The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-05-20
DIET FOR THE SICK.
It Ought to Be Good Deal the Same q
the Person Takes When Well.

the Person Takes When Well.
In old times it was customary when
one became i'll to prescribe a diet Of
toast, broth, cruel and the like, and
keep the sufferer on the shortest kind
of short rations even of this kind Of
food. No matter how long the illness
continued this regime was kept up.
Exhausting and depicting medicines
were given, and every effort seemed to
be made to reduce the strength and
vitality of the patient. To be sure,
many people get well in spite of this
treatment, but it must be said that it
was more through good luck than good
management. When the constitutions
were robust enough to triumph over
so many adverse conditions, there was
q more or less complete recovery; but
delicate and susceptible temperaments
usually succumbed to this formida bic
array of adversaries-
Modern medical common sense die
tates that people shall not be starved.
at least, whatever other treatment
may be necessary. sufficient amount
of nourishing food is therefore given,
and this food is quite likely to be the
same that the person is in the habit of
taking during health, barring, of
course, ali extremely .indigestible
dishes or those that will conflict with
the remedies given. As general thing,
sick person requires very much less
food than a well one, although this is
not always the case. People of seden-
tary habits, those who take little or no
exercise to exhaust the physical forces,
might need almost as much fsod when
sick as when we'll
There are few follies more extreme
than that of putting sick people on
diet of toast-water and thin Cruel II
would make a well person sick, and
how one can be expected to recover
health and strength on such pabulum
is more than ordinary intel
ligence can conceive. A small guam.
tity of good meats, the vegeta bles that
are most craved. little light bread,
the best of butter and the usual bev.
erages should be given if they are at
all relished It is one of the greatest
of mistakes 20 give sick people sloppy
drinks of any sort If II is necessary
to quench the thirst, an abundance Of
pure water, boiled and cooled to the
temperature of spring-water, is most
desirable. Coffee, tea and chocolate
are better when used of regular
strength such as is taken during health.
The quantity may be good deal les
sened- but the quality should remain
the same. If people in ordinarily good
condition get cup of tea and coffee,
such as invalids are supposed TO re-
ouire. Il would be almost certain &c
upset the digestion How much more
need IS there then of care when all of
the functions of the body are more OF
less deranEed?
1t is frequently the case that a Bit
of broiled chicken. steak or bird with
a little dry toast and cup OF good
coffee viii relish and De satisfying
when nothing in the way OF inralid's
food. as ordinarily given. can be toler-
afed. OF course. the food should be
eaten very slowly indeed and thorough
IL masticatea II the condition OF the
patient will permit. some extremely
entertaining conversation NAV De car
ried on during the meal IL l. well
established fact that amusement dur
ing eating. especially that provocative
of laughter. Is OF the creates. possible
benefit Inceed. the laughter cure
administered IN . auiec way and with.
out too much nervous agitation has
been of the mos, marked advantage IN
many instances Several physicians
make !; a point 70 amuse and enter
tain their patients quite a. much ss to
orescribe drugs and 6isgncse the czseA