ons of this kind. It is well, however, to remember the
necessity for using at least a reasonable quantity of water throughout
the entire day. If you do not drink water quite freely between meals
then it is advisable and actually necessary to use a certain quantity
with your meals. Those who drink tea and coffee freely seem to recognize
the need of this instinctively. The choice of these beverages, however,
is distinctly bad. Tea and coffee are destructive to both nerves and
health, but aside from these stimulating drinks one can use almost any
wholesome beverage at meal-time in order to supply his cravings in
this direction. Fruit drinks are excellent. I have referred to this
question in a previous chapter.

Diet naturally has a tremendous influence on alimentary activity. White
bread and white-flour products constitute the most serious cause of
constipation. This defective food is lacking in the elements necessary
to give life and vitality to the body, because the valuable covering
of the grain has been removed in the milling process, while the life
germ of the wheat has also been eliminated. The bran, which
consists of several minute layers covering the wheat berry, has a
distinct value in stimulating peristaltic action, and when it is
removed, the resulting white flour must be a defective food. One of
the first dietetic changes required in remedying constipation,
therefore, is to eliminate white-flour products from the diet. Graham
bread, or that made from the whole wheat, or any of the whole grains,
rye, oats, barley, corn, is a satisfactory article of diet, and
will often remedy constipation without resort to any other dietetic
change.

What might be termed waste products, or fibrous material in food, are
found especially valuable in promoting digestion and active functioning
of the bowels. The woody fiber found in vegetables is most valuable. It
is sometimes suggested that one should simply consume the juice of
his foods but not the pulp. This pulp or fibrous matter, however, is
especially important. Following this requirement of bulk or waste in our
food, we find such remedies as sand, refined coal oil, a mineral
product that passes through the alimentary canal without change, and
ordinary black dirt, which is usually taken in its dried form. When
using sand, it should be sterilized, and the grains should be rounded
and worn smooth by the action of waves or running wa