In a recent attack, the _first_ day, the patient should only take mild drinks, containing a small quantity of unirritating nutriment; such as barley water, or arrowroot made with water. Irish moss will be found palatable. During the _next_ day or _two_ the same diet must be continued, but may be given in larger quantity, and of greater strength. Tapioca, sago, and rice-gruel might be added to the list. When the irritation is somewhat allayed, on the _third_ or _fourth_ day, perhaps, broth may be taken; but no solid food of any kind, least of all solid animal food, until the disease is removed or greatly allayed. As soon as this is the case, a small quantity of the lightest animal food may be taken; such as the animal jellies, made from calves’ head or feet, chicken with well-boiled rice, white game boiled, roast mutton and beef may follow; but lamb and veal for the future should be avoided. It may be observed, that in some cases, where the diarrhœa has been of long standing, a _drier_ diet is best, the liquid food appearing to keep up the disease. Rice well boiled, and merely moistened with a little broth, is the best and one of the most desirable articles of diet in such cases. _Piles._ Pregnant women are very subject to piles. Both with costiveness and diarrhœa they are a frequent attendant, but particularly with the former. They will usually disappear, if they are slight, as soon as the bowels are restored to a healthy action; but they may not, and then will give rise to great suffering. The pregnant woman recognises piles under two forms: 1, where they exist as little tumours within or without the bowel, becoming, very soon after their exclusion, more solid and firm, unless they early break and bleed; and 2, where they present, without the bowel, a tumour, large in circumference, separable in lobes, altogether like a piece of sponge coloured, and bleeding occasionally from the surface. Of all the _causes_ which operate in the production of piles, habitual constipation is the most frequent. The excrementitious matter is delayed in the bowel, becomes hard and knotty, and a source of great irritation: this irritation induces a determination of blood to the part, and the gradual dilatation of its vessels takes place as a consequence, which eventually forms the tumours known under the appellation of _piles_. Now, as in pregnancy there is a greater disposition to costiveness than at any other time, and as piles are a consequence of this disordered function, so this disease is much more prevalent during the pregnant state than at any other period; another argument, and a very powerful one, why costiveness should be diligently guarded against. The _symptoms_ of this complaint are well known. There will be weight, heat, and a sense of fulness about the lower bowel, a frequent desire both to relieve the bowels and bladder; all of which symptoms are removed for a time if a discharge of blood takes place.