, 1876-04-08
IIOtJSEI1EE


"a thr Editor NJ Th> Ghte4co 1rfta"e: ~
CI11cAoo, April 7.-II,s subject Of sulsablo
dietary tor tle invalid las. unfortunately. In the
past, boon left 10 tho consideration Of unedu.
Gated potsons, mon an.l women ignorant Of tho
scientific method, lobbyirta, who, catching
glimpse Of so.ne truth, aTo mado 1t tho bAhlB Of
crutlc and irrational kpeculattons. Ahsutl theo-
rcy and fantastic notiona; and ,llcse, cryssalIIz.
iug ,uto tstos for practice, havo lsd 10 vast
deal Of n,faclIiof. 1t Is, 1 think, homaa
what 10 tho discsudt of tho medical
n,ofcasiou that II haa allowed the
!tatructfon ol tho poop!n to fall Into theHs
iucn,npeto:st and misleading hands, Excuacs,
however, ARC not wanting. And ono Of tho most
potopt OF these in the fact that until within q |
very fes yoars 10 iltsto has been certainly known
Of tho complex ptocosaes by Which tile hudy il
eus.stnotl, Tho action of tho machinery waa
ptotty vol unlerstood.--thc occult forces thai
n,a!nta,nol 1t uero sttlI myaterIea.
But scenco has lately maae wonderful strides.
Physiological experiment mud pathological OH
seryat,on arc fast clearing away tho darkuess,
and no may now hopefully look for
ward 10 \ comparatively comp!ose aud |
perfect knowledge, and AZ this IL Grad-
ua,v attatncd no shall Fec moro aud |
moro tho important part which proper nu- |
triton plsys IN tho prevention aud cnrn Of |
diseases. afal-ln..rltton In a. the bottom 0f |
most Of our phyhicxl woes. When we know
hu" to amend this NC have tho aec'et In otir
hatlls. .. ...
This muc.. by way Of .enuhaHizins tue i'm
portauco OF our subject. III regard to practical
details. pctaps Tho host ttilg to to and IL that
t1e tastes aid idiuByncrasiea Of slc patient
should. 20 u certain c1tont. always bo consulted
II sometimes happens tnat tho instructive cIAy.
lpg for particular articles Of foo'l IL bcster
guido than theory, even though that theory bo
| Justified by experiment. but thcHo caAeH a1S
| exceptional. and tue general rule IL that
| III scuto attacks OF illness tho diok Bhuu1d 10
| light and uus!iulu!atins. While tho character
OF tho d.soaaa Is tt,!i undetermined abstinence iB
alwnys pfudous and u few days NAV shos i tu
| hayo been tho only aafu coutac. Even abRciuts
| fasting for aAort time may aonle.in,ca 10 II
be,let. "BtonancBs " aud saa|airs will, In
Mu1sisudes Of casea, yield to rest anil bccf-tea,
| aud the lcaat possible me!lchtson.
| Those grave diseases IN WHICH abundant nutri
tson IL from the htart an essential element III the
| treatmout nte apParetle exceptions. yot, oven In
these cxsrB. abat,ncnce would probably do lees
lartn thai, tho Usual indiscritnDatu eatspg Here
tbs ondeayor ts to support tho BYstanl by nutri-
ton (an other lneane), under the terrible dralu
| upon it, and tho demand is for all The nourlsll-
| 1nent tint can DO ak1lnlllatel. 10 otnuch dcptn1s
upon tllis thr. Ut the treatment that tie advice
of tic phynclan shuu1 be c!ose!v followed. MID
IL nppctita and dIgcaEion arc waiting tl.n iac-
E,,iiy Ut tho uurau nIand bo taxed 10 tue uttnuht
70 Induce tho patient to taAo aud o,iabe him TO
t]iceBt tho food upo, which bis l1fo dcpet,.3s
Thoro is room for all tho TACT aud Judgment that
ono il 70 fortunate an to poasoss, ahd the ab-
Hcnco Of tl,cso too otteu tnsnrts the offostH of
! tho nl,yBclau and turns the Bcalo tho T1oug
way.
iu providing for invalil4 suffering from vast
ing. cl,rcn.c dlBeases, Gnp"eage ol isw pi2n
physiological principles aud well asce1 saincd hcts
III regard to digestion 1t essential. physiolosHtH
liyidu tue tiliIertnt kluds OF food uso Two
CLASSES, ti!o heterogeneous and ncu-NitroEcnouH.
Or tho NltrocenuuB nlbuuen. Bcen III the
shi.o Of oeea, tho gluten II wheat. nnd tho
caBclIle or cUrd Of milli $40 familiar examples.
