This is a catarrhal state of the pharynx and posterior nasal passages. Sometimes the eustachian tube, and even the middle ear, are involved. This disease is often accompanied by adenoids. By the best authorities, enlargement of the tonsils is given credit for being the cause of mental derangements and lack of bodily development in some children, It is too bad that extraordinarily smart teachers sometimes hook up the cart before the horse. The cause of the tonsilitis is the cause of the mental and bodily derangement. As soon as the improper habits of life, practiced daily, which cause this disease, are corrected, the disease will gradually decline, and the tonsils will grow smaller from month to month, until they entirely disappear. The adenoids will disappear in much less time. Operations are not necessary--and, in fact, are injurious, because they give the patient hope of a cure without removing the cause. The cause is wrong eating, and wrong care of the body generally. Children that are fed on a diet lacking in raw fruit and raw vegetables develop a catarrhal state early; and so long as the bad habits are practiced, the condition grows worse. The children most afflicted in this way are those inheriting the scrofulous diathesis. Then, when they arrive at puberty, a large percentage are taken off with tuberculosis.

Children who have very large tonsils are mouth-breathers. They are not bright in school; their general health is, very much impaired. But, as stated before, this is not due altogether to the enlarged tonsils. The majority of children who do not breathe well through the nose will be entirely relieved of this symptom in one week, if confined to fruit morning, noon, and night. Possibly there may be cases so severe that they will require ten days on a fruit fast; but if the children are started on the fruit diet, they should be kept on it until their breathing is natural. By that time the redness, swelling, puffiness in the throat, and a great deal of the enlargement of the tonsils, will have vanished, and the adenoids will no longer interfere with breathing.

Treatment

See to it that the bowels move every day. In pronounced cases the child should be kept away from food for three days. Then this should be followed with three fruit meals each day--moming, noon, and night--for three days. If all the symptoms are improving by that time, two meals of fruit, with one of toasted bread and butter, followed with an apple or an orange, may be given. This can continue for three days. At the end of that time, toasted bread in the morning may be given, followed with an apple. An egg, or a small bit of lamb, chicken, or fish, with cooked, non-starchy vegetables and a salad may be taken for dinner every other day. The alternate days, baked potatoes may be given, with vegetables and salad. The third meal for the day may be fruit and nothing else.