Fowls, Poultry, Game, though generally regarded as
light and digestible, are not always so in the cases of the invalid
or convalescent; they are not wholly digested much under
four or five hours.
Fish, especially the white sorts, are easy of digestion, ac-
cording as they are plainly cooked. Salted fish are more slowly
digested fish, as also are those that are fat, such as salmono
Much depends, however, upon the cooking, and of the adjuncts,
the sauces, etc.
Melted butter is usually taken with fish, but is better omit-
ted when they are food of the invalid. Butter, when melted,
or prepared in any way over fire, readily becomes altered in its
composition, and yields various fatty acids, which are the
sources of indigestion. This is more especially the case with
pastry, such as short pie-crust, etc. For the delicate stomach,
fish cannot be too plainly and simply cooked; under these
circumstances they form a light and nutritious diet.
Shell Fish, including under the term oysters, mussels,
whelks, lobsters, crabs, are more or less difficult of digestion,
and unsuitable for invalids. Oysters are, perhaps, the least
open to the objection, but they require three or four hours'
digestion, and are not the light nourishment usually supposed,
unless very carefully cooked. Sweetbread and tripe are easy
of digestion, as also are the brains of animals. Liver and
kidneys are the reverse of digestible.
Ripe Fruits and Vegetables are more easily digested
than any of the preceding articles; but then, as they consist of
a large proportion of water, they are not so nourishing as ani-
mal substances. Vegetarians supplement the deficient nutri
tive qualities of vegetables by a liberal allowance of animal
matter in the shape of eggs and milk.
MEDICINAL. 417
Cheese, being almost entirely an albuminous substance,
contains a very large amount of nutriment; but, from this ele-
ment being combined with the fatty acids and some of the oily
constituents of milk, it is not easily digested by weak stomachs
when taken alone. It nevertheless is often useful in prompt-
ing the digestion of other food, to which it sometimes acts
after the manner of a ferment when taken in small quantities;
for instance, after dinner.
Sausage, when fresh, are not unwholesome, and they con-
tain a large quantity of nourishment in a compact form.
Alcoholic Stimulants. — The treatment of disease, and
more particularly of convalescence, can scarcely be conducted
without the adminstration of stimulants; but it is obvious that
it should be accompanied with emphatic caution lest the use
grow into the abuse thereof. An occasional dose may soon
become the habitual dram, unless self-denial and self-control
be exercised.
We are not here called upon to follow in the wake of those
who feel it their duty to expose the errors and weaknesses of
their neighbors; suffice it that we admit that in all directions
we see too free indulgence in alcoholic stimulation. There
can be no two opinions upon that point. There is no amount
of health or wealth that cannot or will not surely be destroyed
by any one who determinedly gives himself up to drink.
Page 309
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
Fowls, Poultry, Game, though generally regarded as light and digestible, are not always so in the cases of the invalid or convalescent; they are not wholly digested much under four or five hours.
Fish, especially the white sorts, are easy of digestion, according as they are plainly cooked. Salted fish are more slowly digested than fish, as also are those that are fat, such as salmon. Much depends, however, upon the cooking, and of the adjuncts, the sauces, etc.
Melted butter is usually taken with fish, but is better omitted when they are food of the invalid. Butter, when melted, or prepared in any way over fire, readily becomes altered in its composition, and yields various fatty acids, which are the sources of indigestion. This is more especially the case with pastry, such as short pie-crust, etc. For the delicate stomach, fish cannot be too plainly and simply cooked; under these circumstances they form a light and nutritious diet.
Shell Fish, including under the term oysters, mussels, whelks, lobsters, crabs, are more or less difficult of digestion, and unsuitable for invalids. Oysters are, perhaps, the least open to the objection, but they require three or four hours' digestion, and are not the light nourishment usually supposed, unless very carefully cooked. Sweetbread and tripe are easy of digestion, as also are the brains of animals. Liver and kidneys are the reverse of digestible.
Ripe Fruits and Vegetables are more easily digested than any of the preceding articles; but then, as they consist of a large proportion of water, they are not so nourishing as animal substances. Vegetarians supplement the deficient nutri tive qualities of vegetables by a liberal allowance of animal matter in the shape of eggs and milk.
Cheese, being almost entirely an albuminous substance, contains a very large amount of nutriment; but, from this element being combined with the fatty acids and some of the oily constituents of milk, it is not easily digested by weak stomachs when taken alone. It nevertheless is often useful in prompting the digestion of other food, to which it sometimes acts after the manner of a ferment when taken in small quantities; for instance, after dinner.
Sausage, when fresh, are not unwholesome, and they contain a large quantity of nourishment in a compact form.
Alcoholic Stimulants. — The treatment of disease, and more particularly of convalescence, can scarcely be conducted without the adminstration of stimulants; but it is obvious that it should be accompanied with emphatic caution lest the use grow into the abuse thereof. An occasional dose may soon become the habitual dram, unless self-denial and self-control be exercised.
We are not here called upon to follow in the wake of those who feel it their duty to expose the errors and weaknesses of their neighbors; suffice it that we admit that in all directions we see too free indulgence in alcoholic stimulation. There can be no two opinions upon that point. There is no amount of health or wealth that cannot or will not surely be destroyed by any one who determinedly gives himself up to drink.