444 MEALS MEDICINAL. 
well understood to possess a nutrient value independent of their 
moderate percentage of alcohol, particularly for thin and weak 
invalids. 
A Malt extract of established repute as the parent of all those 
now supplied for helping the invalid, (and declared by the Lancet 
to supersede them) was introduced by Hoff, of Hamburg, in 
1862, and still holds a supreme place in medical esteem. It is a 
soluble carbohydrate, being thus an ideal fat-former ; and whilst 
almost entirely free from alcohol, it will serve as an excellent sub- 
stitute for alcoholic drinks, since the next step to saccharine 
fermentation in starchy foods is that of the vinous change, (a 
measure of which most probably occurs as digestion goes on to 
its completion.) Thus it happens, moreover, that the Hoff’s 
Malt extract helps to soothe nervous disquietude, or wakefulness 
at night. A small wineglassful is given, either warm, or cold, 
together with a principal meal, either once or twice daily. This 
extract is not fermented after the manner of Malt liquors in 
general, which always provoke further acid fermentation with 
gouty persons, and give trouble to their kidneys. Dr. Hutchison 
instructs his readers, that as to augmenting the supply of carbo- 
hydrates, or converted starch-products, by giving Malt extract, 
the fact is that treacle and golden syrup contain a considerably 
higher percentage of sugar, and are much cheaper, though Malt 
sugar is less apt to disagree, since it cannot be directly taken up 
into the system. On mixing about one part of Malt, ground into 
flour, with from four to eight parts of oatmeal, an excellent and 
easily digested material for porridge is obtained, which is strongly 
to be commended for persons of feeble digestion. Mattieu 
Williams teaches that by adding the ferment principle (diastase) 
of vegetables to materials which are starchy, we transform the 
tissues thereof into dextrin and sugar; on which principle he once 
converted an old pocket handkerchief, and part of an old shirt, 
into sugar, (but not profitably as a commercial transaction). 
Such sugar is glucose, like that of honey and of grapes. It 1s 
less sweet than cane sugar, or that of beet, but a better food. 
When Sydney Smith was at Foston, in Yorkshire, where he built 
the “ Rector’s Head” Tavern, he gave fermented grains to his 
pigs, which afterwards “ went fuddled about their sty, grunting 
God Save the King.” 
Under stress of circumstances other vegetable matters than 
A __ barley can be used for brewing an acceptable kind of beer as a 
