Therapeutic Application of Bacillus acidophilus. 73 



with a history of the individual cases, and in two instances with 

 X-ray photographs. The subjects comprising the first group 

 under observation may be divided for convenience into the follow- 

 ing classes: 



Chronic constipation with the symptoms of so-called autointoxication and other 



pathological conditions, some of them acute 20 



Chronic diarrhea following an attack of bacillary dysentery 2 



Colitis, at times bloody, and more or less mucous 2 



Sprue 2 



Dermatitis (eczema) 3 



These 29 cases are exclusive of those which have come under 

 our observation within the past two months; nor do they include 

 those which have been and are being studied in other institutions 

 through our cooperation. Brief reference will be made to only a 

 few of these 29 cases. 



The subjects were instructed to bring to the laboratory one or 

 two specimens of stool before taking the acidophilus treatment, 

 and for a while daily samples, when procurable, after the first use 

 of the acidophilus milk or of the milk plus stated amounts of 

 lactose. Bacteriological examinations were made of these speci- 

 mens and the results correlated with the clinical findings. Persons 

 who had been afflicted with chronic constipation usually received 

 one quart of the acidophilus milk plus 100 grams of lactose daily, 

 the powdered lactose being added to the milk in the flask and the 

 contents thoroughly shaken. The subjects were instructed to 

 take the daily supply in three equal portions, and as nearly as 

 possible two hours before or after meals. This schedule was at 

 times varied to suit the particular needs of the cases. There were 

 no restrictions as to diet, but the subjects were urged to refrain from 

 the use of food which by experience or training they knew to be 

 harmful. 



In all of the diarrheal cases (including colitis and sprue) the 

 treatment consisted in the daily administration of from 500 to 

 1 ,000 c.c. of the acidophilus milk without added milk sugar. The 

 milk was well tolerated by the patients. 



Chronic constipation. 

 The first two cases, which had a long history of most obstinate 

 constipation and in whom the symptoms usually accompanying 



