is not profitable; the people will not submit to it." Another writes: "Your treatment of hemorrhoids has been brought to my notice by my friend and patient, Mr. ——. The method you practise is certainly an ideal one and seems to have been most successful in your hands, and I would like to adopt it."