In a majority of cases the malady is mild, produces a very moderate fever, and somewhat lessens appetite and the ability to digest food. The diet in such cases should consist of liquid and soft foods, given in moderate quantities, from four to six times daily. When the disease is accompanied by high temperature, delirium, or stupor, dry, parched lips and tongue, food must be altogether fluid. It should consist, as in other febrile maladies, of milk, broths, gruels, and, sometimes, especially if the heart beats feebly, of coffee. In rare cases, most frequently in erysipelas of the head, the cervical glands enlarge and make swallowing difficult. A pharyngitis exists in these cases. Under such circumstances only liquid food can be swallowed, and in but small amounts at a time, and it may therefore occasionally be necessary to give nutritive enemata.

In severe cases, food enough to maintain strength cannot be given, but enough can be fed to lessen the rapidity of the loss of flesh and strength.

Erysipelas is one of the diseases in which water is specially needed to dilute noxious matters and aid in eliminating them through the kidneys. If liquids cannot be administered in sufficient quantity by the mouth, the therapeutic saline solution should be given by the rectum or hypodermically. Albuminuria is common, even in mild cases of erysipelas, and nephritis, although of less frequent occurrence, is often observed. This complication is caused partly by toxines generated by the streptococci, which produce the disease, and partly by the products of fermentation in the gastrointestinal tract, as in scarlet fever. Therefore, as in that disease, regular and thorough emptying of the bowels and a milk diet, or one from which as little irritating or poisonous matter will be generated as is possible, is necessary to prevent or to combat albuminuria or nephritis. These complications can be prevented or mitigated in part, by maintaining good elimination by the kidneys, and nothing contributes so much to accomplish this as giving water and milk freely.

During convalescence the same care must be exercised as in most acute fevers. A normal diet must be approached through soft and simply prepared foods. Recovery is so prompt in mild cases that a normal diet may be resumed almost as soon as fever is gone. The quantity of food taken should be moderate.