said that even when served without cheese
spaghetti and macaroni are constipating. Rice in the ordinary polished
form, as usually sold, is practically a pure starch and should be
avoided. The same applies to tapioca, sago and foods of this
character. Needless to say white crackers, cookies and cakes are to be
classed with white bread. One should use brown sugar in place of white
wherever possible, or use the pure New Orleans molasses. It is often
difficult to secure this, however, inasmuch as most of the molasses on
the market is made up chiefly of glucose or corn syrup, and often
contains harmful chemical preservatives. It is best to avoid sugar
altogether and to use honey for all purposes of sweetening, as honey is
less inclined to fermentation.

Milk in some cases is inclined to produce constipation when used in
connection with the ordinary diet. An exclusive and full diet of milk,
is rarely constipating except during the first few days of the diet, but
when milk is added to the ordinary foods, it frequently has a tendency
in this direction. Buttermilk or fermented milk can often be used to
advantage if sweet milk should prove constipating to the patient.

Muscular weakness and defective circulation are prominent causes of
constipation in many cases. This accounts for this disorder being found
so frequently among sedentary workers. Inactivity, the cause of many
ills, is particularly prominent in contributing to this trouble.
Therefore muscular exercise is perhaps a most effective means of
permanently remedying constipation. Exercise has a direct mechanical
influence upon the entire alimentary canal. The contraction of the
abdominal muscles and the bending or other movements of the trunk of the
body produce a certain amount of movement in and pressure upon the
digestive organs in a direct mechanical way. Walking, for instance, is
of extraordinary value in remedying this difficulty because of its
stimulating influence upon the entire functional system, and the slight
jar of each step without doubt has a direct mechanical effect. Walking
furthermore is a tremendous factor in the building of vitality and this
helps indirectly in remedying constipation.

But there are also various special exercises that particularly affect
the alimentary canal. Bending forward and backward and from side to
side and also various twisting movements of the trunk have a special
influence in this direction. They actual