QUALITIES OF SUGAR. 231 



and especially for yielding a greater quantity of 

 nourishment in a given quantity of matter, than 

 can be obtained from any other with which we are 

 acquainted ? 



This fact is well known to the Indians, who carry 

 it with them in their excursions from home. When 

 unable to obtain cane-sugar, they mix a certain 

 quantity of such as they collect from the maple, with 

 an equal quantity of dried and powdered Indian 

 corn, in its milky state. This mixture is packed in 

 little baskets, which are frequently wetted in travel- 

 ling, without injuring the sugar ; and a few spoon- 

 fuls mixed with half a pint of spring water, affords 

 a pleasant and invigorating meal. From the degree 

 of strength which is thus imparted by a small quan- 

 tity of sugar, it might probably be given with much 

 advantage to horses, in places and under circum- 

 stances which make it difficult to obtain for them 

 their natural food. Certain it is, that a pound of 

 sugar, mixed with grass, or hay, has supported the 

 strength and spirits of a horse, through a day's 

 labour, in one of the West India islands: and that 

 a larger quantity given alone, fattened both horses 

 and cattle, in Hispaniola, for a period of several 

 months, when, during war time, the exportation of 

 sugar and the importation of grain were prevented, 

 from the want of ships. Sugar also is beneficial as 

 a medicine, and hence a love for this aliment is im- 

 planted in young children, as if to save them from 

 many juvenile disorders. Dr. Rush knew a gentle- 

 man in Philadelphia, who early adopted this opinion, 

 and who, by indulging a large family in the use of 

 sugar preserved them from complaints, to which 



