The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1880-04-16
NUMBER 25.
FARM, GARDEN AND HOUSEHOLD.
Drinks for the Sick.


for fever patients. DIR. II. H. Kane IN
his 'sSick Room" says Thirst is q
very prominent and annoying symptom
of fever, and ono that requires q little
consideration. Plain water. when taken
beyond o certain amount is very
apt to disor der the stomach and bowels,
especially in feYers where much fluid
and but little solid food is taken.
Enough water to queneh the thirst
would certainly be enough in most
cases to disorder the digestion, or rather.
further disorder it, and SO important is
the little that remains of this function
that we cannot afford to abuse it. Small
rieces of ice held in the mouth, and al
lowed to dissolve, sometimes answer
the purpose, but not in the majority of
cases. Up to a certain point, the action
of water taken internally. in fevers. is
excellent; aside from allaying irritation
by quenching thirst, il fushes the kid
neys, carrying off much of the effete
material produced by the high tempera-
ture. 1t has been found that the addi
tion of certain substances to water
greatly increases its power to quench
thirst. This is especially the case with
acids. One drachm of hydrochloric
acid added tc quart OF water will give
desired purpose, while ut the same time,
it adds to its pleasantness, and some-
times relieves nausea The use of acids
in fevers is highly commended by some
authors, and this is, think. the best
way in which to administer them
The same amount of sulphurous acid
may be added to q quart OF water when
the bowels are loose or there is a ten
dency that way. In these cases acidus
lated barley water is pleasant and nour-
ishing. The same may be said of toast
water. In constipation, oatmeal water
may be used In the same manner. 4
few tamarinds added to glass of water
will often assauge thirst and open the
bowels gently.
DIR. Ringer, speaking on this subject,
says: Although, perhaps. not strictly
relevant to our present subject, few
remarks may be made here conveniently
on the drinks best suited to fever pa
tients. To them, thirst is most impor-
tant and distressing, often causing much
restlessness and irritability, these in
their turn often increasing the fever.
The urgent thirst must therefore be al
layed, but if left to themselves to sati-
ate their craving. patients viii always
drink to excess, which is very liable to
tion, produce fatulence and even diar-
rhea. Theory and experience both
show that drinks, made slightly bitter
and somewhat acid, slake thirst most
effectually. A weak infusion of cascar-
lila or orange peel, acidulated slightly
with hydrochloric acid. was, with
Graves, of Dublin. a favorite thirst-al-
laying drink for fever patients. Suck
ing ice is very grateful. Sweet fruits,
although at first agreeable and refresh
ing, must be taken with C. re and mod
Grafton, for they often give rise to q
disagreeable taste. and are apt to pro-
duce fatulence and diarThea.
Carrants ana Their Cultivation.
The first requisite is, not wetness, but
abundant and continuous moisture. Soil
naturally deficient in this, and which
cannot be made drouth- resisting by deep
blowing and cultivation, is not adapted
TO the currant. Because tile currant is
found wild in bogs it does not follow
that il can be grown successfully in un-
drained swamps. 1t will do better in
such places than on cry, gravelly knobs,
OF on thin light soils. but our fine civil
lied varieties need civilized conditions.
Ehe well-drained swamp may become
the very best of curEant fields; and
damp, heavy land that is capable OF
deep, thorough cultivation should be
selected if possible. When such is not
to be had, then by deep plowing- sub
soiling, by abundant mulch around the
plants throughout the summer, and By
occasional waterings in the garden,
counteracting the effects of lightness and
dryness of the soil. skill can go far in
making good natures deficiencies.
Nextto depth of soil and moisture the
currant requires fertility. 1t is justly
called one of the gross feeders, and
is not particular as to the quality of its
Ood so that it is abundant. ] would
still suggest, however, that it be fed ac-
cording to its nature with heavy COM
posts in which muck, leaf-mold. and
the cleanings of the cOw-stable are
largely present. Wood-ashes and bone
meal are also most excellent. II stable
or other light manureS must be used, /
would suggest that they be scattered
literally on the surface in the fall or
early spring, and gradually worked in
by cultivation. Thus used, their light
heating qualities will do no harm, and
they will keep the surface mellow and,
therefore, moist.
The shadowy northern haunts of the
wild currant also suggest that it will
falter and fail under the southern sun,
and this is true. AS we pass through
| the Middle States we find it diff
cult TO make even the hardy white and
red Dutch varieties thrive, and point
is st last reached where the bushes lose
| their leaves in the hot season and die.
From the latitude Of New York south,
| therefore, increasing effort should be
made to supply the currants' constitu.
| tional need by giving partial shade
among pear or widely set apple trees,
or, better still, by planting on the
northern side of fences, buildings, etc.
By giving cool, half-shady exposures in
moist land, the culture of the currant
can be extended far to the South,
especially in the high mountain regions.
Even well to the North it is unprOht-
able when grown On light. thin, poor
land. unless it receives liberal and
skillful culture.-E. r. Roe. IN Scrsb7seT-
Fertilizers FER Potatoes.
AS a general thing / try to avs i'd the
direct application of either manures or
commercial fertilizers for potatoes, be-
lieving they have a tendency to cause
rust or blight on the tops or vines, and
are more or less the cause of either rot
or scab on the tubers. If a piece of land
is not rich enough ! would manure it
with previous crops to get its condition
up to the desired standard. If turf or
clover lot were to be followed with
potatoes ] would spread manure on the
turf in the fall before; or, if it was fall
low or stubble ground. / would SOW rye
or oats in August or first of September,
to plow under as green manuring; or
manuring in the spring much as one
chooses. and plant to corn one year,
followed with potatoes the next, which
makes q very good seed-bed for them.
If manure is to be used directly for the
potato crop, care should be taken that
| It is well rotted before using, which
makes it safer. As for using ashes or
phosphates in the hill when planting
potatoes, one might about as well, as
your correspondent, J D. Tate, says.
put them before hungry swine
seldom use them preferrings as above,
| a previous enriehing of the land; but
when used cover the seed lightly, then
scatter the ashes ever the hill. then
cover all with shovel plow H hes,
Gessesee County, N Z.