This is also a very common complaint, and a common effect of constipation. When fecal matter is long retained in the bowels it may cause an irritation and diarrhoea nature's way of relieving herself. This is a frequent source of diarrhoea - the kind that alternates with constipation. Other causes of diarrhoea are indigestion, an excessively acid chyme, poisonous ptomanies in decayed food, nervousness, and disease of other organs.

Acrid and solid substances that resist the disintegrating action of the digestive secretions, often cause diarrhoea. The effect of green apples is well known. Green corn and peas often produce similar results. This is because of the tough cellulose covering that envelops them. Oatmeal causes a few persons to have diarrhoea and large quantities of sweet cider is almost certain to produce it. What causes it in one, may have little or no effect on another, because the intestinal membrane of different persons are not equally sensitive to irritating substances. In case of indigestion, mal-fermentation may cause the intestinal contents to become sufficiently irritating to cause diarrhoea, The diarrhoea resulting from excessive acid chyme usually appears in the night in connection with an attack of gastritis, because the stomach secretes too much acid which irritates the intestines as soon as it passes out of the stomach. In the Summer season, decaying fruit is a prolific source of diarrhoea. The toxic substances such fruit contains, deranges digestion and irritates the mucous membranes. Diarrhoea from nervous causes is not general, although it is said to be a common thing among soldiers before going into battle.

Persons suffering from nervous diseases, may be subject to it, but the ordinary affairs of life do not produce sufficient fright, shock or nervous tension to cause diarrhoea.

With the exception of nervous diarrhoea, there is always offending matter in the intestines that causes it, and nature undertakes to wash it out. The use of opiates and astringents to keep poisonous matter in the system, by checking the diarrhoea is a striking example of the misuse of drugs. People who live properly, will not have diarrhoea, but reason should teach them that offending matter in the bowels must be gotten rid of in some way, and the cause of the original irritation stopped. If the entire intestinal tract could be irrigated, relief would be quick, but as this cannot be done, the next best thing is to wash out the lower bowel and disinfect the upper ones through the stomach. The lives of many children might be saved in this way. Where the discharge is so exhausting as to drain the blood, and cause danger of collapse, inject hypo-dermically luke-warm water to which a little salt has been added. The diet in diarrhoea must be very bland. One of the favorite foods is the flour ball. Take wheat flour and tie in a fine linen or cotton cloth, and then put it in boiling water. Boil eight to ten hours continuously. Flour so treated may then be served with boiled milk.

Some physicians advise that the solid part of the flour ball be peeled off and the remainder again boiled for ten hours. It is certain that the second boiling will do no harm, as flour so treated cannot be cooked too much. Next to the flour ball or in connection with it, meat juice may be used. Broil a thick piece of steak lightly and then express the juice.

Albumen water is also very useful. This consists of the white of raw eggs dissolved in water - the white of one or two eggs to a glass of water is sufficient. A little salt may be added.

Beaten or lightly boiled eggs and milk will meet the needs of the system in diarrhoea. All coarse vegetables, sour fruits, sugar, mushes and salt meats must be left out of the dietary. If constipation be the cause of the diarrhoea, the diet must be adapted to it as soon as the acute symptoms of the diarrhoea have subsided.

Chronic Diarrhoea

This is a disease in which there is chronic inflammation of the intestines. The intestines must be relieved of all the work possible, and digestion performed in the stomach. The diet should be of meat juice and milk, diluted with lime water; eggs and flour ball, for variety. Raspberry and blackberry juice without the seeds may often be employed with good results. Careful attention must be given to general hygiene.

This is a serious inflammation, usually of the large intestines. There is sloughing of the glandular membranes and bloody mucous discharges. Diet similar to diarrhoea.