ng effect upon the membranes of the
stomach, and the only sure method of determining the cause of the
disturbance is by an analysis of the stomach contents, by which means
the percentage of hydrochloric acid is determined.

~Lavage.~--It has been found advisable, in some cases of acute
gastritis which do not yield readily to rest and liquid diet, to wash
the stomach and allow a certain period of rest before giving any food;
in this way the organ is rid of all of the offending material and thus
has a better chance of a quick recovery.

ACUTE GASTRITIS

~Dietetic Treatment.~--The following dietetic treatment for acute
gastritis is advised: As the stomach is the chief seat of disturbance,
all unnecessary work must be taken from this region for a certain
period:

(1) That any obscure cause may manifest itself and the diagnosis may
be rendered more accurately and more quickly.

(2) That by resting the organ the offending materials may pass out of
the body and thus prevent further trouble.

~Starvation Period.~--Twenty-four hours of total abstinence from food
may seem extreme, but as a rule in acute cases of gastritis it is the
only sane and safe method of instituting a diet and thus beginning to
overcome the cause of the disturbance. After the period of starvation
the diet is begun with caution.

~Fluid Diet.~--Fluids should be given first in the form of
well-skimmed broths, which may be reenforced with egg or cereal flours
when the patient is very thin or anemic. Buttermilk, made with the
Bulgarian cultures, koumiss and other fermented milk foods, liquid
beef preparations such as peptonoids or panopepton, albumenized orange
juice, cereal gruels treated with Taka diastase when it is found
necessary, and peptonized milk. These may be given in from four to six
ounces at a time, every two hours on the second day.

~Increasing the Diet.~--On the third day if the attack is slight the
diet may be increased by adding toast, softened with peptonized milk,
an ordinary serving (3 ounces) of farina, cream of wheat or rice,
reenforced meat broth with two crackers, a cup of tea and a slice of
toast, and one or two soft-cooked eggs. If the acute symptoms are
still present on the third day, the diet advised for the second day
must be continued until they disappear.

~Convalescent Diet.~--On the fifth day, if progress is satisfactory,
lightly broiled chicken or a small piece of rare broiled beefsteak may
be added to the diet a