After all operations involving opening the peritoneal cavity complete rest of the stomach is necessary for at least four or six hours, and not infrequently for two or three days. Food and stimulants may be given by enemata (p. 414). If fed per os for the first three days not over a tablespoonful of pancreatinised milk or milk with lime water or barley water should be allowed once in two or three hours. Later the quantity may be increased and the intervals diminished, and beef tea, beef peptonoids, and egg albumin may be added.

In these cases the duration of anaesthesia has usually been prolonged, and the shock is considerable. The danger from the occurrence of vomiting, malfermentation of food, and flatulent distention of the abdomen is far worse than that of inanition from abstinence. It is well also to precede the operation by a day or two of dieting in order to lessen the bulk of intestinal waste matter. To this end the diet should, when possible, consist chiefly of lean meat and dry toast, vegetables and especially sweets being avoided.

After wounds and operations affecting the stomach or intestines no food at all should be given by the mouth. Nothing but a little cracked ice should be so administered, and all nourishment must be supplied for several days by the rectum. The return to mouth feeding must be made very slowly and cautiously by at first giving not over one or two tablespoonfuls of pancreatinised milk or beef juice at a time.

There is often much thirst following operations involving the peritonaeum, which is relieved more by hot fluids than by ice, which sometimes irritates the throat and increases the desire for drink. If there is danger of all fluids exciting emesis, a salt-water enema once in three or four hours will alleviate thirst (p. 410).