The faeces of children and adults : their examination and diagnostic significance with indications for treatment / by P.J. Cammidge.

  • Cammidge, P. J. (Percy John), 1872-
Date:
1914
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: The faeces of children and adults : their examination and diagnostic significance with indications for treatment / by P.J. Cammidge. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Leeds Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Leeds Library.

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    food softens the faeces. The absence of fat, or too low a pro- portion Tn the diet, therefore, tends to induce cons ipation, fi e the presence oi a reasonable amount helps to man.tan. the eg^^^^^^^ of the bowels. This fact is of considerable importance ^'^he treatment of constipation, especially ^^^l^--, the first six months of life the fat content of the milk should be raised to about 3 per cent ; by the end of the first year it s^ioulc be increased to about 4 or 4I per cent, which is usually sufficien to prevent constipation. When regurgitation or diarrhoea occurs, it is advisable to reduce the milk fat to i or 2 per cent temporarily The observations of Pawlow and others have shown that fats exert a considerable influence on the secretion of the digestive ]Uices. The inhibitory effect which oils have on the formation of hydro- chloric acid by the stomach is taken advantage of m the treatment of hyperchlorhydria, a drachm or more of olive oil or liquid parathn being given before each meal. The formation of secretin by the duodenal mucous membrane is stimulated by fats, although they are much less active than acids in this respect ; but m cases of pancreatic insufficiency, due to an absence of hydrochloric acid from the stomach, fats maybe used, with acid drinks, to induce the flow of pancreatic juice necessary for digestion. Most English people have a more or less marked constitutional antipathy to fatty foods, and, as the choice of fats that may be added to the diet is somewhat limited, it is not an easy matter readily to increase the amount. Cream, taken with tea, coffee, sweets of various kinds, and in porridge, is one of the least objectionable methods, but it is not well tolerated in all cases. Many people, and particularly those who suffer from indigestion, can take butter in abundance when cream is badly borne. It can be used with bread, or in the melted form with vegetables. Bacon fat is one of the most useful forms of fatty food, but, like mayonnaise, is often not well tolerated by those with gastric disturbances. Salad oil, either alone, or with vinegar as a dressing for lettuce, tomatoes, etc., is a means of raising the fat content of the diet that is to be recommended in the treatment of con- stipation. Cod-liver oil, in the simple form, or as an emulsion, is often well borne when other fats are not tolerated. CARBOHYDRATES. Experiments made by Zuntz and Heinemann have shown that there is little difference in the efficiency of the body as a machine whether carbohydrates or fats are taken, but it is a common experience that muscular fatigue is delayed and more work is