The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1884-02-23
DIET IN DISEASE.
What q Medical Man Says on the
Subject.

Subject.
In considering the question Of food
suita BILE for diseased body, one mus
remember that the whole body is debil-
itated in illness, and that the stomach
partakes of the general weakness, even
II, as frequently the case, it does not
suffer specially, As the stomach is Of
ten our mainstay in cases OF prolonged
disease, it is very important that every
attention should be given it, so that it
may be kept as efficient as possible and
may not fail us in the hour of our ne
cessity. 1t would strike any one as OBJ
vious that the very lightest of foods
should be taken at these times, and
that the stomach should not simply not
be overburdened, but should be placed
as much at rest as the physical require
ments of the patient will allow. But
this is not always understood. For in
stance, / had been impressing on pa
tient suffering from intense stomach ir-
ritation the necessity for light, very
light, food. and she soon afterward
asked me if she might not have little
roast pork! She was otherwise sane
enough, though one can scarcely cred
it it.
Food must be light and tempting, or
an invalid can not take it at all, and it
is well known that if you tell the pa
tient what you are preparing for him
beforehand his unstable fancy grows
sick at the food before he has so much
as tasted it. Make it and bring it just
ready for eating. By arousing the fam
cy thus nourishment may be taken and
much good gained before the mind has
wearied of the food.
Milk, again, is our grand resource in
disease, containing, as it does, all the
elements of food that the body requires
in form that is easily assimilated, and
it is, besides. food that can be pre-
pared in many tasty ways. If there be
irritation of stomach, and plain milk
is rejected, mix it with one-third of
lime water, or half as much fresh soda
water, and it will answer better. In
any disturbance of the stomach. food
should be given in small quantities,
frequently repeated--even teaspoonful
doses-ot soda water, or soda water
and milk in acute cases; while if the
vomiting continues, koumiss may check
it.
Beef tea, chicken broth, and similar
foods are very nourishing, but patients
Don tire'of them, and can with diff
Guilty be induced to take them after n
little while. Indeed, it is very wise to
change your diet as much as possible,
and tempt the languid stomach with
variety. Oysters are highly nutritious,
and can be prepared in various ways,
making excellent dishes. In many
cases white fish can be eaten with adj
vantage, and invalids still nearer re-
covery can take boiled mutton, or an
underdone chop. But meat should be
taken with caution, and the lighter
kinds adhered to until the stomach
regains vigor. Mutton, fowl, white
fish, etc, must be taken in preference
to heavier foods, and five meals a day
of light nature are to be preferred to
three heavier ones, when suffering from
debility, while in worse cases food
must be taken every hour or two, or
much more frequently still if required
Never neglect patients food--have
something always at hand ready to be
taken when needed. Make your foods
fresh, and do not keep warming them
up''-warmed up foods are unpalata-
bic in health and unbearable in sick
ness. Broths and soups may be
strengthened with lentils or pearl bar.
ley-the latter depriving beef tea of its
purging tendencies.
Patients are often thirsty, and in
gratifying that thirst, take care the
food is nourishing. Barley water is
very nice, as are black currant tea,
lemon tea-with the pips removed tc
prevent its being bitter-and few
drops of dilute hydrochloric acid il
sweetened water makes G good drink
Lemonade may sometimes be taken
and in vomiting, which produces a
times the most distressing thirst, thu
sucking of small fragments of ice il
very agreeable, and tends to soothe tn,
stoma zach also.
Jellies and blanc mango contain
much nourishment and are digestet
easily; rice. milk, sago Cruel and SINH
lar things are of service; and if there is
during convalescence, a dislike TO
food, small quantity of wine or bran
DIV before meal acts as a whip ant
sets up temporary appetite, which j
often of the highest benefit to the SUI
ferer.
These remarks will indicate the line
on which we should work in fecdin:
invalids; there are endless varieties o
food and methods of administerin,
them, and these are often our only re
sources. 1t would be well, then, Il
learn how TO prepare tasty and whole
some dishes, SO that when sickness doe.
come, we may be ready to meet it at al
points.-Leeds Mercury.
At Leeds, lately, Mr.. Arthur N:chol
delivered a lppturp on .,,Sn aka. ma.