380 



THE CENTURY BOOK OF FACTS. 



be large, the temperature low, and the fall 

 considerable. Its effects are also more speedy, 

 and extend more to the internal organs than 

 those of the common bath. When the result 

 is beneficial the glow is felt almost imme- 

 diately, consequently when recourse is had to 

 it, the bather should withdraw immediately 

 after the shock ; if its use is prolonged it 

 quickly lowers, and at last destroys the sensi- 

 bility, and is then highly injurious. For del- 

 icate persons, the tepid shower bath is prefera- 

 ble ; and salt added to the water is an improve- 

 ment. When used for hygienic purposes the 

 best time to take the shower bath is imme- 

 diately after rising in the morning. 



Sponge Bath. Sponging the body off 

 with water and a sponge or cloth is as effectual, 

 though perhaps not as pleasant, as any other 

 form of bathing, and may be resorted to when 

 bathing conveniences are not at hand. It is 

 frequently adopted in cases of fever, to cool 

 the surface of the body ; but as its action is 

 powerful it is rather venturesome to employ it 

 except as directed by the physician. Spong- 

 ing is also used successfully as a tonic to ward 

 off disease. It is found especially serviceable 

 when a person is disposed to asthma or is suf- 

 fering from a cough. For this purpose the 

 chest may be sponged daily, and afterwards 

 well rubbed and dried, so as to produce a glow 

 on the surface. In some cases vinegar and 

 water, or salt and water are preferable and 

 then much rubbing is not necessary. This is 

 an excellent method for bathing very young 

 children. 



THE TREATMENT OF CORPU- 

 LENCE. 



According to Ebstein, in his work on cor- 

 pulence, fattening is strictly analogous to the 

 fattening of cattle, and depends on overfeed- 

 ing. He, however, disputes the current view 

 that fat makes fat ; on the contrary, he thinks 

 fatty food protects the albumen, and prevents 

 its forming fat. His plan of treatment, there- 

 fore, consists in moderating the quantity of 

 food, and while cutting off all vegetable carbo- 

 hydrates, sugar, starch, etc., allowing a mod- 

 erate quantity of fat, two or three ounces 

 daily to be taken. He also suggests that the 

 diet should be monotonous, greasy, and suc- 

 culent, so as to cause satiety rapidly. He dis- 

 allows beer, but permits light wines. 



The plan advocated appears rational, and is 

 free from the objection to Banting's method, 

 which is too much like starvation. The fol- 

 lowing is the diet used successfully by Ebstein 

 in one of his cases : ->- 



Breakfast. One large cup of black tea 

 about half a pint without sugar ; two ounces 



of white bread or brown bread, toasted, with 

 plenty of butter. 



Dinner. Soup, often with marrow; from 

 four to six and one half ounces of roast or 

 boiled meat ; vegetables in moderation, legu- 

 minous preferably, and cabbages. Turnips were 

 almost, and potatoes altogether, excluded. 

 After dinner a little fresh fruit. For second 

 course a salad or stewed fruit without sugar. 

 Two or three glasses of light wine, and imme- 

 diately after dinner a large cup of black tea, 

 without milk or sugar. 



Supper. A large cup of black tea, as be- 

 fore. An egg, a little fat roast meat, or both, 

 or some ham with its fat, Bologna sausage, 

 smoked or dried fish, about an ounce of white 

 bread well buttered, occasionally a small quan- 

 tity of cheese, and some fresh fruit. 



On this diet the patient lost twenty pounds 

 in six months. 



Ebstein insists on the necessity of always 

 keeping to the restricted diet if the tendency 

 to corpulence is to be successfully combated. 



Dr. George Johnson's diet for excess of fat : 

 The patient may eat : lean mutton and beef, 

 veal, lamb, tongue, sweetbreads, soups, not 

 thickened, beef tea and broths, poultry, game, 

 fish, cheese, eggs, bread in moderation, greens, 

 spinach, watercress, mustard and cress, let- 

 tuce, asparagus, celery, radishes, French beans, 

 green pease, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauli- 

 flower, onions, broccoli, sea-kale, jellies, flavored 

 but not sweetened, fresh fruit in moderation, 

 without sugar or cream, pickles. 



May not eat: Fat bacon and ham, fat of 

 meat, butter, cream, sugar, potatoes, carrots, 

 parsnips, beet root, rice, arrowroot, sago, tapi- 

 oca,, macaroni, vermicelli, semolina, custard, 

 pastry, and pudding of all kinds, sweet cakes. 



May drink: Tea, coffee, cocoa from nibs, 

 with milk, but without cream or sugar, 

 cereal coffee made from parched grain ; also 

 a very agreeable drink extensively used is a 

 preparation known as Postum. Apollinaris 

 water, soda water, seltzer water. 



May not drink': Milk, except sparingly, 

 porter and stout, sweet ales, sweet wines. As 

 a. rule, alcoholic liquors should be taken very 

 sparingly, and never without food. 



MEDICINAL FOOD. 



Spinach has a direct effect upon complaints 

 of the kidneys ; the common dandelion, used as 

 greens, is excellent for the same trouble ; aspar- 

 agus purifies the blood ; celery acts admirably 

 upon the nervous system, and is a cure for 

 rheumatism and neuralgia ; tomatoes act upon 

 the liver ; beets and turnips are excellent appe- 

 tizers ; lettuce and cucumbers are cooling in 

 their effects upon the system ; beans are a very 



