Year: 1868

things which we should avoid. Experi-
ence is guide to men in such matters
There are some people, however, who are
so peculiarly constituted, that matters
the most harmless to the mass Of man.
kind act upon them in the most distress
ing manner. For instance, some persons
cannot eat bit of lobster salad without
its having very curious effect upon
their complexion. We know lady who
once indulged at supper time in salad
of this kind, and upon her return to the
ballroom, her face and neck Immediately
became covered with spots, obliging her
to retire. Cookies and shrimps have
like effect upon persons thus peculiarly
constituted. A medical friend tells us
that eating veal gives lady of his ac-
quaintance the nettle-rash, and that
orange-peel, has produced great nervous
excitement. Figs, again, give rise in
some people to what is termed fornica-
ton or a sensation like the tickling
movements Of ants upon the palate. The
most extraordinary example Of the ad-
verse influence Of common article of
food upon the human stomach is related
by surgeon of one of our public hospi-
tails. He says that patient of his can
not touch rice without the most extreme
| discomfort son one occasion, when at
dinner party, he felt the symptoms Of
rice poisoning come on, and was, as usual
obliged to retire from the table. though
he had not partaken of any dish ostensi-
bly, containing rice. 1t appeared, on in
vestigation, that some white soup with
which he had commenced his dinner had
been thickened with ground rice" In
another case similar symptoms having
come on after gentleman had partaken
of bottled beer, this extraordinary
fact was explained by the presence in
the bottle of few grains of rice which
had been placed there to excite a secon-
Diary fermentation. But what is this to
the perverse stomach of a gentleman in
the case cited by DR.. Prout, who was
poisoned by eating a mutton chop9 The
most digestible of all flesh to the ordina-
ry mortal was to him positively as poi
sonous as though he had eaten toadstools.
1t was at first imagined by his physician
that his dislike to this kind of food arose
from mere fancy, and in order to test
him, mutton disguised was served to him
as other flesh meat, but always with the
the same result, violent vomiting and di-
arrhea. Indeed, the effect dpon him was
so great that had he been kept upon
mutton diet, DR.. Prout believed he would
have died.


Some persons cannot touch honey with
out the very alarming symptoms appear
ing of swelling Of the tongue, frothing
of the mouth and blueness of the fingers.
Mustard applied to some eccentric skins
will produce violent twitchings Of the
muscles of the face, arms and legs.


Many persons we know cannot remain
in room where there is cheese; and we
are told of an eccentric constitution that
could not sit at table where there was
a cooked hare. Eggs, again, rebel in the
most violent manner against some stom-
achs. The sense Of touch, too, is very
eccentric in some individuals, and the
handling Of russet apple is intolerable
to gentleman we have heard Of; and
the mere passing of the hand along the
bristles of brush produces the most ex-
lquisite nervous distress in lady Of our
acquaintance.


The emanations arising from vegetable
sources have very marked effect upon
some people. Indeed, there is disease
known as the hay asthma, which, at the
hay harvest, periodically affects many
persons xho reside anywhere near hay
fields when they are being moved. The
reason is well known. Floating particles
of the seed are always set free at such a
time, and striking against the mucous
membranes Of the nose, mouth and throat
of the individual liable to this affection,
produce spasmodic action of the throat,
which is not only very distressing, but
dangerous. The late duke of Richmond
was very liable to the hay asthma, and
during the hay making season he always
retired to Brighton, the Downs near
which place protected him from the dan
ger of haymaking. The direction of the
wind is of Importance in this affection,
inasmuch as when it blows from the
quarter where haymaking operations are
going on the sufferer feels the distressing
inhiction with increased virulence; when,
however, the wind blows in the contrary
direction he is exempt from its influence.
Ipecacuanha, again is most obnoxious to
many individuals, producing vomiting
and diarrhea. The mere removal of a
stopper from a bottle containing this
drug will produce in some persons an in