Milk should not be combined with acid fruits, especially those of a highly acidulous character, such as lemons, limes, grapefruit, pineapples, etc. (See Lesson VIII, Vol. II, p. 314.) Neither should it be taken at the same meals with succulent plants, such as lettuce, watercress, romaine, parsley, etc. [Sidenote: Milk for sour or acid stomach] When the stomach has long been over-burdened with food, and made the receptacle in which acid fermentation has taken place until the mucous membrane has become irritated or probably ulcerated, there is no food so acceptable as milk. For the common disorder of hyperchlorhydria, which is a term used to describe a condition of chronic sour stomach or supersecretion of hydrochloric acid, milk is one of Nature's best counteractive food nutrients. (See "Superacidity," Vol. II, p. 418.) In cases of severe constipation or alimentary congestion, milk should be given as follows: [Sidenote: Milk diet for constipation] Omit breakfast. Begin about 9:30 taking an ordinary glassful of fresh, cool milk every twenty or thirty minutes, until about one and one-half quarts have been consumed. After two or three hours, repeat the same process until about two quarts more have been taken. With each quart of milk, from three to four heaping dessert-spoonfuls of clean, wheat bran should be taken, in thin cream or rich milk. At noon and at evening a few tablespoonfuls of coarse cereal (wheat or rye flakes), might be eaten. They should be masticated thoroughly, and eaten with nuts and a limited quantity of cream. Under this regimen I have known the most severe cases of constipation to yield readily, and the patient to make a gain in weight of half a pound daily for a period of from twenty to thirty days. If the appetite should rebel against taking milk in this quantity, the amount should be reduced, and a cupful of soaked evaporated apricots taken at night just before retiring, and in the morning, just after rising. When milk is taken for the purpose of counteracting a congested condition of the bowels, or an irritated condition of the mucous membrane of the stomach, it should be combined with the fewest possible things--one coarse cereal only will give the best results. A large quantity of milk, three and one-half to four quarts taken daily, as above directed, will act as a laxative, while a small quantity will have a tendency toward constipation. THE ADULTERATION OF MILK The old method of adulterating milk with water has very largely gone out of practise, owing to the surveillance of city authorities, and the passing of laws that fix legal standards, which require milk to contain a certain percentage of fats and total solids. [Sidenote: Evil of milk preservatives]