The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1885-07-10
CONvAlESCENTS,
Hints rs to the Diet of Those Recovering
from Sickness.

aS Co the Dfet OF InOSe recovering
from sickness.
There are few words more pleasing
to housewives ear than the doctors
announcement: "Well, you have moth
ing to do but to feed him Cor herr up
now. Give him (or her) something
light and Notwithstanding he'll
fancy-every two hours or So"
What happy change from the
dreary monotony of beef tea and milk.
and when the very names of meals are
ignored-no breakfast, no dinner-day
and night the same careful1y-prepar
medicated beef tea in measured quanti-
ty poured into the half-conscious lips.
The doctor has reigned supreme, food
and medicine have been hardly dis
tinguishable. But now comes the turn
of the housewife. and in her hands lies
mainly the recovery of the patient to
health and strength. On her obserya-
ton, punctuality and care everything
will depend. She must remember likes
and dislikes, be prepared for fancies,
always have an alternative at hand.
and yet never overtax the scarcely re-
covered organs of digestion. The ques-
ton before her is how to use these Or
gans to the very utmost without putting
a strain upon them.
To do this requires system, but. like
all artists, she must conceal her art
She must arrange the days food with
the care of a painter grouping his
figures. She must husband her re-
sources as he does his lights and shades,
his warm and cold colors. After a
painters manner, we will begin with
d rough sketch of the design for the
twenty-four hours dietary.
With an invalid this may be said to
begin at about half-past five a. m. The
most welcome of all things will prob
ably be a cup of tea. This will be made
by the night attendant apd shared by
her. and should contain some good
cream and be accompanied BY little
bit OF bread and butter or toast, if the
fire is in state to make it. After this
the patient will probably be able to
sleep till half-past eight, when break
fast should be ready.
Coffee and hot milk, with eggs in
some form, are good preparation for
the fatigues of the morning toilet, espe-
cially if the case is a surgical one. At
eleven a. m. lunch will come. When
oysters are liked and in season this is
good time to serve them. If not. one
of the forms of ELY may be substituted.
At one or half-past a second lunch
con, or whatever we choose to call it,
will be served. This is perhaps the
most important meal of the day, and a
small quantity of butchers meat. such
as chop or slice from the family Joint,
should always form part of it, the di-
gestiye powers being at their best usual
ly at this hour. Vegetables should al
ways accompany the meat and small
tart or pudding follow, stewed fruit or
farinaceous compounds being usually
preferred to pastry.
Half-past six or seven is the dinner
hour, and a bird of some sort. with
crumbs, gravy and bread sauce, should
be followed by some delicate savory-
macaroni and cheese, savory omelet or
some such dish, light but palatable, un.
less the patient prefers sweets to SAVIOR
les.
Always have some alternative at
hand: If the oysters are not fancied
little potted meat may be or an egg
beaten up and served with a sponge
rusk. The only difficulty is that you by
this plan sometimes have forestalled
the next meal, and so that something
else has to be substituted. as two dishes
OF similar nature. e., eggs beaten
up and then an omeiette-should never
be sent up in succession. Soup is al
ways handy resourse. but after diet
of beef tea the patient oft-n loathes the
very sight of soup basln.-M. Y. Her.
nd