The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-10-17
CHAprrR YXYYIII.

There Is story fan ahSent-minded physician
who advised a deal old lady TO cheer up her
mind by attending the performance OF AN Ohen-
bach opera. aud il is sadly true that TO thousands
oi American cty-dwellers the prescription OF
an exercise cure is apt 10 prove an equally uH-
available remedy. As a specific for the cure of
indigestion outdoor sports cannot be rivaled
by any drugs; but people who pass six out of
seven days in their workshops find little leisure
for open-air recreation. They cannot treat
themselves TO change Of climate, and their
only alternative is change of diet.
DIGEsTTBLE FOOD.
The digestible quality of different articles of
diet Is still a subject OF manifold popular fall
lacies. Some so years ago French physician
had chance TO make a series of observations
on the digestive organs of soldier who had
been wounded in a way that exposed the in
terror of the stomach, aud thus gave the OBJ
server an opportunity 10 record the Time
Quired for the assimilation of various kinds of
food and drink. But the duration of time is
not the only factor deciding the question OF
preference IA considerations of that sort. There
are various noxiuus substances which accelerate
the process OF digestion by increasing the dis
charge OF gastric juice in much the same way
as irritating fragments OF matter in the eye
stimulate a flow OF tears, aud lt would be mani
testify wrong TO make that circumstance "A cri-
terion of their wholeSomeness. Hot spices were
used as "Nheis long before the invention OF
ionic bitters but the nature of the mistake is
the same in both cases The stOmach's haste
Of Impotence is accepted rs proof OF easy per-
Torrance. a laxative, according TO that logic,
would seem TO he the most GigUstible of all pos
sibie preparations. Many SO called digestible
dishes might. indeed, be moro correctly de-
SER bed Is substances which the stomach hastens
10 get rid Of In Dr. Beaumont's list founded
on the above mentioned ohseTvations) raw
oysters for instance, rank high above boiled
carrots, and cheese above cabbage; though
there can be no doubt that, article of
daily food. boiled carrots and cabbage lthe
principal d let OF the old Roman peaslntsj would
be lar preferable 10 oysters and cheese. The
kind OF cheese which DIR. Beaumont would pre-
fer 10 cabbage is distinctly specified as old and
strong" Imagine a committee OF the Roman
Senate finding Cincinnatus enjoying supper
Of oysters and Limburger.
DIETETIc APERIENTs.
Again. beans. judging from the time required
fOr their digestion. would hardly seem TO be
more Wholesome than hard boiled eggs. And
yet rs a bOwel-regulator and a natural apcrient,
free from the risk OF all delcterions after eff
feels. beans cannot be matched IN the materia
medica OF modern science. There is family
of plants known 20 bofauists as the legHRinosa,
and including the different varieties of beans,
peas and ientils, and. even without the Boston
addition of boiled pork, any OF them can be
warranted 10 prevent constipation. Their an
tIgUity as an article Of manhood is attcsted by
the story of Esau and the family names of
three Roman geHtes the Fabii bean farmers.
as We might translate them) the Lenkuli and
the tIceros. h. Is true that the many mysteri-
Gus precepts OF the Pythagorean religion in
cluded strict prohibition of beans" aud the
myth making penchant OF q subsequent age
elaborated that fact into the curious anecdoie
about troop Of Pythagorean soldiers who
allowed pursuing enemy 70 cut them 10 pieces,
rather than 10 save themselves by crossing a
hru ffisHN raj has
calculated that paradox by the discovery Of
the suggestive fact that the Greeks used beans
both Ia voting and In gambling. As likely
bot the interdict Of Pythagoras implied moth
ing but a caution against gambling hells. just
as a modern American might warn his TO
Jet CUPS alone = What strange idea that
pr'jud &c against poiato-ehiPs." historian Of
the 41ih century might comment on the record
OF that advice.
BOILED FEUIT.
Next to beans. stcWed pruncs and apples will
be found the most efficient natural bOwel-Open-
efs- IL has. indeed. been remarked that one
mans food j. another mans poison" but here
are exceptions 20 that occasional rule and a few
articles 81 food such rs boiled rice aud baked
apple. can be safely warranted not 10 disagree
with any human stomach retaining vesiige
Of capacity for spontaneous digestion. There
have brrn persons vino could not taste salt
without sbuGdcr, and DIR. Carpenter records
re tat on " t4Ji ELukADAl, ally form
OF preparation, acted as a yiFulent poison; but
no relative Of cur Darwinian has per
hays ever expressed a similar antipathy 10 ripe
orchara-iruit. Hard and acid apples fnay prove
8 burden on a weak stomach, Tut that objection
can bee gbviated by boiling and the addition Of
a little sugar. In the Rhineland countries
nearly every large town has a grspe-cnro estab-
lishDent-a saDiiarium where invalids Of all
s0rts are treated by staiiug Internationally 10
the eEteLt 81 thcIr abdominal capacity-With
sweet, ripe grapes, and tie experience Of many
generations has proved THAT TIE plan involves
80 NIX even 20 The most delicate c0nst tut ion
IL might be equally diliicut 70 surieit human
being with apple-stew. Sugar is less whole
some tlan sBH-sweefcned fruit. hut a. a eondi-
nleBt even glucose IL far less unnatural and less
deleterious tlan snch spices as pepper mustard
and ginger. They keep up a false show Of APP
petite tut contribute nothing TO the actual
ROurIsaiDcnt Of the body.
HOT SPICES.
The poison-thirst OF the drunkard can
not be ailayed by wholesome beverages,
AID la Chronic dyspepsia the habtual use
u strong condiments often begets q spuri-
GUS appetite wholly due 10 the irritated
condition Of the gastric membrane, aud inca
fable 81 being satisfied with any quantity OF
BOn-stluiu atlng food Under tie stimulus Of
= sharp pepper-ssuce the stomach dispatches
Tue process Of digestion in a PcrIunctory
manner That fails 10 answer the needs Of the
system and results merely ia a premature
evacuation OF the useless iHgesfa. Hence. the
curious iact that many teTrih sluttons are thin
rs Take-. They are stimulated, rather than
n0urlsEed. By the food they eat, and often
literally starye la tie midst Of plenty As a
supplement Of otherwise nuappetizing food a
H1usiaTd-pOt may contribute a sore temptation,
bat the trouble IS that the system becomes de-
pendent upon artificial aids and like that of
tic baDIiual topper, ~ last refuses 10 perform is
proper Junction without larger and larger
dose 81 the WOBtsd tonic DIR. Ii0ck, Of Lt,ip-
zig. records a conversation with an epcnre
whom Ae lad seen sueariHg his becisteak hall
En ZACH thlck with strong mustard, and " bom
friend. he took occasion 10 warn against
tHe peTis 81 the practice.
p" Doctor. what's the matter with yOul .
laughed the glBtiOu; you are surely not
hoping - persuade Inc that mustard In poison p
Nes. ] auI, said the doctor. aud y0H will
see TIE reasOn Of that hope If ] can persuade
yOH fg rlD The tenth part Of your daily mustard
ration your arm aud watch the effect Tor q
lea HiHnfes-if sou can stand IL that l0ng-foi
isaGl you that IL Viii raise deuce Ol d blister
v haf. b that the same stuff they use la mus
i-rs-P lastcrsE" inquired the gouFmand, with
Gn expression Of vague apprehension.
iie very same, only that you treat yOul
stomach - a much larger dose Of the ugly irfi
tAnt."
Common mustard? Would that raise Z
blister nay arm, you sayZ"
- Gcs take the skin clean off IL Won do mot