def tag_empty_items(list):
    """
    Replace empty strings in list by strings of integers starting with 1.

    Replaces empty string items in the input list by strings of subsequent
    integers starting with '1'. This allows addressing items before and
    after what are originally empty strings easily using the index method
    and specifying the integer.
    """
    i = 1
    for item in list:
        if item == '':
            list[list.index(item)] = str(i)
            i = i+1
    return(list)