The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1911-08-24
Fruit as a Food.
By FERDINAND SOCCER. M. D.

QuenCly De changed 1nCO SangOlne one,
and the hypochondriac may be SO altered
as to become a cheerful and contentec
member of society. Experience and OBJ
servation show that too frequent anC
excessive use of animal food disposes
the fluids to putrefaction, and, in san.
guine temperaments especially, commu.
nicates to the mind degree of ferocity.
Nations subsisting chiefly upon the flesh
of animals. like the Tartars, are, in gen.
eral. more fierce than others; and the
same effect is manifest in carnivorous
animals; they emit a very disagreeable
smell. and both their flesh and milk have
an unpleasant and repelling taste. Even
nurse has eaten too much animal food.
and little bread and vegetables, must
1t appears, therefore, to be most suit
able and conducive to health to combine
animal with vegetable food in due pro-
portions.
The proportion cannot be infinitely as
certained with respect to every individ-
ual; but, in a general sort of way, it may
be said, two-thirds or hree-fourths of
vegetables, to one-third or fourth part of
meat, appears to be the most proper.
By this judicious mixture we may avoid
the diseases arising from a too copious
use of either. Much, however, depends
on the peculiar properties of alimentary
substances belonging to one or the other
of the different classes. at is the part Of
a good and prudent physician to sub
scribe to and please the palate of his
patient" the illustrious Pare Chapter
on "Meat and Drink" in 1.-The Workes
of that Famous Chirurgion," Ambrose
Pare. 1879, said more than three hun
dred years ago. The Importance of this
precept- wisely applied cannot be over
estimated.
Master Peter Lowe (Scottishman,
Doctor in the Facultie of Chirurgery at
Paris, and Chirurgion to the French King
and Navarro, 1879, "doth counsaile us,
to use light and humble things, to open
the BELLY" and to emphasize this, he
appeals to the authority of "Divine
Hippocrates.
The eating of fruit at the commence
ment of meal, while it presents bland
or congenial material to the delicate lin
ing membrane of the alimentary organs,
forming welcome precursor to the more
substantial articles, many of which re-
quire protracted energy for their elabo-
ration into nutriment, at the same time,
is, to some extent, safeguard against
the over-feeding which comes from
reserving the fruits till the stomach is
already overloaded with enough, perhaps
too much, of other food. Fruits should
be ripe when eaten on an empty stomach,
and for their laxative effect should be
eaten before anything else. In this way
constipation may, with many individuals,
be obviated, especially when the guam
| tity of other articles of the meal is with
in reasonable limits.
A proper regulation of the diet is of
great Importance in the treatment of
habitual constipation. This usually de-
ponds on deficient secretion, or torpor
! Ia paretic state) of the muscular layer
of the intestines, which, as Peter Lowe
''doth counsaile u.s." can be in very
many cases cured or greatly helped by
his advice to "use light and humble
things in the morning, to open the belly. y
Not very refined way of putting it.,
some of my readers may feel tempted to
eXclaim, but certainly it is sound advice,
I in plain language, and therefore perfect
ly pardonabe. In addition to fruits,
/ benefit will be derived from the use of
corn bread, cracked wheat, oatmeal,
bread of unbolted flour, and such vege-
tables as green corn, tomatoes and
celery Those troubled with habitual
constipation, to moderate extent, may
overcome it by the daily use of dessert
of few almonds and raislns, about SIX
! of each. Haemorrhoids due to congestion
of the portal vein, or to constipation, Is
much benefited by the grape-cure, or a
diet of fruits and succulent vegetables.
There is probably nothing in which
Nature has been so bountlful to man, IN
whatever temperate or hot climate he
may be found, as in fruits. 1t is char
acteristic of all fruits that when ripe
they may be eaten in their raw state,
and of many that they may be eaten
cooked or raw. They consist essentially
of two parts, viz: the juices and the
cellular structures in which the juices are
contained; and it is necessary to add that,
whilst the juices may be readily trans
formed, the cells are not easily digested,
and when possible, are thrown away.
/ This is seen in such fruits as the orange
and apple when not of good quality or
not quite ripe. In such fruits as the
strawberry, the pineapple, the grape,
and even the banana, the cell-wall is
very thin, and this is easily broken up,
! SO CnaC ltS pTeSeICe Is uOt peICeptiule,
and the digestion of it cannot be difficult.
AS a general expression, it may be
stated of any fruit that the variety which
yields the richest juices in the creates,
quantity, whilst the cellular framework
is the least perceptible on mastication,
is the most preferred, and the most di
gestible.
We can hardly omit here saying what
may be understood from what has beer
said already, that though fruits in theil
ripest be at the same time in their mos
perfect state, they may, however, ever
in this state, be taken in too large guam
tity.
In the case of a dyspeptic stomach,
have known apples, long time aftel
they had been taken down, brought VI
again by eruction in the same masses
they had been swallowed, and that ever
after two days.
An excessive amount Of fruit, or, i
. eaten either in the un-ripe or over-rip'
state, produces various disturbances ii
the system, chiefly so because of its ten
dency to ferment and decompose within
the digestive tract, and to produce stom
ach and bowel disorders. If these dis
turbances are not too great, or too pro
longed, they need occasion no specia
anxiety. A dose of castor oil, to whic
a few drops of laudanum have been ad
ded, is usually sufficient to clean out tn
irrit tino ttdehris - and in 6av or tuy