The housekeeper's companion

Astringent wines, such as Burgundy, Hungarian, Bordeaux, etc., are less liable to ferment in the stomach. Port, Madeira, sherry, Marsala, are all stronger wines, and are said to be highly brandied, and therefore less wholesome for ordinary consumption; but they are (if moderately good) more useful for medicinal purposes than the lighter wines, which may be safer for daily use dietically. In this matter, however, as in many others where eating and drinking are concerned, quantity is often a more important element in the question than quality. There is, moreover, so much in fashion that it is almost impossible to say which wines are best. Moderation is the golden pule. Spirits, the type of which may be taken to be brandy, are only of value as medicinal agents, and for these purposes they are sometimes invaluable — e. g., in low fevers, in some inflammations, and in stalte of debility, in sickness, and generally as indicated under the several headings of diseases in the preceding pages. We have no hesitation in affirming that raw or diluted raw spirits can never be advantageously used merely as Ordinary beverages by those who can obtain wholesome malt liquor or wines. The habit of spirit-drinking (as grog every night) as practiced by many "very respectable people" in the middle classes, is not one whit morally or physically better than the habit of the poor besotted creaturess who swarm in and out of the London gin palaces. With the moral aspects of the habit it may be said that we are not concerned, but of the physical aspects we feel morally bound by a solemn responsibility to speak. ]From our own personal observations we woulwarning all whom it may concern, that the "night-cap," as it is miscalled, gradually generates disease of the brain, liver, kidneys, with all the horrible train of diseases — delirium, paralysis, dropsy, and many others 42Q MEDICINES AND THEIR DOSES. Over and above the physical and psychological agencies which have been referred to in various parts of these remarks, we have now to advise with our readers on the pharmaceutical means of combating disease — means which are commonly regarded as the most direct and indispensible for the purpose of modifying or arresting morbid processes. That the swallowing of drugs, however, is not the whole therapeutics will have been seen throughout these pages; as, nevertheless, their judicious use allays suffering, shortens the course of disease, and promotes restoration to health, we have selected for notice some which we deem most useful, pointing out their most prominent properties, or most common uses. The appropriate doses are stated under three periods of life — viz.: infancy, childhood, adult age. The doses that are herein advised are quite within the limits of heroic treatment, and may be given with confidence as not unduly large. Where a blank is left, under the head of doses, it is implied that the medicine is not suited for young children. The frequency with which the dose is to be repeated mus be learnt from the instructions given under each disease. LIST OP MEDICINES.* l^ame. Acetate of ammonia, solution of, or Min dereruB spirit Aloaa Aloes, decoction of Property. tDiuretic, tDiaphoretic Purgative Ditto Doses. Infancy. Childhood. 2drmB 2 to 5 grains H ounce Adult Age. % ounce 5 to 10 grains. 1 onnce