The Diet in Typhoid Fever.

Related entries: Typhoid Fever
Other tomes: Thomas

Editor Ellingwood's Therapeutist:

In regard to Dr. Friesen's article in your July number, page 212, on Typhoid Fever, I want to say "Amen" to the medical treatment, but I would differ on the dietetic course. There are those who have a distaste for sweet milk and those with whom it disagrees. In my 33 years of treatment and observation, I find buttermilk better suited to a majority.

Again I have been taught that in this disease there is a deficiency of acids, then why give an antacid every four hours (two ounces of limewater)? In his closing statement he says, "nothing else until the temperature comes down to normal." This has not been my practice and I think I can show average results. I feed them. To be sure I superintend the dietary, but they get fruit (ripe) and fruit juices as well as beef tea. Then when the fever comes down and the case is convalescent, there is not that extreme emaciation, and that ravenous appetite that you often encounter. I have never had a case running from four to eight weeks or more. No wonder they are almost starved if they get but six ounces of milk in 24 hours.

J. J. PICKETT, M. D.

Ellingwood's Therapeutist, Vol. 2, 1908, was edited by Finley Ellingwood M.D.