Winter Meeting. 285 



tend to keep the organs of secretion, the liver, kidneys, etc., as well, 

 as the whole digestive track, in a healthy condition. The free acids 

 of fruits, especially citric and malic, are highly antiseptic bodies, 

 and tend to prevent disease germs from finding a lodgment and de- 

 veloping in the body. 



In our climate, subject as we often are to rapid changes and ex- 

 tremes of temperature, the physical system is naturally more or less 

 debilitated. In this condition vve are predisposed to malaria and 

 other troubles. Fruits and acid vegetables are known to be good 

 correctives for this debilitated condition. We should remember that, 

 as a rule, the full beneficial effects of fruit are only to be found in 

 those that are well grown and mature. Green or unripe fruits may 

 have an abundant supply of acids, but such fruits are usually in- 

 jurious when eaten, on account of their indigestibility. 



This is due partly to the fact that the starch is not yet con- 

 verted into sugar, and partly to the coarse and hard condition of 

 the cellulose. When fruits are perfectly developed and properly 

 matured, practically all the starch is converted into sugar, and the 

 cellulose is soft and fine. We know that unripe fruit is not 

 wholesome. It digests slowly, often ferments in the stomach, and 

 is the cause of painful disorders. If it is unwise to take into our 

 stomachs unripe fruit, it is equally unwise to eat that which is over- 

 ripe. The best results from the dietetic use of fruits come from eat- 

 ing those that are fresh, healthy and well matured, and using them 

 regularly, making them form some part of every meal. 



Fine fruits are the flowers of edible commodities. They 

 please the eye, gratify the taste, and minister to our health. 



If we appreciate them at their worth, we would grow them 

 more generally, use them more freely and see that our country is 

 better supplied with this wholesome, palatable class of food pro- 

 ducts. 



In discussion following this paper Mr. Colling-wood said that 

 the people of the east were great fruit eaters. They are going to 

 eat apples if they can get them. That this fruit is good for man to 

 eat, there is no question. You will even notice that prize fighters 

 include apples in their bill of fare. I belong to a club which 

 promises to try and live one hundred years. In consulting the best 

 advice as to the means to accomplish this, they advise the use of 

 apples. So part of our creed is to eat three baked apples a day. 

 You are never able to find heavy drinkers among the hearty eaters 

 of apples. If the people right in this town would eat apples like 



