502 MEALS MEDICINAL 
indigenous tree throughout England. Filberts are superior nuts — 
for dessert, being free from oil, and therefore seldom disagreeing. 
In 1897 a number of physicians in various parts of Europe made 
experiments for deciding as to the nutritive, and medicinal 
properties of all kinds of Nuts, and published their conclusions, 
favouring the use thereof in both capacities under certain 
conditions. One fact advanced was that Nuts contain a special 
kind of salt, particularly adapted for softening, and lubricating 
the muscular coats of arteries. Some of these physicians 
asserted that elderly persons would be benefited by a more 
liberal Nut diet ; but Nut-meats must be thoroughly masticated, 
or finely pounded, so that no hard, insoluble pieces may reach 
the intestinal canal. Nuts are practically devoid of such carbo- 
hydrates as starch, and sugar, except cellulose, whilst rich in 
proteid, and fat; they may therefore be given with advantage 
in almost every case of diabetes. The fatty matter predominates 
in their composition, and by reason of this fat various Nut- 
butters have been prepared, which are actually quite as nutritive 
as ordinary butter, and more economical; nevertheless, they 
are not readily digested in the stomach, partly because their 
fat is often rancid, and partly because their structural cellulose 
is so firm, and close, and compact. 
“* The sweetest nut hath sourest rind ; 
Such a nut is Rosalind.” —As you like it. 
For persons whose teeth are defective, Nuts may be ground in 
a small nut-mill, as made for the purpose. Grated nuts are an 
excellent addition to stewed fruits; they are much in favour 
with vegetarians. Roasted Hazel Nuts (first removing the skin 
thereof by rubbing them when hot) are excellent with bread and 
butter. The Hazel Nut (Coryllus avellana) contains an abundant 
supply of vegetable oil, and is therefore of service (to persons 
who can digest it) for keeping up the bodily warmth in cold 
weather. Nut sandwiches are popular in New York, made with 
brown bread, buttered, and cut in very thin slices, which are then 
sprinkled with chopped Nuts. 
The Chesnut, as already described, is probably of the chiefest 
dietetic value among Nuts. Evelyn says of them “they are 
a lusty and masculine food for rustics at all times, and of 
better nourishment for husbandmen than cole and rusty bacon, 
yea, or beans to boot.” One of the witches in ‘ Macbeth 
