rm of a vegetable or animal nature.

TREATMENT. In the treatment of these diseases, one should first endeavor
to ascertain the cause of the trouble, and then, if possible, effect its
removal. Attention should be given to the hygienic surroundings of the
individual afflicted; if he reside in a miasmatic district, or in a
location in which the atmosphere is contaminated by the decomposition of
animal or vegetable matter, or filled with noxious gases, his abode
should be changed. A pure, dry air is most beneficial in these cases.

Only the least irritating and most easily digestible articles of food
should be taken. Healthy cow's milk is slightly alkaline, but that of
cows fed on slops is usually acid, and unfit for infants. It is,
therefore, well to test all milk with blue litmus paper before feeding
it to young children. If found to be strongly acid, that is if it turns
the paper red, it should be rejected, but if only slightly so,
sufficient lime water may be added to render it slightly alkaline. For
adults and older children, the diet should consist of such starchy foods
as arrow-root, sago, corn starch, and rice, and of ripe grapes, freed
from the skins and seeds, peaches, and boiled milk, or milk and lime
water. In some cases the animal broths are beneficial, especially mutton
broth. To quench the thirst, crust coffee, rice coffee, and lemonade, in
small quantities, may be taken.

Rest is important in these diseases. In severe cases, the patient should
be kept in bed.

At the onset of an attack of diarrhea or dysentery, if there be reason
to believe that the intestinal tract contains irritating matter, a dose
of castor oil, with a few drops of anise oil added to render it
palatable, should be administered. After all irritating ingesta have
been removed, Dr. Pierce's Compound Extract of Smart-weed should be
given in doses proportionate to the age of the patient, and the severity
of the case. Being composed of the extract of smart-weed, or water
pepper, Jamaica ginger, camphor, and genuine French grape brandy, it
exerts a most wonderful effect not only in those diseases but in cholera
morbus and intestinal colic. It allays the irritation and inflammation
of the affected mucous surfaces, and soothes the nervous system. In the
great majority of cases, the above course of treatment will be found
sufficient, but in the more severe forms of these diseases additional
remedies may be required.

In dysentery, accompanied