FECES 231 



charcoal or carmine (page 227) should be used in differentiating 

 fasting feces. 



In recent years the examination of feces for evidences of parasitism 

 (detection of parasites and their ova) has taken on an added importance. 

 The investigation of the hookworm has been particularly developed. 

 (For methods and discussion see Bulletin 135, Bureau of Animal Indus- 

 try, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1911, M. C. Hall.) 



For diagnostic purposes the macroscopical and microscopical exami- 

 nations of the feces ordinarily yield much more satisfactory data than 

 are secured from its chemical examination. Possibly with the excep- 

 tion of certain examinations for occult blood, the most satisfactory data 

 for diagnostic purposes are secured by microscopical examination. 

 This presupposes a knowledge of microscopical technic and the use of 

 certain microchemical tests, by which much information can be ob- 

 tained. The principle underlying this examination consists in the study 

 of the actual changes which the various food-stuffs have undergone dur- 

 ing digestion. A knowledge of the changes which occur in normal diges- 

 tion and which are seen in normal feces enables one to readily detect 

 pathological variations. One diet widely used for this purpose is the 

 Schmidt diet which is given below. The modification 1 described is 

 better adapted to American conditions 



The Schmidt intestinal diet is as follows : 



In the morning: 0.5 liter of milk, or if milk does not agree 0.5 liter 

 of cocoa (prepared from 20 grams of cocoa powder, 10 grams sugar, 

 400 grams water, and 100 grams milk) . To this add 50 grams zwiebach. 



In the forenoon: 0.5 liter oatmeal gruel (made from 40 grams oat- 

 meal), 10 grams butter, 100 grams milk, 300 grams water, i egg strained. 



At noon: 125 grams of chopped beef (raw weight) broiled rare with 

 20 grams of butter, so that the interior will remain raw. To this add 

 250 grams potato broth (made of 190 grams mashed potatoes, 100 grams 

 milk, 10 grams of butter). 



In the afternoon: as in the morning. 



In the evening: as in the forenoon. 



This diet necessitates five meals a day especially prepared and does 

 not follow the average American dietary. In simple microscopical 

 examinations for food digestion, the following diet as more closely 

 approximating the ordinary dietary regime is suggested. Should 

 chemical determinations for fat be desired all fat containing foods can 

 be eliminated except those in which its specific content is known and a 

 measured amount of fat given. The feces can then be separated by 

 means of carmine. 



1 Used by Dr. Rehfuss at Jefferson Hospital. 



