The Wilmingtonian., 1885-03-28
PRICE TWO CENTS.
ALIMEN rATION IN DISEASE,
The Sick Should be JudiciousIv
NOurished.

Ject which docs not always receive the at
tention it merits. Too often the physician
considers his whole duty to consist in the adj
mlnistration of medicines, regardless of the
fact that they can only do good by restor-
ing the equilibrium between the vital proc.
esses, and cannot compensate for de6cien-
cy of the nutrient material which is essen.
tial for the proper performance of every
junction. lis truo that by the use Of an.
propriatc remedies certain organs can be
stimulated to increased activity, and various
noxious substances thus eliminated from
the system. II, however, sufficient supply
of the elements of nutrition be not furnished
at the same time, tile iaded organs will
become feeber and feebler and finally fail to
respond to any stimulus
In considering the therapeutical applica-
ton of dictetics, Professor Flint well saws
that there are two fundamental principles to
be kept in view. One of these is that there
is never danger from over-nutrition in either
acute Or chronic diseases. The other is that
in all diseases which destroy life by slow
asthenia or exhaustion death is due to star
vation' and may be averted if effective nu-
triton and assimilation be practicable.
The soundness of these principles has been
recognized by tie most eminent practi-
tioners of all ages, and will be found to be
the basis of their more notable and SUCCESS
ful methods of treatment. The ancients, as
is well known, were so much impressed with
the value of suitable regimen as means
of cure that they refer more frequently to it
than to the benefit to be derived from
medicines alone. Cheyne, in commenting
upon this, wrote that it was to be observed
that "Hippocrates, Galen, CELSIUS, and there
followers, cured by means of diet, evacu-
ants. air, and exercise mostly, even as well
as we do with all our knowledge of animal
economy, chemistry, and materia medca,"
Cheyne, himself who was one of the shrew-
dest observers of his time, laid equal stress
upon the Importance of an appropriate diet.
Let us not forget" he exclaimed, "the
dietetic management, that part which has
the greatest influence, especially in nervous
and chronic distempefs, sh6 witBour wnen
the best and truest remedies fail of their
effect"
Physicians, however, have their idols as
well as the rest of mankind. Accordingly,
we find that too many have ever been prone
to regard the matter of diet as of compare
tive unimportance, and to place unlimited
faith in the power Of drugs alone. This un-
reasoning credulity is undoubtedly respon-
sible for much Of the superficial skepticism
which assumes that the course of disease is
unintiuenced by any remedy. OF late years,
however, the relation of diet to therapeutics
has been more definitely established. The
physician is 10 longer obliged to restrict
himself to the vague direction of eating only
"good nourishing food" but is enabled tc
specify the articles which may be taken, and
those which are to be avoided, in eacl
particular case. Among the causes which
have combined to bring about this desirable
result, the most prominent was the incorpora
tion of a section ON alimentation in Barth.
olow's Materia NIedca. Previous to thif
it had not been considered worthy of place
in any treatise, although, as Professor
Bartholow cogeutly stated in his introduc
tion,
"The various ailments are Of the first i'm
portancc as remedial agents. No satisfac
tory repair of diseased oI wasted tissues car
take place without suitable supply o
healthy blood and healthy blood is tn
product of proper food and normal digestion
and assimilation"
In this section the composition of the nor
common articles of food, with their relative
value in health and disease, was given il
detail, and the various special plans oil diet
treatment, such as the milk-cnre, etc. wer
fully explained, and the conditions describe,
which gave them their value Since the
there has been more general appreciation Q
the fact that in the detetic treatment W
possess useful, and often Indispensable
auxiliary to the medicinal one. The wonder
Gul success Of DR.. Weir Mitchell in the relic
of many obstinate nervous affections by res
, and food only is well known Equal
brilliant results have been attained from III
same method by other physicians. Recer
experiments indicate that similar benet
may be obtained in some chronic wasth
diseases by combination of forced feedin
with artificial digestion, Much remains
however, to he ascertained befO,e OF
knowledge can he placed upon an cxat
bass. The cure of disease is an mtrcat
problem, for which several clements al
requisite. The element of alimentation
however, one of tho greatest Importance.
BY rubbing with a damp flannel dipped
TIM best whiting, the brown discoloratic
may be taken oa cups in which custarc
have been baked