X A British farmer teaches a school boy the joy
of honest toil as a health builder. Dr. Kress
points out that not all the so-called hardships
of war are destructive of health.
>> &K&
MPROPER mastication in civi-
84 lized countries is another cause of
appendicitis. Whenever there
exists ulceration of the stomach,
mucous colitis, or excessive irritation of
the colon, we advise pureed foods. Some
time ago a fine-appearing business man
came to my office for advice. He told me
he was afflicted with an irmtable colon
and was threatened with a stomach ulcer.
He said he had a thorough examination and
pureed foods were recommended. He said,
“At home I have no difheulty, the foods
are pureed for me in the kitchen; but in
traveling about I am up against it, since I
have difficulty in obtaining pureed foods.”
I said to him, “My dear friend, you may
have pureed foods, for you carry with you
the little apparatus which enables you to
puree your food. no matter where you may
be. All you need to do is to make use of 1t
and chew your food until it 1s pureed.”
Although he was an intelligent business
man, this had never occurred to him.
Then he wanted to know what he should
eat. I informed him he could eat almost
any wholesome food. Among other foods I
happened to mention nuts. “Nuts!” he
exclaimed. Then, taking his pencil out of
his vest pocket. he said, ashe exposed about
one-fourth inch of it, “When I eat nuts
they pass through in pieces as large as
that.” TI said to him, “If you convert the
nuts into a cream in your mouth, you will
find they are perfectly adapted for your use.
Nut cream can be tolerated by the most
sensitive stomach and colon.” So pleased
was he with this information that he paid
me ten times the fee I asked. The stomach
cannot chew, hence the proper thing to do
1s to chew, chew, chew. This lost art must
be resurrected among civilized people.
The basin-like lower end of the colon
acts as a catch-all for undigested coarse
particles, which being retained longer than
in any other portion of the alimentary
canal, cause inflammation and putrefaction.
Another source of irritation to the colon,
and especially to that portion to which the
appendix is attached, 1s the use of laxa-
tives, mineral waters, and purgatives of all
sorts, especially the frequent use of calomel
and other mercurial laxatives, since these
merely liquefy the digested food, leaving the
undigested pieces in the caecum to undergo
decay or act as mechanical irritants. The
free use of these cathartics is undoubtedly
one of the causes of this disease among
civilized races.
To guard against appendicitis, it is
necessary to regulate the diet in harmony
with natural and sensible rules. Overeat-
ing as well as too frequent eating should be
avoided. Three meals a day are sufficient
as a rule, and many would do better on two
full meals a day. taking. if necessary, a little
fruit or a nutritive drink at night, with
nothing but water between meals. In ex-
Page FOURTEEN
WILL A WAR DIET REDUCE
APPENDICITIS?
(Concluded)
By Daniel H. Kress, M. 11.
ceptional cases it may be necessary to have
frequent meals; when this is the case they
should be nutritive liquid foods and not
solids.
Six hours should, as a rule, elapse be-
tween meals when three meals a day are
eaten. This affords the stomach time to
get rid of one meal before we afflict it with
another. The hours I would recommend,
would be: 7 A. Mm., 1 P. M., and 6: 30 pr. M.;
when eating two meals, 8 a. M., and 3 or
3:30 p. M. would be suitable hours, supple-
mented if desired by a nutritive drink in
the evening.
Regularity of the bowels should be main-
tained by the free use of fruits, wholemeal
bread, and bulky vegetables, taking pains
to thoroughly masticate all foods.
It is well to bear in mind that after one
attack of appendicitis, a second attack is
almost sure to follow, unless a change is
made in the habits of eating. Meats and
cane sugar should be used moderately, if
at all. I'ree fats, as butter and fried foods,
should be used sparingly. Pepper, mustard,
and other irritants should be eschewed.
Puddings and pastries should be used
sparingly. Ice cream should be shunned,
since 1t 1s usually taken between meals, and
because the combination of milk and sugar
1s undesirable, since it is apt to undergo
fermentation.
Appendicitis frequently appears in those
whose habits are sedentary, who are de-
prived of physical exercise and out-of-door
life. The abdominal muscles of the seden-
tary person become relaxed, the organs to
which they form a natural support drop one
upon the other. This crowding together of
these abdominal organs interferes with the
free circulation of blood through them, and
prevents the food residue from being passed
normally along the colon for expulsion.
Naturally, the colon and appendix are
more apt to become diseased. Develop-
ment of the abdominal muscles by appro-
priate exercises 1s important.
Stooping or bending exercises are es-
pecially helpful,—some light employment
in the garden, as planting seeds. pulling
weeds, ete.,—but the body should be bent
at the hips, keeping the legs almost straight.
A word of advice to sedentary office work-
ers may be of help. When sitting at the
desk, practice sitting erect with the abdom-
inal muscles and the muscles of the trunk
energized. After the office work, walking
(Continued on page 19)
The WATCHMAN MAGAZINE