Sleep is essential to gain, consequently the patient should retire early and take one or two naps during the day.
Baths should be warm, not hot, followed by a cold shower or sponge.
Exercise must be mild in character; over-exertion precludes a gain in weight and exhaustion undermines the forces which make it possible for the body to store fat as adipose tissue.
Nervous Excitement and Worry must be avoided.
Gastro-intestinal Disturbances should be guarded against, since all the pounds gained through months of treatment may be quickly lost during one acute attack of diarrhea or auto-intoxication.
Massage is advised. The kneading and gentle manipulation of the muscles stimulates them to utilize more food material, besides enabling the patient to eat more by reason of an increased appetite.
The Milk Cure has been used extensively in overcoming extreme emaciation. It consists in the taking of large quantities, ranging from one to two gallons per day. It is given every hour or oftener for a period of one month to six weeks.
Reënforcing the Diet with eggs and lactose is often found of great value in increasing the weight quickly, as is the giving of one-third of a glass of cream and two-thirds of a glass of milk after each meal and at bedtime. The whole scheme of putting on pounds resolves itself into the giving of proper food in larger quantities than are ordinarily given, but dividing it up into frequent meals in order not to upset the digestion and do away with the good already accomplished.