Nourishment. 
Prohibit all nourishment for the first three or four days. The 
patient is able to do without any food, and his stomach obtains the 
needed rest. Some doctors give small quantities of milk, but it only 
increases the tendency to nausea, and is almost invariably vomited. 
Alkaline drinks. 
Vichy, source Celestins, is universally used for quenching the 
thirst of the patient It is an excellent alkaline diuretic water, and is 
readily taken. Because of the burning thirst the patient will be eager 
to consume large quantities of this water, and he should be encouraged 
to drink three to four litres daily. He is liable to drink to excess and 
over-distend his stomach, causing vomiting. It is thereiore advisable 
that he should be given definite quantities at regular intervals; a cock¬ 
tail glassful every quarter of an hour should be offered him; this he 
can sip or drink at once. Should he lall asleep and miss part ot the 
allowance larger quantities should be given on his awakening. The 
great aim being that at least three litres should be imbibed daily. 
The amount of urine increases at once, the kidneys are well flushed, 
and the acidity of the stomach corrected. 1 he Vichy can be given 
iced or at room temperature. You will find the majority of patients 
prefer Vichy as cold as possible. A few patients dislike Vichy, and 
in that case Apollinaris, Mattoni, or any other carbonated alkaline 
water can be substituted. If the water is very gaseous, it is advisable 
to allow some of the gas to escape in order to prevent much gas being 
retained in the stomach, inducing eructations and possibly hiccough. 
In the absence of Vichy or other alkaline water, you can alkalinize the 
ordinary drinking water with bicarbonate of sodium. Some doctors 
use the juice of fresh limes mixed with potassium bicarbonate to 
render the drink neutral. Occasionally this can be given in 
first forty-eight hours, but the alkaline water does not upset 
stomach, and larger quantities are drunk, which is what we aim 
Venesection. 
As a rule this mode of treatment is not necessary, but ' y 
plethoric subjects are considerably eased by the removal 
1 50 c.c. blood. 1 have had patients implore me to repeat the ven 
In the past, patients were almost exsanguinated, hence 
