~Starvation Period.~--A period of abstinence from food is instituted in most of the gastric disorders, (a) to determine the extent and character of the disease, (b) to rest the digestive tract. ~Dietetic Treatment.~--Diet adjusted to meet the needs of the individual case as determined by the medical examination. ~Instruction to Patient.~--Individual warned against overeating, drinking and constipation. PROBLEMS (a) Formulate a diet order for a patient suffering from chronic gastritis. (Individual's food requirements must be observed.) (b) Formulate a diet for gastric ulceration. List the available foods; the avoidable foods. (c) Outline a diet to be used in case of gastric cancer; show how it differs from the one used in gastric ulceration. FOOTNOTES: [92] It is also customary to give the patient a bismuth or barium meal in order that an X-ray and fluoroscopic examination may be made to determine the character and extent of the disturbance. [93] "Diseases of the Stomach," by Boas. CHAPTER XII DISEASES OF THE INTESTINAL TRACT ACUTE AND CHRONIC DIARRHEA (CATARRH), ENTEROCOLITIS, DYSENTERY, CONSTIPATION, APPENDICITIS, CHRONIC CONSTIPATION, AUTO-INTOXICATION Diarrhea, like gastritis, may be a symptom of many diseases and a result of many digestional disturbances. Enteritis, enterocolitis, dysentery, typhoid fever, and certain cases of tuberculosis and syphilis are all accompanied by an inflamed condition of the mucous lining of the intestinal walls, and in each of these pathological conditions we may find diarrhea as a resulting symptom. ~Causes.~--Diarrhea may be acute or chronic in character. It may be brought on by errors in diet, warm weather, certain drugs, ptomaines, bad hygiene, polluted water or milk, and by overeating. Idiosyncrasies against certain kinds of food have been found in both adults and children; these idiosyncrasies are manifested by pain and diarrhea whenever the offending foods have been eaten. Acute diarrhea has also been brought on in children by the drinking of cold lemonade when over-heated. ~Diarrhea in Children.~--All diarrheas in children, and especially those developing during the hot months, must be looked on with suspicion and given immediate attention before they have an opportunity to develop serious features which may terminate in death before the seriousness of the condition is realized. As a rule, almost any diarrhea in children will raise the temperature. This does not occur so often with adults unless the diarrhea results from infectious fevers, ptomaines, etc., in which case it may rise suddenly and to a considerable height. ACUTE ENTERITIS (DIARRHEA) ~The Bowels.~--The symptoms of this condition are too liquid or too frequent stools, the number varying from three to twelve or more a day. They may be greenish yellow in color and contain particles of undigested food and mucus. In prolonged diarrheal attacks the stools sometimes contain blood.