Children should be trained to attend to Nature’s call regularly every day. The best time is shortly after breakfast.
Enteritis
Inflammation or Catarrh of the Intestines is similar in its nature to Gastritis or Catarrh of the Stomach.
Acute Enteritis, or cholera morbus, is usually caused by a strong irritant—either by some food which disagrees, by unripe fruits, or by a mass of undigested food.
A fast of two or three days is the usual initial dietetic treatment.
A free drinking of water not only soothes the irritated intestines, but it cleanses the intestinal tract and assists in eliminating elements of fermentation; if these are not eliminated, they will be absorbed into the blood.
Absolute quiet in bed is necessary.
After the fast, a liquid and semiliquid diet is followed until inflammation is relieved and diarrhea and vomiting have ceased. Milk, strained gruels, broths, strained soups, buttermilk, eggs (soft cooked or raw), beef juice, barley water, custards, junket gelatins, soft puddings, etc., are most nourishing and cause little irritation. (See page [313], Semisolid Foods.)
Milk should be mixed with limewater to prevent the formation of large curds and should be sipped. Water should not be taken, as it tends to increase the diarrhea. Ice may be held in the mouth to relieve thirst.
All irritating foods, such as coarse vegetables, pickles, acid fruits and fruits with coarse seeds, candies, beer, wines, and salads must be omitted.