The Savannah morning news., 1902-01-19
SUFFERING FROM PIcA.
A Curious Complaint That In We
men Acquires Them 10 Consume
Pickles. salt Fish. etc.

A Curious Complaint That In We
men Acquires Them to Consume
Pickles. salt Fish. etc.
New York. Jan. 17.--Many women
who have spent considerable time fret
ting over imaginary diseases which
they never had, may be interested to
know that since the days of their
childhood, when the green pickle habit
took possession of them. they have
been the victims OF a disease confined
chiefly to their sex, but not exclusively
to their kind. 1t is a rather silly dis
ease though it frequently leads to Sc
rious results and enjoys in medical
literature the dignified name of plea.
A woman suffering from acute indl-
gestion recently dropped in upon
prominent physician in his office.
/ believe l must be on the verge OF
typhoid she declared, I'm so utterly
gone to pieces. What have you been
eating?" demanded the man of science,
automatically.
"Well, the truth is doctor, I've been
practically living on bacon and salt
fish and green peppers" But, she went
on with rising courage: They really
must be what l need, because / can
touch nothing else. When one Graves
certain things so savagely 1t must be
because the system needs them, doc
tor"
THE triumphant faith of your sex
has moved many mountain, my dear
lady" said the doctor, politely; but
coupled with ignorance il frequently
directs its steps toward the precipice,
instead a diet which is questionable for
a person in ordinary health is abso-
lutely out of the question when some
thing has gone wrong. AS for cravings
So" added the doctor. contemptuously
they not only have no relation to any
necessity of the system for the things
craved, but on the contrary, almost in
variably indicate disease" Thereupon
he produced a formidable volume and
leafng ii over read something like
this:
"Pica-A perversion of appetite COM
mon among females. Among animals,
cows are particularly subject to this
disorder"
1t is curious fact. but well known
to many stock raisers, that while bulls
have never been known to suffer from
vagaries OF this kind, cows frequently
die from the seemingly ridiculous dis
ease. AS soon as the gentle old bossy
Is in the clutches of her cravings, she
sallies forth on a mad career of graf
usually returns no more.
Rubber overshoes, red flannel shirts
and gaudy table covers are what her
system seems to require" said the doc
tor, ironically. "and many a good cow
has ended a useful career by light
diet of this sort Dogs frequently have
a craving for sharp grasses. which
probably do them no harm. but failing
that they cheerfully substitute bits OF
broken glass or pebbles with fatal re-
suits. Young girls often eat coffee
beans in the same way, but pickles
seem to be the chief cravings of that
age-which apparently gives place to
salt fish and bacon later on said the
doctor with a smile.
Indulging a disordered stomach with
the things craved for simply adds to
the disorder, and leaves the system
open to the inroads of disease that
might otherwise be easily shaken off.
The best possible thing to do when
this perVersion of appetite manifests
itself is to starve for a meal or two,
taking plenty of pure, cold water, and
by the time the third mealtime comes
round, you will find that your cravings
have been completely starved out. ana
your stomach is prepared to digest
plain, wholesome food. M. A. b.