The Washington times., 1894-04-02
The SkilIful Care
of Invalids.

n Is very desirable, says the Bazaf. that
any one who has the care Of a family, and so.
sooner or later, Of the sick, should be ready
for all emergencies of disease and accident.
And asa great part Of the care Of the sick
lies I'm their At nourisbment, 1t is equally
desirable to know just what dishes are the
best and most sustaining for the ailing and
the convalescent. For 1t goes without saying
that certain aliment which is good for one
thing is bad for another; thus beef tea (Which
has gone through various phases Of approba-
ton and contempt and is now again In partial
favor, as 1t Is said to be an excellent stimu-
liant If not an entirely satisfactory food,
and to have good reparative properties in
certain cases) should not be given in either
rheumatic fever or typhoid, as it is both heat
ing and aperient, whey in such instances re-
placing its uee. As O usual thing, where
mutton broth is allowed, veal and chicken
broth can also be given-more for the sake OF
variety. however than for any other reason,
as patient is very apt to feel disgust II fed
too long on any one thing. Calves fleet jelly.
which was once great thing to rely on, and
then fell into desuetude, has been restored to
favor in some degree, on the authority of the
usage OF st. Bartholomew Hospital In Lon
don.
Milk, however, is the diet on which most
physicians fall back in emergencies, as being
the natural food of mankind, and OF all NAM
malta, preferable to the various gruels, that
have a tendency to acidity. Where milk Is
not easily digested. lime water should be
mingled with it, q tablespoonful to a goblet
being tasteless, it does not change the flavor
OF the drink; but occasionally salt or bicar-
Donate of soda may be used instead, the latter
being best where there Is constipation. When
milk will not digest at all, cream, diluted with
as much hot water, will sometimes answer as
well. Milk in tablespoonful dose every
half hour, one-third Of it lime water. can be
given when no other food can be retained,
and will sustain the patient till more can be
taken. In great irritability of the stomach
koumiss Is prescribed, as it checks nausea in
its various stages. When isinglass is boiled
in milk, making blanc-mSnge, the result is
very delicate and easily digested food; some
times merely scalding stick Of cinnamon in
milk gives pleasant pungency, by way
OF change, where there is weakness OF the
bowels especially, and hot milk, not boiled, is
thought usually to preserve the energy better
than cold milk does. When a patient is re-
covering from illness, digestion in measure
re-established, but strength still wanting, the
yolk OF an egg two or three times day IS
nourishing and good taken in wine or in
milk. This is better whole than beaten, as
less air is taken with II then, and after little
practice it is no more difficult to swallow
than an oyster is. After night-sweats drink
of cold tea in the morning acts as mild
tonic
Wherever there are acute illnesses the physi-
clan orders the diet in detail, and then no
nurse who knows what is good for her will
dare to make any variation. But there are
chronic ailments where the physician is not
in constant attendance, and where one is
sometimes at a loss to know what may be given
in the way CT food; as for instance. in
Bright's disease OF the kidneys, where beef
should never be eaten. as it creates more OF
certain poison than can be eliminated. where
all the meats and sweetmeats are hurtful, and
where as far as it is possible, the bulk OF the
food should be gluten bread and skinned
milk. Yet as it is unnecessary and
undesirable to starve ones SELF
here, the yolks of eggs, fat bacon,
the white meats. such succulent
things as pigs feet and tripe, may be had,
with fruits cooked, but never uncooked, and
il liked that way sweetened with pinch Of
potash. all in sufficient quantity for satis1ac-
ton, few vegetables being eaten, and pota-
toes and tomatoes being quite prohibited.
When there are attacks of nausea in this ILL
ness the drinking Of cream-o-tartar water
will sometimes relieve them. 1t is not amiss
to know these things, slight as they seem In
the reading. When sickness is in the house,
and when convalescence comes. in which the
patient must be handled like piece Of china,
one is reassured and helped over great deal
by knowledge of these very things which in
health and strength seem so Insignificant.