The National tribune., 1890-10-23
SPICES AND sWEETMEATs.

bflOBS AMI
"They may talk about getting the better Of
the alcohol habit" said a reformed topper Of
my acquaintance, "but know that pure, cold
spring water will never taste as good again IS
it did before you touched drop of brandy"
1t Is much the same with spices and highly
favored made dishes. In addition TO the direct
mischief they do, they are almost sure to make
plain food insipid. How farmer returning from
an honest days work can enjoy meal of baked
beans, of baked apples, of sirup buckwheat
cakes, and milk Children, whether born in
cabins or castles, instinctively prefer such
dishes to high. seasoned food but board them
for year at fashionable French restaurant.
and they will disdain farmhouse fare. aud even
shudder to think Of it, even as we would in
refectng on the black broth " of Sparta or
the crosses and salt lunches of the ancient Per-
SLAMS.
Aud the trouble is that there comes times in
every mans life when absolute abstinence from
stimulating food Is the only way to prevent Sc
rious diseases. Disorders of tho sort which phy-
sicians attribute 10 "cachectic" constitution,
to impure blood and vitiated humOrs, are un-
doubtedly aggravated by the dietetic irrtants.
There are persons that have TO wait weeks and
months for the healing Of sores that would not
trouble others as many days, and tho unavoid-
able infirmities OF approaching old age involve
all sorts of ugly complications in the case Of
that nowadays only a small percentage of per-
sons can hope TO preserve a sound set of natural
teeth to an advanced age but in many cases it
is not apt TO seem urgently necessary to pull
the old stumps." They just crumble down to
the roots aud become callous, often so much so,
indeed, that many old fellows, in rural dis
trcts especially, can chew breadcrusts and
hard apples with toothless jaws. Toothaches
are unknown TO such veterans the rudiments
q thpiF maSkicatiup orppna have anparently
become petrihed, aud will not trouble them any
more The patrons of metropolitan restaurants
can rarely hope for such privileges. After forty
their teeth, too will shrink to the gums and
may stop to ache or even prove 80 much more
serviceable than artificial eontriyances, that
their owners will hesitate to have them re-
moved. But the slightest indigestion will re-
vve the sensitiveness Of such stumps, and under
tho influence of pungcnt stimulants the trouble
is apt 10 assume the form of an ugly inflamma-
tion.
A few years ago I received note from an
acquaintance who had established his head
quarters in a fashionable hotel. and wished to
consult me about what he called bad case of
erysipelas" That his diagnosis was incorrect /
could see at first glance, but the swelling of his
face from the left ear TO the upper-lp was 80
extraordinary that its origin puzzled me for
moment.
low did that start, Major ?" was my first
q.sstion. IL isn't erysipelas, am glad 10 say,
but it's certainly bad enough 10 need mending."
Why, what else can it be" Rrunted the
patient; "A bad swelling with high fever must
be erysipelas, or what would you call it2"
Nothing of that kind. Your skin isn't in
fiamed at all tho trouble is deeper scated-in
the jaw ITSELF IL seems. You are right though,
about the fever; when did all that begin2"
Well, let me tell you. Last Monday Squire
y. coaxed mo to eat big lunch Mt the Cluny
Restaurant. and in going home met two old
time friends. whom couldn't help inviting TO
dinner. and that made me eat another pretty
full meal only an hour after that heavy
lunch. Then / had TO show them around
took them 10 the top OF the Hightower Build.
ing and had to climb that awful lot of stairs.
because the elevator was Oat of fix and they
insisted on going. Took them 60 several parks
and museums next, more stairs TO climb, and
after got rid of them I called at the postoffiee
aud found big package to my address Had to
take il along, ana when got home / noticed
throbbing pain in my left jaw, and before two
that night was walked up by q terrible tooth
ache. Never knew the like and would have
sent for a dentist right then il had not q
prejudice against forceps work, and the next
day after the swelling had become so bad that
! would have TO wait for that to subsido any
how. Those two big meals coming on top Of
each other may have started the trouble, and
missing my after-dinner nap made it worse
Climbing half hundred flights of stairs would
interfere with anybody's digestion. and mine is
not first-class anyhow. Now what would you
adviser"
THE painost kind Of diet 10 start with
Every ounce of grease and spice feeds the
fame of that inflammation, and you will have
to live like hermit for a couple of days or So"
Might last n week. eh ? Look here, would
as soon swallow bunchgrass rs your vegetarian
Il l. q
temper had not been improved by three days
fever.
No herbs on the program" laughed; "sago,
milk and raisins or plate of boiled rice and q
slice of baked apple"
- / thought so. / haven't much hair left,
you might say, but it makes all that stand on
end to think OF swallowing such baby pap. No
matter what fix he is in, fellew wants some
thing he can bear on his stomach and Just the
time he Is low down he needs something to put
a little life in him."
Yes, and put life enough In that infamma-
ton TO make it spread all over your face. It's
just choice between fever and meat pie or
cure without it,"
:" DO you really think so2" asked the Major,
thonghtfully.
Yes, I'm sure of 1t; you will not get rid of
that trouble till you discontinue your hot
sPiced meats Doesn't your lack of appetite
already give You hint that way?"
" Perhaps you are right, but in that case /
shall prefer TO starve altogether for couple of
days. You cant get me 10 swallow baby pap.
Wouldn't cold water alone do for a while?"
" Certainly, il would. Only be sure and don t
get the water mixed in any way, except with a
little ice, if the weather should turn warmer"
Tho compromise was ratified and the old man
stuck to his contract. He refused even biscuits
and Graham waters, and three days after he
was on the street again. The fre of his fever
had burnt out for lack Of nourishing oil.