|
Classic
Cook Books
< last page | next page >
page 408
shower or a plunge, but by vigorously dashing the water on the body with the
hands, and afterwards rubbing briskly with a coarse towel. This was continued
without missing a single morning for years. In the meantime the strictest diet
was instituted. By experimenting, the patient found what he could eat without
harm, and ate that only in very small quantities, measuring his food on his
plate before beginning his meal, and limiting himself rigidly to that quantity.
His principal food for nearly three years was cracked wheat and Graham mush, and
the last meal was taken at two o'clock in the afternoon--not a particle of food
passed his lips from that time until the next morning, thus giving the stomach
complete rest and time to begin the work of recuperation. Special attention was
given to eating slowly and thoroughly masticating the food, and not to eat too
much, too fast, or too often were rules strictly and rigidly observed. Bathing,
diet, rest, sleep, and gentle exercise in the open air did the work. It was a
dreadful conflict--days of struggle and temptation, requiring more heroism and
steady tenacity of purpose than would nerve a soldier for battle, for such a
battle is for the day, but this fight was renewed every morning and continued
every day for months and years. But patience, courage, intelligent judgment, and
a strict adherence to the above regimen won the day without a grain or a drop of
medicine, and Judge W. believes that the good Lord of us all has never permitted
any man to discover or invent medicine that will cure dyspepsia. Nature is the
only perfect physician. Cold water, fresh air, the natural grain (wheat), sleep,
rest and gentle exercise make up the grand panacea. With these alone, and the
self denial and moral courage to persist in the good fight, the confirmed,
nervous, miserable dyspeptic, became a well, strong, and hearty man in five
days? No. In five months? No. In five years? Yes; and after the fight, when
contemplating the victory won, he could say with the model philanthropist, Amos
Lawrence, after his battle of fifteen long years with the same disease, "If men
only knew how sweet the victory is, they would not hesitate a moment to engage
in the conflict."
< last page | next page >
Classic
Cook Books
|
