The diet is of the greatest importance in this difficulty, as it is usually accompanied by anemia. Rest and a very nourishing and easily digested diet are essential. Sometimes a complete rest in bed and a milk diet, or a diet composed largely of milk, is the best means of treatment. If possible the patient should be isolated and in the care of a trained nurse who is naturally cheerful and bright. Children are especially liable to this malady. They are usually anemic and care should be exercised that they be not overworked in school and that they retire early and get from ten to twelve hours’ sleep. Their eyes must be kept from strain and the nervous system not allowed to become tense from too much excitement, as teasing by playmates or the family, etc. They should be given the diet for Anemia on page 249. _DIET IN SKIN DISEASES_ An improper diet or a lowered nerve tone are often shown by the condition of the skin. When the waste of the system is not being properly eliminated through the other excretory organs the skin is required to throw off more than its normal amount. The muddy complexion in biliousness or the congestion of the facial capillaries in the alcoholic are familiar examples. Overeating, especially of food too rich or too concentrated, causes fermentation from non-digestion, or imperfect oxidation, due to too large an amount of nutriment for the amount of oxygen furnished to the tissues. An inactive skin results in an accumulation of fat in the sebaceous glands with clogging of the ducts; germ infection in these clogged glands often results in pimples and boils. An excess of acid in the secretion of the sweat glands irritates the skin and causes eruptions.[15] Chronic skin troubles are always increased and made more troublesome when there are errors in the diet, and they are often benefited and in some cases cured when the dietetic errors are corrected. Skin troubles often occur when for any reason the nervous system is run down, because the weakened nerves cause the tissues or organs they supply to become inactive. The skin thus becomes affected with the rest of the body and derangements of its function appear. Increasing nerve tone will result in a disappearance of the skin disorders. This takes time. All rich food and highly seasoned preparations, veal, pork, tea, coffee, pastry, too much sweets and fats, and any fruits and vegetables that cause flatulence should be avoided. A diet of fruit, water, and Graham bread for three or four days, every week or two, daily exercise and deep breathing of pure air will usually clear the skin. The skin of the face is materially cleared by the use of facial exercises which promote its activity and the elimination of waste. Exercises for increasing the tone of the skin and the muscles are as essential for the face as for the body. In all skin troubles alcohol must be prohibited. * * * * * [Sidenote: Urticaria (Hives)]