DIET FOR CONSUMPTION. 313 



for white bread known to be free from alum. If brown bread be 

 not eaten exclusively, a little should be taken with every meal; its 

 effects will thus be more uniformly distributed through the alimen- 

 tary canal than if only taken occasionally. White bread, when 

 eaten, should be stale; hot rolls, muffins, crumpets, tea-cakes and 

 spongy, buttered toast are not allowable. Bread and potatoes, and 

 indeed all farinaceous food, require to be thoroughly masticated 

 and mixed with saliva, as, correctly speaking, digestion begins in 

 the mouth. Of meats, beef and mutton, chicken and game may 

 be eaten in moderation. Bacon is the most soothing of fats to the 

 digestive canal and may be eaten freely. This, or two teaspoonfuls 

 of salad oil, taken at bed-time will prevent that drying and harden- 

 ing of the contents of the bowels which causes impaction and con- 

 sequent inconvenience. Pork and veal are most indigestible meats ; 

 also boiled salt meats, wild duck and goose. 



Green vegetables, such as spinach, turnips, greens, green arti- 

 choke and asparagus, also the heads of cauliflower, may be eaten 

 freely. Lettuce, water-cress and dandelion are also useful, eaten 

 raw. Care must be taken that potatoes are thoroughly boiled and 

 mealy, while new, hard, waxy ones must be avoided altogether. 

 Roast-apples, stewed pippins and stewed prunes are much better 

 than pastry. Rhubarb, and other ripe fruits in season, or preserved, 

 except such as contain small seeds, may be taken freely. Condi- 

 ments, pickles, melted butter, highly seasoned sauces, woody vege- 

 tables, such as celery and cheese, must be avoided by all costive 

 subjects. Curds and whey are perhaps suitable when the gastric 

 juice is deficient, as the previous conversion of milk into curds 

 relieves the stomach of its first digestive process. For tea and coffee, 

 cocoa made from the nibs may be substituted with great advantage. 

 Pure, soft water is a very valuable accessory, both as a drink and 

 for use by enema. A tumbler of water taken while dressing is ser- 

 viceable, or some may prefer a drink of weak clove-water the first 

 thing in the morning a tumblerful of water made spicy by pour- 

 ing boiling water overnight on a few cloves, and letting them stand 

 till morning. 



DIET FOR CONSUMPTION. 



Adults For older persons the diet should be digestible, 

 nourishing, varied and sufficiently abundant to meet the require- 

 ments of each case. As a general rule it should include animal 

 food as fat as can be digested, once or twice a day ; oysters and other 

 wholesome kinds of fish, especially those varieties which are richest 

 in phosphorus; good home-made bread, not less than one day old 1 , 

 puddings of arrow-root, rice, sago, tapioca, etc., taken, if preferred, 

 with stewed fruit; various kinds or green vegetables and mealy 

 potatoes, oatmeal and milk; good milk is a priceless article of diet: 



