■f 04 ^^- ^srcival on the Effects of Famine, &c. 



been lately extolled in France, under the name 

 of PATTiGUMO, as a remedy for catarrhal de- 

 fluxions. I have feen cakes made of thefe in- 

 gredients, and think they might very well be 

 applied to the purpofe of obviating hunger. 

 They are not perifhable in the hotteft climates, 

 may be carried about the perfon with con- 

 venience, and though very tough, are pleafant 

 to the tafte. In the formula by which they are 

 made, the proportion of fugar is too large, and 

 that of gum arable too fmall, if the mafs be in- 

 tended to affuage the cravings of appetite. Ac- 

 cording to my information, the receipt is as 

 follows. Take of fine fugar four ounces, and 

 of gum arabic one ounce : Levigate them well 

 together, and add half an ounce of rofe water, 

 and of the whites of eggs a fufficient quantity. 



In our attempts to recover thofe who have fuf- 

 fered under the calamities of famine, great cir- 

 cumfpeclion is required. Warmth, cordials, and 

 food are the means to be employed ; and it is 

 evident that thcfe may prove too powerful in 

 their operation, if not adminiftered with caution 

 and judgment. For the body, by long fading, 

 is reduced to a ftate of more than infantile debi- 

 lity ; the minuter vefiels of the brain, and of the 

 other organs, collapfe for want of fluids to dif- 

 tend them j the ftomach and inteftines fhrink 

 jn their capacity; and the heart languidly vi- 

 brates, having fcarcely fufficient energy to pro- 

 fit 



