Inasmuch as constipation is a condition that is brought about less by the diet than by other conditions, usually departures from good hygiene, we must not look upon the change of diet as an adequate treatment of these mild cases of constipation. Many cases of constipation are brought about through the failure on the part of the individual to respond to the call of nature. If this habit is begun in childhood, it is easy to see how the confirmed constipation habit would be acquired before the twentieth year. The condition is here advisedly referred to as a habit, because in so many cases it can hardly be called anything else.

Naturally, a simple correction of the diet cannot correct the condition. There must be a more or less general change in the regime of the individual. These changes, other than diet, should be in two directions: First, there should be vigorous bodily exercise. If one has already been indulging in such exercise, the change should be perhaps only in the quality of the exercise and the time. The exercise most effective in the regulation of bowel movements is that which involves flexion and torsion of the trunk, and the time most effective is before breakfast. The most important dietary changes would be the introduction of large quantities of liquids and of fruits, and a change from the finely ground flour to the coarse cereals. Fruits are most effective when taken late in the evening just before retiring, while water is most effective when taken in the morning forty-five to sixty minutes before breakfast. The rational dietary, then, for an individual who seems to have the constipation habit might be as follows, beginning the day, as prescribed in a previous chapter, with two glasses of water and fifteen minutes' exercise before breakfast.

Breakfast

Cereal: Oatmeal, corn meal, or wheat with cream and sugar. Fresh fruit. Cereal coffee. Dry toast.

Lunch

Soup, cream or puree.

Bread: Boston brown, whole wheat or graham.

Fresh fruit.

Dinner

Soup.

Meat, any kind.

Potatoes, any way.

Vegetables, any kind prepared any way.

Fruit, rhubarb sauce.

Dessert: Custard, gelatin, or any simple pudding.

At bedtime four figs, or six soaked prunes, or two apples.

Unless the alimentary tract is completely demoralized, it is hardly conceivable that it should not respond to this sort of a regime by a regular normal passage of the bowels at least once in the day. The bowel activity is an involuntary reflex, yet it is possible to control its regularity in a measure. This is accomplished by going to the water-closet at a regular hour every day; the best hour, in the regime outlined above, would be immediately after breakfast. If this regularity is kept up conscientiously week after week, there will eventually be a normal response at a regular hour every morning.

If children are taught to go to the water-closet every morning after breakfast, and to make that their first duty of the day, they will be spared the inconvenience and annoyance of that form of constipation due to the habitual failure to respond to the call of nature.

Certain other forms of constipation may not respond to this regime. A person afflicted with such forms of constipation should not permit himself to get the pill addiction, but should put his case in the hands of a competent specialist.