Much of the above on typhoid is from the world-wide authority, Dr. Osler, and should be-followed in all cases if possible.

Diet and Nursing in Typhoid Fever.—­Milk is the most suitable food.  Three pints every twenty-four hours may be given when used alone, diluted with water or lime-water.

The stools will show if the milk is digested.  Peptonized milk, if not distasteful, may be used.  Curds are seen in the stools if too much milk is given and is undigested.  Mutton or chicken broth or beef juice can be used; fresh vegetable juices can be added to these, instead of milk.  The animal broths are not so good when diarrhea is present.  Some patients will take whey, buttermilk, kumiss, when ordinary milk is distasteful.  Thin barley gruel well strained is an excellent food for this disease.  Eggs may be given, either beaten up in milk or better still, in the form of albumin water, This is prepared by straining the whites of eggs through a cloth and mixing them with an equal quantity of water, which may be flavored with lemon.  Water can be given freely; iced tea, barley water, or lemonade may be used, and there is no objection to weak coffee or cocoa in moderate quantities.  Feed the patient at stated intervals.  In mild cases it is well not to arouse the patient at night.  When there is stupor, the patient should be aroused for food at the regular intervals night and day.  Do not give too much food.  I once had a case in which I did not give more than one quart of liquid food in four weeks, as it distressed her.  She made a good recovery on plenty of water.

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Cold Sponging.—­The water may be warm, cool, or ice cold, according to the height of the fever.  A thorough sponge bath should take from fifteen to twenty minutes.  The ice cold sponging is quite as formidable as the full cold bath, for which there is an unsuperable objection in private practice.

The Bath.—­This should be given under the doctor’s directions, and I will not describe it.

Medical Treatment.—­Little medicine is used in hospital practice.  Nursing is the important essential in typhoid fever.

Management of the Convalescent.—­An authority writes, My custom has been not to allow solid food until the temperature has been normal for ten days.  This is, I think, a safe rule, leaning perhaps to the side of extreme caution; but after all with eggs, milk toast, milk puddings, and jellies, the patient can take a fairly varied diet.  You cannot wait too long before you give solid foods, particularly meats, They are especially dangerous.  The patient may be allowed to sit up for a short time about the end of the first week of convalescence, and the period may be prolonged with a gradual return of strength.  He should move about slowly, and when the weather is favorable should be in the open air as much as possible.  Keep from all excitement.  Constipation now should be treated with an enema.  A noticeable diarrhea should restrict the diet to milk and the patient be confined to the bed.  There are many who cannot have a professional nurse.  Good nursing is necessary in typhoid fever.  Any sensible person who is willing to follow directions can do well.  But she must do as the doctor directs.