Page:Collier's New Encyclopedia v. 03.djvu/405

DIARY 3S1 DIAK quently diarrhoea results from unwhole- some or indigestible food or drink, or from, excessive indulgence even in what would otherwise not be hurtful. In all such cases the diarrhoea is to be regarded as beneficial; in fact, it is the natural effort of the intestines to rid themselves of their objectionable contents, and till this is accomplished should be encour- aged rather than arrested. Treatment. — In the treatment of diar- rhoea all irritating contents of the intes- tinal canal should first be removed by a gentle laxative, such as castor oil. This simple remedy is safe and efficient, and, when well mixed with an equal quantity of glycerine and a few drops of oil of checkerberry, can be taken very easily even by children. One teaspoonful of such a mixture is often quite sufficient in itself to effect a cure. Castor oil and aromatic syrup of rhubarb in equal parts can be given to infants in teaspoonful doses at the outset of an attack of diar- rhoea vith advantage. A teaspoonful or two of Epsom salts taken in plain soda is also very useful in adults for this pur- pose. In all attacks of diarrhoea quiet and rest in a horizontal position is very desirable, with warmth to the feet and also to the abdomen. The simplest pos- sible diet is desirable. Warm milk ster- ilized or boiled and perhaps thickened with flour, with stale bread toasted, is usually the best diet till the diarrhoea is entirely well. Other gruels made with milk, like arrowroot or barley, may be safely used. DIABY, a daily record of events or observations made by an individual. Diaries have often furnished the his- torian with invaluable material, supply- ing the absence of public records, and furnishing minute and intimate details of manners and of motives that do far more to help us to understand the past than more formal records. Such documents as Robert Baillie's "Journals," the "Diaries" of Pepys and Evelyn, and the "Journals" of Greville are among the most valuable sources of real history. DIAS. See Diaz. DIASTASE, a substance existing in barley, oats, and potatoes, but only after germination. When in solution it pos- sesses the property of causing fecula or starch to break up at the temperature of 150° P., transforming it first into dex- trine and then into sugar. It is obtained by digesting in a mixture of three parts of water and one of alcohol, at a temper- ature of 113° F., a certain quantity of germinated barley ground and dried in the open air, and then putting the whole under pressure and filtering it. Dia- stase is solid, white, and soluble in water and diluted alcohol, but insoluble in strong alcohol. DIATHESIS, in medicine, a certain general habit or constitution of body as predisposing to certain diseases. DIATOMS, an order of microscopic plants usually referred to the class Algae. There are more than 4,000 distinct spe- cies scattered over all parts of the world. The walls of the cells are rendered hard by silica and they are reproduced by fission, the splitting taking place parallel to the longer axis. When the protoplasm escapes the cell walls retain their shapes and delicate markings. Enormous quan- tities of them are found as fossils in the beds of the Tertiary formation. Often the protoplasm of two diatoms will es- cape and unite to foi'm a zygospore, which after a time will divide into two, eaA forming a new cell larger than be- fore. Some diatoms are free and move rapidly through the water ; others secrete a mucilaginous substance whereby they attach themselves to various objects. In some cases the diatoms, after splitting, remain attached to one another, forming bands or ribbons. They are classified, according to the structure of the cell walls, three main families being recog- nized, according as they have on the prin- cipal face of the wall a distinct ridge (Raphidiea;) , an indistinct or false ridge (Pseudoraphidiex) , or no ridge at all (Araphidiese or (Jryptoraphidiese) . DIATONIC, a term used in the science of music, orignally from the Greek, meaning "by-tones," or "from tone to tone." The diatonic species of the an- cient Greeks — as distinguished from their chromatic and enharmonic species — formed the foundation of their whole syst':^m of music, and was arranged in tetra-chords (embryo scales) composed of one semi-tone and two whole tones. In modern music, the term is applied to (1) the natural or normal scale, major or minor, which proceeds mainly by whole tones; (2) the different species of intrr- vals (usually reckoned as 14 in number) occurring between the various notes of that scale; and (3) music written wholly or for the most part in that scale. DIAZ, AMANDO, an Italian general. He was born in 1861, and was educated at the Military College, Turin. He served in the Libyan War and won dis- tinction in the World War. Follow- ing the great Italian retreat from the Isonzo river in October and November, 1917, General Diaz was appointed to succeed as commander-in-chief General Cadorna who, after being removed, was made one of the members of the general staff created by tlie Supreme War