The general rules are the same as for the diseases of the stomach. Acute disturbances must be treated on the principle of rest, permitting only liquid and semi-liquid foods in small or moderate quantities. As a rule, everything should be served warm. In acute enteritis coffee, cold drinks, acid lemonades, and all fruit juices should be strictly forbidden. In acute appendicitis, intestinal obstruction, etc., either no food at all or very small quantities of liquid food (white-of-egg water, milk mixed with strained gruels, bouillon, weak tea) should be administered.

1 Cited from Munk and Ufflemann, I. c., p. 480.

In chronic affections of the intestines it will be necessary to provide for a sufficient nutrition. In organic affections (stricture, cancer of the intestines) an enteroenterostomy should be performed, in order to allow adequate nutrition. But before this operation is undertaken, or if the latter be not feasible, liquid nourishment and small amounts of tender meat, also raw or very soft-boiled eggs with butter, will be permissible. Foods having considerable residues of undigested material must be forbidden.

In chronic enteritis and all functional disorders of the bowel, ample nutrition and training this organ to do its proper work should be the aim of treatment. In conditions accompanied by diarrhoea, fruits, salads, cold drinks, and highly spiced foods should be interdicted. Otherwise there should be no restrictions in the diet.

In affections of the bowel with constipation, the so-called "laxative" foods (fruits, salads, green vegetables, brown bread, whole-wheat bread, Boston brown bread, etc.) play an important part in the diet. The patient must be encouraged to eat ordinary foods and to partake liberally of the articles just mentioned.