In acute diseases, the diet should generally be of the
simplest and lightest kind, such as beef-tea or mutton-broth,
sago, tapioca, arrowroot, or gruel, with, at the same time, some
little respect paid to the palate. Due regard, however, must be
paid to the general character and condition of the constitution.
For instance, acute diseases may occur in a very debilitated
state of the health, and then may require the addition to the
above of some alcoholic stimulant. The stomach in such
cases would not be able to digest solid food. The absence of
this must be supplied by soups, broths, eggs, etc.
In the feeding of invalids, even children, some attention
may be paid to their cravings after different articles. It will
often be found that the thing longed for is not injurious, and
412 MfiblCiNAt.
may be often called for in obedience to some indication by
nature. The following incident may serve to illustrate this
observation: A child of about four or five years old was suffer-
ing under diphtheria, and had got to refuse the port wine and
beef-tea that had been ordered it. It seemed that there was
nothing for it but that the child must die from starvation and
diphtheria together. One day she woke up from a nap and saw
a glass of ale, which was being drunk by its mother with her
luncheon. This ale the child cried for, but the mother feared
to allow her to drink. When appealed to, the medical attend-
ant said, "By all means let the child have it; and even put it
in her way that she may take it herself without let or hind-
rance." The next time the child woke up she eagerly clutched
at the malt liquor and drank off a tumblerful. From that
moment she began to mend, and for the next forty-eight hours
persistently refused everything else, either as food or medicine,
and eventually made a good recovery. When the disease,
though acute, is of a less severe character, and is not stamped
with extreme debility, the stomach will tolerate light solids,
such as white fish, fowls, bread, rice, light puddings, and ripe,
pulpy fruit and vegetables may be taken with advantage, as the
acids allay thirst. In chronic disease a fuller diet is required,
comprising meat with some stimulant.
Milk. — Milk is the most important article of diet in infancy,
and is also both nutritious and digestible in diseases of adult
life. A prejudice exists in the minds of many persons to the
effect that milk is not easily digested. The opinion is, how-
ever, refuted by the fact that it forms the nourishment of
infants and of young animals of all kinds. Cow's milk, how-
ever, is sometimes unsuited to the stomachs of infants brought
up by hand; or, from its richness in oil and curd, to the stom-
achs of persons enfeebled by disease. The best substitute
that can be used is asses' or goat's milk. The latter, however,
is richer than the former.
Page 305
Presented as published in 1883. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
In acute diseases, the diet should generally be of the simplest and lightest kind, such as beef-tea or mutton-broth, sago, tapioca, arrowroot, or gruel, with, at the same time, some little respect paid to the palate. Due regard, however, must be paid to the general character and condition of the constitution. For instance, acute diseases may occur in a very debilitated state of the health, and then may require the addition to the above of some alcoholic stimulant. The stomach in such cases would not be able to digest solid food. The absence of this must be supplied by soups, broths, eggs, etc.
In the feeding of invalids, even children, some attention may be paid to their cravings after different articles. It will often be found that the thing longed for is not injurious, and
412 MEDICINAL.
may be often called for in obedience to some indication by nature. The following incident may serve to illustrate this observation: A child of about four or five years old was suffering under diphtheria, and had got to refuse the port wine and beef-tea that had been ordered it. It seemed that there was nothing for it but that the child must die from starvation and diphtheria together. One day she woke up from a nap and saw a glass of ale, which was being drunk by its mother with her luncheon. This ale the child cried for, but the mother feared to allow her to drink. When appealed to, the medical attendant said, "By all means let the child have it; and even put it in her way that she may take it herself without let or hindrance." The next time the child woke up she eagerly clutched at the malt liquor and drank off a tumblerful. From that moment she began to mend, and for the next forty-eight hours persistently refused everything else, either as food or medicine, and eventually made a good recovery. When the disease, though acute, is of a less severe character, and is not stamped with extreme debility, the stomach will tolerate light solids, such as white fish, fowls, bread, rice, light puddings, and ripe, pulpy fruit and vegetables may be taken with advantage, as the acids allay thirst. In chronic disease a fuller diet is required, comprising meat with some stimulant.
Milk. — Milk is the most important article of diet in infancy, and is also both nutritious and digestible in diseases of adult life. A prejudice exists in the minds of many persons to the effect that milk is not easily digested. The opinion is, however, refuted by the fact that it forms the nourishment of infants and of young animals of all kinds. Cow's milk, however, is sometimes unsuited to the stomachs of infants brought up by hand; or, from its richness in oil and curd, to the stomachs of persons enfeebled by disease. The best substitute that can be used is asses' or goat's milk. The latter, however, is richer than the former.