General diets for illness (see below) need careful adjustment for different individuals. A body incapacitated by illness usually needs foods it can easily digest. Some foods especially needed in illness often require special preparation to make them digest; milk may.

Liquid diet is usual in acute disease. It is advisable whenever a patient is in bed, and in the late afternoon for all not well. It consists of Water, milk, whey, barley-water, gruel, beef-juice, broth, egg-white.

Light diet is used whenever substantial food is needed without exacting the exertion necessary to digest usual solid food. It consists of Eggs (soft), milk toast, milk soups, broths (seasoned), beef (scraped), oysters, chicken, simple puddings (as soft custards, tapioca), jellies of gelatin, digestible fruits.

Convalescent diet is varied with the disease, so needs to be prescribed by the physician. Few and digestible foods need to be given, in small quantities but frequently. This consists of Eggs, oysters, clams, meats (tender), fish (fresh), readily digested vegetables (as potato baked, rice), bread (well-baked), fruits (fresh and cooked), milk.

Laxative Foods (See P. 45) Water In Illness (See P. 206).

Diarrhea Diet

Thoroughly cooked spinach, turnip greens, or mustard tops. One tablespoonful or more 4 times daily for 1-2 weeks, then with breakfast and luncheon for several weeks after return to regular diet. (Preferably no other food, but if any only little dry toast or corn bread.) Persons suffering from diarrhea are very sensitive to cold, even to cold food (Wilson).

Food Intoxication

When food is not digesting (causing eruption, etc).

Avoid

Sweets, fats, eggs, raw fruits (especially oranges), strawberries, rhubarb, tomatoes, salads, shell-fish, tea, coffee, pastry, gravies, butter, cream, cod-liver oil, eggs even in cooked foods.

Allow

Milk (skimmed), beef, mutton, fowl, fish in moderation, cereals, bread, and all vegetables not excluded above, cooked fruits, thick soups. (If cereal is sweetened, saccharin should be used instead of cane sugar).

Digestibility of Foods (see p. 218).