The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1907-09-11
Medicinal Uses of Fruit.


that the free use of fruit is better
than medicine in most cases. The fol-
lowing from The Farmers Wife tells
of some of the special uses for differ
ent kinds of fruit:
Fruit is a perfect food when fully
ripe, and if it were in daily use from
youth to old age there would be less
of the many minor ailments that are
SO common these days.
Encourage the children to eat more
fruit and less candy. The skins are
for the protection of the delicate fruit
from dust and germs and not intended
to be eaten.
The apple is one Of the best of
fruits and the most generally useful
But it is so common that very few
persons are familiar with it's remark
able medicinal properties An old
Scandinavian legend has it that the
apple was the favorite food of the
gods; that to it they owed their per-
petual youth. Whenever they found
themselves growing old and infrm
in body and mind they ate of the
apple and were once again strong,
young and active. The apple is ex-
cellent brain food because it has more
phosphoric acid in easily digested
shape than any other fruits. 1t ex-
cites the action of the liver, promotes
sound and healthy sleep, and thor
oughly disinfects the mouth This is
not all; the apple prevents indiges-
ton and throat diseases, and is waltz
able in rheumatism, insomnia, liver
troubles and nervous dyspepsia. Bak-
ed Or stewed apples will generally
agree with the most delicate person,
and are an excellent medicine in many
cases of sickness. Green or ha1f-ripe
apples stewed and sweetened are
pleasant to the taste, cooling, nourish-
ing and medicinal. An apple contains
as much nutriment as a potato.
The lemon is next esteemed for
medicinal value. 1t is very useful
either in health or Sickness Lemons
and tomatoes should be used daily in
warm weather, as they have a cooling
effect.
Lemonade is the best drink in
fevers, and when thickened with sugar
is better than syrup of squills and
other nauseous drugs in many cases Of
cough Hot lemonade is one of the
best remedies for cold. 1t is also
excellent in case of biliousness. The
juice of half lemon in teacup of
strong, black coffee, without sugar,
will often cure a sick headache
They are also Of great value in cases
of rheumatism and govt. The old Ro-
man remedy for malaria is to cut a
lemon into a pint Of water, peel and
ALL boil down to one-half Take one
teaspoonful before meals. Better than
quinine.
Oranges are invaluable as complex
ion beautihers. The women of Italy
and Spain are said to have the finest
cOmplexions in the world and they
live largel y on coarse grained food,
nuts, oranges, and other fruits. Sour
oranges are said to be good in case of
rheumatism. Oranges and pineapples
make fine drinks. Use saccharine in
place of sugar for sweetening them.
The juice of pineapple is good in
cases of sore throat.
POmegranates are good for relax
ed sore throat.
Grapefruit is an admirable tonic and
most appetizing breakfast or lunch
con relish. Its medicinal value is bet
ter obtained without much sugar.
Waterme1ons are useful in epilepsy
and in yellow fever. The banana is
one Of the most nourishing of all
fruits, and is recommended as useful
tood for typhoid fever patients, mas