For all practical purposes the diarrhoea of catarrhal enteritis may be regarded as merely an exaggeration of the condition (p. 354) already discussed. It is undoubtedly of bacterial origin. It is frequently secondary to and an extension of acute or chronic gastritis. The condition may be acute or chronic. Assistance in framing the appropriate diet may be gained from a study of the stools. They may be very thin and almost colourless; they may be large, pultaccous, and frothy, arising from too much carbohydrate foods; they may be exceedingly offensive, suggesting putrefaction of protein material. In the former instance the carbohydrates are restricted, the diet consisting of egg-white, albumin water, whey, raw-meat juice, Panopeptone, arrowroot made with water, barley water, and weak tea; in the latter we give milk diluted with lime-water, buttermilk, arrowroot made with milk, cornflour, and various cereal preparations. A diet sheet for each of these conditions in its acute stage is appended: -

Diet In Acute Enteritis

Protein diet. 6 a.m. - 2 drams of a meat juice. 8.30 a.m. - 8 ounces whey, with albumin water. 10.30 a.m. - Panopeptone, 1/2 ounce in alkaline water.

1 P.M. - Arrowroot, boiled 15 mins. with water, eaten with cream and 1/2 ounce brandy. 4 P.M. - Albumin water, added to cup of weak tea. 6.30 p.m. - 10 ounces chicken tea, thickened with arrowroot. 9.30 P.M. - Meat essence or jelly.

11 p.m. - Panopeptone.

Carbohydrate Diet

6 a.m. - Milk with lime-water, 10 ounces, 4 to 1.

8.30 a.m. - Benger's food, made with milk.

11 a.m. - Buttermilk, 10 ounces.

1 P.M. - Arrowroot, boiled with milk, flavoured with brandy or cinnamon.

4 P.M. - Tea made with milk; half-slice toast.

6.30 P.M. - Benger's food custard.

11 P.M. - 10 ounces milk, with limewater.

In chronic cases we similarly seek to determine whether the condition arises from a defect in the carbohydrate digestion or in the protein. The experience of the patient will be of value in enabling us to form a correct opinion on this point. Having ascertained this, a diet of a largely protein character or of a largely carbohydrate character is prescribed according to circumstances (see pp. 347, 348).