The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1881-11-17
DRINKS.
WHAT AND WHEN FLUID NUTRIMENT
SHOULD BE TAKEN.
NoURIsHING DRINKS.


more nourishment than water, much
might be said. A few statements will
suffice to bring out the most important
points regarding their character and
uses. This class OF drinks is employed
when the largest amount of nourishment
is required with the least efforts on the
part of the digestive organs. Nourish-
ing fluids which undergo very little
change in the stomach, but are simply
absorbed and go at once to supply tho
materials for the repair of tissue, are
types of this class. Under this head
there is such variety used that it APP
pears necessary to specialize a little
more. To make this clear three
subdivisions may be made: First, those
digestion, such as water, saline and sac
charine solutions, and some Of the ami
NAL extracts; second, such as require
very elaborate digestion, which takes
place slowly, milk for example. and
third, those which undergo changes by
digestion, but do so very rapidly and
with very little effort on the part of the
digestive organs, whey-serum OF milk
-buttermilk, clear soups and some OF
the gruels. The first of this division
should be used when patient has
thirst without hunger and is unable to
digest the more highly nutritious drinks.
In fevers attended with great disorder OF
the digestive organs, life may be sus-
tanned for a long time and the comfort
of the patient greatly increased by using
this kind of drink, while very great
harm might be done by giving some OF
the more nutritious drinks which require
.:..1 "a. oh o,,1 l.
used in the same conditions mentioned
above US soon as the digestive organs
will tolerate them. The second class an
swers we'll when the patient has the abil-
ity to digest food, but has no appetite,
no ability to masticate and insa)ivate
solid food. Such conditions often are
seen in disease. Take typhoid fever.
for example, The patients will refuse
solid food altogether. They can.
not masticate or swallow 1t, and
still they will take milk and other nutri-
tious drinks, and digest them. The
adaptation of the various kinds to the
sick demands the skill of the physic ian,
and should not be trusted to the nurse
or ordinary attendant. At one time 1t
may be necessary to give carbonaceoas
nourishment to sustain the nervous sys-
tenn IN order to carry the patient through
some exhausting stage OF an acnte DIS
ease, while Mt another the gradual sup
ply of tissue may be the object desired.
The engineer uses the most combustlble
material when he wishes to get up steam
rapidly to carry his locomotive up nil,
while u slow, steady fire is all that IS re-
quired 10 drive the engine upon level
ground. So it is in giving drinks to the
1,y ~ y WI AthnP
it is necessary to sustain the vital or
nerve forces during the work immedi-
ately on hand, or to supply tissue to-day
for the work of tomorrow, and then
adapt the nourishment accordingly.
STIMULATING DRINKS.
This brings us to the second class
stimulants, the action of which is to in
crease vital action and prevent the waste
of tissue. There has been much learned
discussion among the doctors OF medi-
cine regarding the questions whether
stimulants produce vital energy or force
or simply bring into acton that which
exists in latent state, and whether aico-
hol 1.-THE essential element of most stimu-
lants) supplies new material for the It's
sues or only retards the waste OF tissue.
These questions lie upon the outer
boundary line of our present field OF in
quiry, and fortunately. their solution is
not absolutely necessary to the object IN
view. It is we'll known that stimulants
help to sustain the organization under
extraordinary taxation, either from labor
or disease, and that the feeble in health
and those who are sick are sometimes
enabled to accomplish more than they
otherwise could by the aid OF stimulating
drinks. Those who are in health and
live under favorable conditions Of life do
not require stimulants; on the contrary,
they are directly injured by their use;
but under the circumstances named
above stimulants are the most valuable
and potential agents at the command OF
the physician. They are, however. the
most liable of all drinks to be abused,
and therefore they ought to be used with
care, and with clear understanding OF
their effects. A few hints regarding these
points will serve rs an outline guide to
the use of stimnlants. They should never
be nsed in health except a. luxury; they
should only be given to accomplish that
which cannot be attained by food and
rest; they should be regulated in guam
tity when given to bring the strength
and activity up to or toward the stand
ard of health; care should be taken not
10 produce over excitement by stimu-