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Classic
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page 412
patient's digesting. Keep the cup and saucer dry, so that no drops will fall on
the bed or clothing.
Beef-tea contains a certain amount of nourishment, and may be given in almost
any inflammatory disease. Eggs do not agree with all patients, but are
nourishing food when admissable. Tenderloin of beef, cut across the grain, and
broiled on live coals, without smoke, and well cooked or rare as the physician
may direct, is always relished, and a tender lamb-chop, broiled in the same way
with the fat removed before serving, is easily digested and nutritious Roasted
potatoes, very mealy, are preferred to other vegetables. Milk is a
representative diet, and when it agrees with the digestion, is probably better
adapted to strengthen the body in sickness than any other one article of food,
but it must be fresh and pure. The least taint of sourness is injurious.
Butter-milk, however, when fresh, is useful in fevers, bilious diseases, and
dyspepsia. Cream is even better than milk, and is less apt to turn acid in the
stomach. Many patients thrive on Indian-meal mush and cream, and any preparation
of Indian-meal are especially good for persons who are suffering from the loss
of natural warmth (see Bread-making). Oatmeal, Graham and rye mush, and
home-made brown bread are important articles of diet, greatly relished by the
sick. There are instances of persons recovering from serious illness where a
table-spoonful of rye mush, and half tea-cupful buttermilk, three times a day,
were all that could be taken for two or three weeks. A patient's craving for any
particular article of food should be communicated to the physician as it is
often a valuable indication of the wants of the system. These cravings should be
gratified whenever possible. Watermelons act on the kidneys, and are good in
many cases of fever, bowel complaint, etc. Celery also is good in some diseases
of the kidneys, and in nervousness. Fresh, crisp, raw cabbage, sliced fine and
eaten with good vinegar, is easily digested, and often highly relished by a
patient suffering from a "weak stomach." New cider is also excellent in many
cases of nervous dyspepsia. Fruits and berries, raw, ripe, and perfect, used in
moderation, are admirable remedies in cases of constipation and its attendant
diseases. The grape has a wide range of curative qualities. The seeds are
excellent for costiveness, the pulp is very nutritious and soothing to irritated
bowels, while the skins, if chewed, act as an astringent. Raw beef is excellent
in dysentery; it should be minced very fine, and given in doses of a spoonful at
a time every four hours, the patient in the meantime eating nothing else.
Bananas, or baked apples are good in chronic diarrh“a. A rind of bacon is good
for teething children to chew. Rice-water or rice-jelly are advisable in many
cases of convalescence from acute fever, summer complaint, and like diseases.
Fresh pop-corn, nicely salted, clam-broth, the juice of a roasted oyster in the
shell, soda-water, and peppermint-tea are remedies for sick stomach. Vegetable
acid drinks, herb-teas, toast-water, and all such drinks are often much
relished. A custard made from a preparation
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