A glass of hot Vichy or Hunyadi water taken the first thing on rising, and followed by a glass of cool water will help to relieve any engorgement of the liver.
In case of biliousness resulting from a milk diet, abstain from all food for twenty-four hours, cleanse the mouth as indicated above, and drink freely of water.
When the liver is a little inactive, milk may be diluted with an aërated water or even plain water. Daily exercise directed toward securing a greater activity of the liver and gall-bladder should be followed. Four tablespoonfuls of soda water, Apollinaris, or carbonic-acid water to the glass may be used.
As noted in the preceding pages, orange and lemon juice will encourage greater activity of the stomach and bowels.
One-third of a glass of hot Vichy water to each glass of milk renders it easily digested and most people relish it. Unless the liver is very inactive milk taken in this way will not constipate and exercise directed to the liver, as previously mentioned, will help to obviate this condition.
Skimmed milk, Kumyss, or buttermilk are easily digested and are valuable when the digestive system is weak.
The monotony of a milk diet tends to create a distaste for milk and the mental revolt may upset digestion and result in constipation. This should be kept in mind and various ways of modifying the milk be used to create variety; mental aversion and antagonism should be corrected.
When its taste is not relished milk may be made acceptable and the stomach induced to retain it by using a variety of flavors. A drop or two of vanilla, a trifle of cinnamon, nutmeg, salt and pepper, chocolate, or any other flavor that is liked may be used, varying them so as to keep from monotony.
If milk seems to produce gas in the stomach with distress and the milk is retained too long in the stomach from the interference with its movements caused by the gas, a teaspoonful of malt extract may be added to each glass of milk. If the malt extract is not at hand, four teaspoonfuls of malted milk to each glass may be used.
Equal parts of cream and hot water to which has been added a third of a teaspoon of soda may be used, for the same purpose.