THIS a!asn Il concorued chithy in tho Nutrition
Of tho slhsueB. q! tho heterogeneous NC may
taotton starch, Hugar, oils aud fats Bai.no Glat-
tern. such common salt, mud water. Ihcso,
Lcssdes Ueiug iiutraIt a,e coLcHrued ~ tho p1o-
duet!ou OF tho heat VI tho body. A!bntnei III
abundant in anl,a! food we'll ~ III vegata-
b!cs vi! ia found III nhixs and III ultton-chopa
| you get sag4r Ahd ea!is aud wafer In posches aui
III milk.
Tho body noels the ons rs nuct, ~ 1t does tho
otilcr. The carbon u tho lat and sugar ars
wuutcd fer tho generation Of heat ~ much ny
) tho altnn>sn for tho nuarslmont OF tho blood
aud repair vi the tlAsues.
1t wona seem, therefore. .hat mixed dict is
tie tn3st proper for nat1, aud expef1'"ists upon
those OF tho lowor anMEis whnBa organizations
must resemble onr own have shovn tliat this IL
) tho .acL tho Fogstarans to the contrary not
] withs!an1tnG.
Nos. l,oW ale theAe matters appropriated by
tho Hysttms
Tho n,ttogouous priuctp1oa unlarso digestion
In the stomach hy the action Of tue Eantrlc juice
l NeslN
upon by tho Intestinal tlti"ta. ...-.--.
Starch 1u!,as tirst Lo ina1n soluble tly conyer-
sion into Hugar. This process is begun during
| ,uastica.iou by the actlou Of tho saliva; it II
SUSPENDED in tho stomach. nnd resumed AnC
completed In tLo stnall iutcntlns4.
The glands "lich eecrete Ealva arc unasvnt
oped III infancy. Until afterthe hsc Of Aonth'
= no snliyA IN apprccabLo quantity Ii secruted. II
tacn tue laby Ii fed nilh atarc!,--corn-stuych
! maizena, arrow-Eoot, flour rorrislge eic., tht
: whole onu. Of digestion in thrown upon Tue i'll
teBtines. Ttis error III Dict ID undoubtedly large
", ono might almost say cAieiy Responsible
for tlln intestinal derarEoucnts Of infants renrec
hy hand. II the baby IL aroady suffering frot
4taFFhca how nch moro serious iH tue erft'r afit
!. wl,io tlo. origlusi CAUSE Ia still operative
Nor in tho intestinal troub'ea Of adt!ta eau such
n q dict be otherwise than iuInriouH. have "
! doubt tnnt arrangements IT this Kind, which
; ,lp for weeks by tue consinnal supply Of rtarcl,l
! foods, thus porpatually ienewins tue action u
Il tho disturbing cauBc
= Fluids, as Tho ,qud par. OF grrlo's aud soups
, arc quickly absorbed III tlle btonact. but H.
son,o rasea tue abaorbout~ fail TO uct,~shora Il
); M indigestion Of luid., and solid food a.rees
y better. 1n such casea wa would not insist upot
. gluol ls ordinarily digcstol with easo.
=. 1t should also be remembered that for ysFiou'
!. ToRAonR what s acceptable 10 oi'e patient may bt
. quito unn: for Auo.tlor. II no known ioosyncta
. CLOS exit, tbo genera! rules may be safely fol
o lowed. II thnre iH auJ popularity IN tho cAHe
= experiment ia the only proper guido.
A few osAential points, then. aro TO be borne II
q. | mind:
y That tho food should bs Of suitable quality
. adAptod to tho patient.
!. That 1t should bo prepared in the boat man
y | nor.
That It should be taken slowly.
j. Tlltt neither food nor drink should be 10 colt
= = ~ to lover tha Temperature Of the stomach be
=. low tho p0tnt necessary for digestion.
. TlIat it should not bo accompanied with dEin
| In n,.ch largo quantities as to Hn1uly dnta th
10 tgestIy6 lluidn, aud thus impair their quality.
y THAT it should bs supplied 1t suitable !nter
. valH.
A. THO fow considerations aaggtstod Rbors Ar
seaEeA to ne. upon Eei!eciioA, necessary it ot
~ ~ dor 10 do 5ustlcc 10 our subject. II to som
u! they supertluonB. !, may bu that 0thers Who's
opportunities hayo bssn fewrr may lind thei
~ useful.
" Tho discussion OF tho methods OF rrepsEin
10 light Diet, delayed for thu purpose ahoye i'is
GATED. w'lI, NTH the EDITORS permission, 10 IL