A tumor near the pylorus, or constriction of the pyloric orifice, will also cause dilation of the stomach.
Beef juice, any of the better grades of meats, well masticated and containing no gristle, limewater and milk, soft cooked eggs, and well cooked cereals should constitute the diet.
Avoid vegetables containing coarse fibre, fried foods, and bread baked on the same day.
Liquid with the meal should be avoided, on account of the tendency to overload the stomach.
Cold water, taken a swallow at a time at intervals during the day, has a tonic effect upon the relaxed muscles. It also incites the flow of gastric juice.
Ulcer of the Stomach. Where this condition is severe, accompanied with severe pains and vomiting of blood, the dietetic treatment is to give the nourishment through the rectum for from five to ten days. Then follows a period of ten days milk diet, with bouillon, barley water, a beaten egg, and once a day, after the third day, strained oatmeal gruel.
Limewater is added to the milk to avoid the formation of leathery curds and to neutralize the acids of the stomach. The patient is given half a cup of milk every hour for three days, from 7 A. M. to 9 P. M. From the third to the tenth day increase the quantity to one cupful, then to a cup and a half and lengthen the periods between feedings to two hours. If the milk is brought to a boil before the limewater is added, it digests more readily.
After ten days, for the succeeding ten days the nourishment should be given every two hours and the diet varied by semi-liquid foods, such as gruels, toast water, soft boiled egg (once a day) beef juice, two softened crackers (once a day) gelatin, buttermilk and strained soups.
After twenty days the patient, if all is well, may very gradually resume a normal diet, beginning with baked potatoes, softened toast, lamb chops, a small piece of steak or white meat of chicken. It is imperative that all food, liquid or solid, be thoroughly mixed with saliva and that solids be chewed to a pulp.