The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1884-04-16
Appetite and The sick.

That we NAV fairly discuss the
matter of food for the sick, it is well
to understand that normal appe
tite accurately represents the true
wants of the system, want based
on the amount of waste, produced by
exercise, both physical and meHtai.
This demand is for the repairs OF
that part of the BODY actually de-
streved, which, to avoid an utter
wasting away of the whole body,
must bs replaced by the appropria-
ton OF the constituents of the blood,
the essence of the food taken. If
this demand is increased by unusu-
al exercise, simply because the It's
sues of the body are correspondingly
wasted, worn out. destroyed, II Is
reasonable to infer that diminished
exercise, as in sickness, will produce
a corresponding diminution of this
appetite. If true, also, that the heat
of the summer similarly reduces
the appetite, large per cent of our
food is for the production of the
heat of the body, it is reasonable to
suppose that the heat, attending
acute forms of disease, will to the
same extent reduce the appetite. In
accordance with these principles, the
appetite is entirely wanting in these
acute forms, as in fevers OF the sick.
thirst for water being instituted.
Many of this class absolutely need no
food. are better TO fast for a week or
more, if flsshy at the time of the at
tack. as demonstrated by the alb
sence of desire for food.
1t is well here TO remark that the
appetite is far more reliable in sick
ness than in health, a merciful ar
rangement indeed. that all of the
powers may unite in the great work
Of renovating the body. This is
proved by the fact that all habit.
like the habits of tobacco, whisky
and opium, disappear in critical
cases of disease, when every possible
effort is in demand for the restora-
ton of health. Again, in such sick
ness. the digestive powers are as
much debilitated as any of the body,
are Just as incapable of doing their
usual work as the body, as a whole,
is, from which fact we may see that
rest for the Uh0Ie body is demand
ed. If there is rest. therefore, ii is
plain that there will be but little
waste, but little wearing out of the
tissues. but little occasion for re-
pairs, but little need for an appetite.
Hence, this is indeed a merciful ar
rangement But, there is a thirst
substantial, one not easily controlled.
Thi. is also a merciful arrangement.
The water, the drink in special de-
mand. tends to cool, reducing the
symptoms, thus promoting comfort.
But best of all, while the disease is
oftener than otherwise produced by
an undue retention of the waste and
worn out particles of this ever decay
ing body, this water so reduces this
putrescent mass of accumulated cor
ruption, in consequence of the clos
ing of the pores a cold that the
system is rapidly purified, by vari-
Gus eXeretiye methods. As soon.
therefore, as food is needed, ordina-
rily, the appetite viii indicate that
need.
The first food to be given, as the
appetite returns, should be of the
simplest character. As the digestive
powers are very weak, the iood must
te very easy of digestion. or it will
prove a curse. Only liquids should
be given at first. such extracts as the
juices of fruit, bread, tea-the abso-
lutely clear juices of food, that no
digestion need be required, no labor
of the stomach, more than in the alb
sorptien of water, which, previously,
in the acute stage, has done so much
good. After a few days, the very
simplest form of fsod, a single arti-
Gle at once, should be given, as
fruits, rice, baked potato, stale bread
and the like.-GoldeR Rule.