In eczema, as in all skin diseases, a correct diet plays the most important part in the cure. The stomach must be kept in good condition, the bowels regular. If the patient is anaemic, give white of egg shaken with milk, between meals, every other day; buttermilk or koumys the alternate days. Meat should be avoided, but eggs and milk used freely. Thorough mastication is of utmost importance.

If the patient is obese, treatment for the obese must be followed. Give plenty of pure soft water between meals, and keep the skin in good active condition by careful bathing with soft water and neutral soap.

May Eat

Soups made from milk and green vegetables Ladies' cabbage Spinach

Carefully-cooked peas Stewed cucumbers Summer squash Carrots, carefully cooked Whole wheat bread, without lard Unleavened bread Zweiback Crackers

Occasionally brown bread Modified milk Cream of Wheat Farina

Shredded wheat Chicken, mutton

Toasted corn flakes, fruit juices

Butter, in moderation

Baked apples

Stewed apples, with very little sugar Grapes Fruit juices Skimmed milk Buttermilk Koumys Leban Clabber Schmierkase Eggs, occasionally Lettuce, cress, and light green vegetables, with a little olive oil and lemon juice

Avoid

Tea, coffee, chocolate and cocoa

Fats in excess

Sweets

Pastries, cakes and puddings

Starchy foods

Pickles

Fried foods

Food containing lard

Salt foods

Liquors, both malt and alcoholic

Cambric tea

All highly-seasoned foods

Underground and coarse vegetables

All fish, the crustacea, oysters and clams

Pork

Veal

Small fruits, with the exception of blackberries

Pears

Cantaloupes

Eczema In Children

A large number of cases of eczema occurring among children of the middle classes is due to defective nutrition; unsuitability of foods, bad cooking and hurried breakfast. Children who are allowed to remain in bed to the very last minute, and then rush through breakfast and off to school, ruin their digestion at an early age. Such children frequently have boils; if not, their skin becomes rough, the face covered with pimples, and the kidneys are more or less involved.

Fruits should be used freely in the morning, stewed without sugar, or raw. If the luncheon is carried to school, give nut butters with bread, and a bottle of milk, or give whole wheat or brown bread sandwiches, and fruit, or nut bread sandwiches and fruit. The yolk of hard-boiled egg may now and then be grated over the bread and butter. They should drink plenty of water between meals. Such children should avoid at all times candies, sweets, meats, especially pork and veal, all rich dishes and meat soups, tea, coffee and chocolate. The bulk of their diet should be composed of milk and milk soups, puree of nuts, puree of green peas and spinach, tender green vegetables, fruits, eggs and whole wheat bread, well buttered.