Rules.—Patients should go to stool daily at the same hour, usually after the morning meal. You can educate the bowel to act daily at the same hour or after breakfast; or on the other hand not more than once in two or three days in those who are careless in their habits. Some patients need to have two or three movements daily in order to feel well. It may take time to educate the bowels to do this, but it can be done in many cases and many persons become constipated because they put off attending to the educated bowel's call, and often produce constipation by carelessness. It is surprising how many educated people put off this duty; Nature neglected, soon ceases to call. If constipated persons will persevere in going to the closet at or near the same time every day and devote their entire time while there to the expulsion of the fecal contents, and not make it a reading room, they will bring about the desired result. Patients are apt to become discouraged at first; they should be informed that the final result of the treatment is not influenced by the failure of the bowel to act regularly during the first few days. Do not strain to expel the stool.
Corrections of Errors in Diet.—This is one of the necessary features in the treatment. All kinds of foods known to disagree should be discarded. The foods should be easily digested. In children the diet should be rich in fats, albuminoids and sugar, but poor in starches. A reasonable amount of fruits such as apples, oranges, and figs should be allowed. Meals should be at regular hours. Foods that can be used:
May Take—
Soups.—Meat broths, oyster soup.
Fish.—Boiled fish of all kinds, raw oysters.
Meats.—Almost any fresh tender meat, poultry, game, not fried.
Farinaceous.—Oatmeal, wheaten grits, mush, hominy, whole wheat bread, corn bread, graham bread, rye bread.
Vegetables.—Boiled onions, brussels sprouts, spinach, cauliflower, potatoes, asparagus, green corn, green peas, string beans, salads with oil.
Desserts.—Stewed prunes, figs, baked apples with cream, ripe peaches, pears, oranges, apples, melons, grapes, cherries, raisins, honey, plain puddings, fig puddings, apple charlotte.
Drinks.—Plenty of pure water, cold or hot, new cider, buttermilk, orange juice, unfermented grape juice.