Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1881-07-15
Fruit.

| Whatever the chemical process that
converts sour fruit to sweet may be, il
forms pleasant and refreshing diet
when eaten in proper quantities at
proper times. 1t exerts Il greater in
| tluence upon the young members of
mankind than upon the mature, because
| the mucous membrane of the food canal
is more susceptible to all influences in
the one than the other, and so seriously
disturbs the health of infancy, even il
taken in very moderate quantities and
at regular intervals of time. 1t does
not possess much nutritious value. Its
per centage of tissuc.making elements
is very small. so that its chief value as
sources of nutrition, must consist of
groups of n-nitrogenous materials, as
starch, cane sugar, grape sugar, gum
and pectine, and all useful elements in
the animal economy. Its acids and
salts correct the bad health induced by
dried meats or those that have been
preserved by common salt and con-
sumed during long period OF time.
In various other ways good, sound fruit,
taken in properquantities and at proper
times, is healthy for all but the young
est members of the human family.
Sta,s, decayng fruits do an immense
amount of harm. Green and over-ripe
fruits are nearly as disastrous to health.
Their cheapness tempts the poor to
purchase them, so that what this class
do not pay in cash they pay in maladies
not easily controlled.
All, but particularly children, who
can get sound, matured fruit should eat
reasonable amount each day aud not
large amount on one day and none
upon the next; but eat it when we may,
the harder sorts need thorough masti-
cation, so that they may be readily and
easily digested. Some fruits contain
free acids that change the condition of
the bowels from cOstiveness to loose
ness-a change that many persons need.
Green and over ripened fruits contain q
large amount of acids, that are restless
and riotous, showing u strong inclina-
ton TO ferment and disturb the waste
canal. They form new chemical asso-
ciates and create more disease and suf-
fering than physicians can always
check. Fruit comes with heat, so that
we are not always sure, in hot seasons
of the year, whether it is heat or an
excessive amount of fruit that invites
much suffering to come aud stay.
We are now prepared to answer the
question often asked, are fruits healthy?
In adults and youth, the proper use of
ripe fruit does conduce to health. An
exclusive diet on fruit cannot meet the
wants of the human body. The amount
of nutrment is very small. The acids
OF mature fruits are not nutritious. but
they correct the bad condition of the
bowels in hot seasons of the year.
They are largely composed of water,
that is often needed to cleanse the food
canal and the various ducts of excre-
tion and thus promote health and
growth. Few, if any, fruits are con-
sumed for their healthy quality. They
are chiefly consumed to crafty the ap-
petite, but never to supply the means
of growth and strength A few fruits,
growing in the torrid zone, may yield
some plastic matter for building up the
tissues. In hot seasons, some acidulous
fruits are cooling and refreshing and so
are useful to all who are under the in
tluence of some inlammatory malady.
To this class of fruits belong grapes
and oranges that the sick, in their last
extremity, may safely take. The great
harm that fruit may do consists in con-
suming much on one day and none
upon the next. The wise and useful
way of consuming fruit is to give a
small amount every day, and avoid
those sorts that do not usually suit. All
changes of diet are attended with some
risk of disturbing the stomachs and
bowels of infants. A mother should
consider the condition of the bowels at
the time when fruit is given and gradu-
ate the quantity accordingly, recollect-
ing that nearly all fruits are somewhat
relaxing to the alimentary canal. Even
infants may have fruit when properly
prepared. Roasted apples may be
protitably given in habitual constipa-
ton. Apples stewed and mingled with
light bread are often useful in the same
condition. Raw apples scraped or
thinly sliced easily digest and benefit
the bowels. Farmer.