The daily gazette., 1881-07-11
s.KOUMIss."

The Peculiar Beverage Prescribed
for tho President.
A medicinal beverage hitherto com.
paratively unknown Outside Of medical
circles in this country has been employed
In alleviating the thirst Of the sick presi-
dent since Tuesday morning. On the
preceding afternoon Mr.. George /. Nc
kelway, the apothecary of Chestnut
street above Broad, Philadelphia, re-
ceived telegram from the White House
signed by DR.. Hawkes., tutor to the pres
ident's children, inquirlng whether hc
could furnish a supply of "Koumiss" for
Mr.. Garfield's use. A reply In the
affirmative was followed by telegram
from Colonel Rockwell, requesting that
a quantity of the beverage should bs
sent at once. Accordingly special
messenger was sent to Washington With
five quart bottles solidly packed In ice,
and a Telegram conveying the thanks ol
the physicians was received from Col.
Rockwell. In Tsrtary where "Koumiss'
is the favorite beverage of the natives, II
is made from mares milk. This article,
however, not being obtainable here
abouts, ordinary cows milk takes Its
place. It is fermented by the aid of
yeast and sugar highly charged with
carb nc acid gas, and then bottled for
use. Three days are required TO bring
it to proper stage OF fermentation. II
Is very agreeable drink, having q
slightly acid taste, and contains from 8
to 4 per cent. Of alcohol and TO per
cent. OF tactic acid. If exposed for short
time to the air It becomes sour and unfit
for use. It differs from whey In con-
tanning nutritive constituents of milk,
and from milk itself that 1t Is an effer-
vescing alcoholic 6uid.
Between twenty-five and thirty quarts
Of the beverage are daily sent out Of tho
Chestnut street laboratory on physicians
prescriptions. Before Mr.. McKelway
learned the secret Of Its preparation 1t
was made exclusively by q Russian,
whose fixed price was 81 per quart. At
the present time three bottles are OBJ
talnable at that figure. The merits and
effects of "Koumiss" have been closely
tested and studied by many prominent
medical men In Philadelphia, among
them being DR.. VIM. Pepper, provost Of
tho university, DR.. Bartholow and DR..
Hollingsworth Neill. DR.. Pepper in
stances case OF sailor who was q
patient In the university hospital suffer-
ing from polyuria. At the time Of his
dismlssion he passed ten pints Of urine
day. He was rut on an exclusive diet
Of ssKoumiss," one quart being gwen
every twenty-four hours, and In seven
days the urine had disminlshed 10 ono
pint eleven ounces and the patient was
able 10 take solid food. DR.. Bartholow,
who says that 1t possesses great valuo'in
the treatment Of phthisis, chronic
bronchitis, low stages OF fever, and all
adynamic states In which the combined
effects Of alcohol and nutrients are dc,
sirable, quotes Jagielsky, an eminent
Russian physician 90 saying that he
chad patients gain as much as ten
pounds month when no other food was
taken." The value of The beverage to
the president lies In the fact that, while
In his present condition he cannot digest
milk for which he has craving, he is
able to take "Koumiss," which answers
every purpose Vi the physicians With
perfect success, while It aliaYs the thirst
much better than milk. 1t also has
beneficial effect upon the liver and kid
neys.