Dietetics for NursesProudfit, Fairfax T. (Fairfax Throckmorton)
Science
Dietetics for Nurses
Proudfit, Fairfax T. (Fairfax Throckmorton)
Diet in disease
~Dietetic Treatment.~--Concentrated foods of the simplest character
and only those known to agree. Proprietary infant or invalid foods,
except malted foods, which exert a laxative effect; among those found
to be good may be mentioned Mellin's Food, Imperial Granum, and
Racahout.
~Foods to Be Avoided.~--Fatty foods; pork, veal, and shellfish; all
foods that are subject to fermentation in the stomach or intestinal
tract (sugar).
~Foods to Be Limited.~--Fluids, soup, beverages, etc., because they
impose more work on the intestines.
ENTEROCOLITIS
~Seat of Inflammation.~--Lower intestine and colon.
~Differentiating Characteristics.~--More mucus and blood in stools;
greater prostration; greater rise of temperature; and less anemia than
in chronic enteritis.
~Dietetic Treatment.~--Practically the same as in other diarrheas.
DYSENTERY
~Characteristic Symptoms.~--Acute and spasmodic pain, tenderness and
distention in the bowels, moderate fever, straining and a constant
desire to defecate, small stools containing blood and mucus, loss of
weight and marked anemia when condition becomes chronic.
~Treatment.~--Rest in bed absolutely necessary; the use of the bedpan
made obligatory; soreness relieved by hot turpentine stupes or spice
poultices.
~Dietetic Treatment.~--No food for a period of from thirty-six to
forty-eight hours, after which fluids and the regime recommended in
acute diarrhea are advisable. In chronic dysentery the diet is
practically the same. The extreme exhaustion and anemia accompanying
these conditions make it necessary to increase the diet carefully but
soon to offset as far as possible the devastating effects of the
disease.
APPENDICITIS
~Treatment.~--Confinement to bed is absolutely necessary while acute
symptoms prevail. The life of the patient may depend upon the care
with which this "quiet" period is carried out. No food should be given
for twelve or more hours to enable the physician to make a proper
diagnosis and to allow the intestinal tract and appendix complete rest
from the irritating effects of food passing down the canal.
~Dietetic Treatment.~--~Acute Stage:~ Total abstinence for a period,
after which fluids as given in other acute intestinal disorders. No
solid food until acute symptoms have subsided; then a gradual return
to normal.
~Convalescence.~--When tenderness in right side has disappeared, the
return to a normal diet is made gradually. Gelatin, soft eggs, soft
toast, fine cereal gruels, well-cooked rice, well-baked white
potatoes, tender rare beefsteak or lamb chops, the breast of chicken,
sweetbreads, and brains are recommended.
~Relapse or Recurring Appendicitis.~--The patient must be warned
against eating indigestible foods or any kind of foods liable to cause
constipation; also against overeating or eating when over-heated or
over-tired. One attack predisposes to another, hence the above
precautions are necessary to prevent the condition from becoming
chronic.
CHRONIC CONSTIPATION
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account