Useful Cathartics - A Series of Article on the Use and Abuses of Cathartics with Suggestive Formulas and Recipes

In this review of "Useful Cathartics", published under the auspices of the American Medical Association, Fantus presents the alternatives in a reasonable way. The ""back to nature"" cry of the faddist, he writes, need not lead us to the habitual admixture of sawdust, bran or similar substances to our food. When, however, there is constipation, the question whether increase in cellulose is indicated is important. Unless the patient is of the type characterized by excessive digestion of cellulose, with flatulence, and unless the patient suffers from gastric motor insufficiency or intestinal stenosis, cellulose in the diet should be favored. There are three forms in which cellulose may be added to the diet: fruits, vegetables and bran. Of these, Fantus concludes, bran is the richest in cellulose and is one of the most effective prophylactics of constipation.
In view of this it becomes important to ascertain more precisely what the potent components responsible for the laxative efficacy of bran actually may be.