Water flushes the kidneys and if the urine increases in amount when water is given its use may be continued. When the amount of urine is diminished or the kidneys are not functioning at all, water, or any fluid or food that gives the kidneys work, must be given only on the advice of a physician, as serious harm may be done unless the inflamed kidneys are given as near perfect rest as possible. Sometimes even milk must be reduced to one pint a day. In the event that the kidneys do not excrete, the pores of the skin must be kept freely open by sweat baths to assist in the elimination of urea. Dr. Hall recommends a milk and cream diet of from three to seven pints a day, for a few days, according to the case—two parts of milk to one of cream. If the urine is scanty, he reduces it to one and one-half pints a day, taken in four or five installments. After the three to seven days of milk diet he gradually introduces starches and fats into the diet. [Sidenote: Bright’s Disease] This is an inflammatory condition of the kidneys in which albumin appears in the urine. It results from irritation and may be acute or chronic. The appearance of albumin in the urine does not always indicate disease. It may be temporary, merely indicating that the diet, for the time being, is too heavy or contains an excess of protein, especially meat. Several tests from one to two weeks apart are often necessary to determine whether the condition is merely temporary or is due to inefficient action of the kidneys. When for any reason the kidneys have difficulty in eliminating the nitrogenous waste of the system, the dietitian must eliminate protein food as closely as may be consistent with the body necessities. Besides restricting the amount of nitrogenous foods, the kidneys must be assisted in eliminating the nitrogenous waste and the products of inflammation by a copious drinking of water, unless the kidneys are so inflamed that complete rest is indicated. Hot water and hot drinks are best in the morning, such as toast water, barley water, cream of tartar, lemon and acid drinks. Unless a dropsical condition is present one may drink freely of cool water. In acute cases the patient is put on a diet of from two to three pints of milk a day, given one-half pint every three or four hours, diluted with one-third as much hot water. Complete rest is imperative. In chronic cases, exercise, judiciously directed to the extremities, particularly to the legs and the back, will do more than anything to aid the elimination of an excessive accumulation of fluid as in dropsy. This condition is usually accompanied by constipation and poor circulation, and exercises directed to the liver and bowels aid in carrying off the excess of fluid by way of the intestines; this will rest the kidneys. A cure requires patience and perseverance.