PREFACE, xi 
adding zest to the present fare, with a better savour, like 
that of a twice-cooked curry. ‘‘Scepe stylum vertas, iterum 
que digna legi sint scripturus.” 
Having done assiduous scullion service in these three 
branches of medicinal apprenticeship, and thereby acquired a 
skilled knowledge of the complete culinary art, as to its needs 
and methods for the benefit of the sick and the sorry, we now 
promote ourselves to the advanced office of a physician chef; 
and we proceed to furnish curative nutriment of as finished a 
quality as prolonged experience, and the modern scientific 
progress of the times in such regard, justify us in attempting 
to advance. Our menu provides a complete dispensatory of 
remedial diet, applicable to the treatment throughout of most 
diseases and ailments. Its modus medendi is made lucid 
and plain, so that any intelligent reader may straightway 
pursue its directions. As to our discursive condiments inter- 
posed, such ‘ Digressions,” saith Tristram Shandy, “ are 
incontestably the sunshine, the life, the soul of reading ; take 
them out of this book, for instance, you might as well take 
the book along with them. One cold, eternal winter would 
reign in every page of it ; restore them to the writer, he steps 
forth like a bridegroom, bids all hail, brings in variety, and 
forbids the appetite to falter. All the dexterity is in the 
good cooking, and management of them, so as to be for the 
advantage, not only of the reader, but also of the author.” 
Nevertheless, Si te forte mew gravis uret sarcina charte,— 
abjicito ! 
For ourselves we venture to adopt the instructive parable 
related by Saint Luke in his gospel: ‘‘ A certain man has 
made a great supper, and bids many thereto. He sendeth 
forth his servant to say to them that are bidden, ‘‘Come, for 
all things are ready.” Idle excuses, let us hope that but 
