334 DIET FOB FEVERS AND INFLAMMATIONS. 



watching, in case the acidity of the stomach should cause the for- 

 mation and ejection of cheesy lumps. To avert this result a little 

 lime-water or soda-water may be added to the milk. Whey will be 

 found refreshing and grateful ; and sour buttermilk is not to be de- 

 spised. Beef -juice or jelly, mutton-broth or beef- tea, with as small 

 a quantity of the meat-fibre as possible may take the place of milk 

 in many instances. If these are regularly and freely given the 

 danger of starvation is averted, the emaciation which at- 

 tends convalescence is lessened and the occurrence of serious 

 secondary disorders is rendered less probable. In all cases it is 

 extremely important that, from the first, small quantities of very 

 nutritious food should be given regularly and persistently. 



Barley-water, water slightly sweetened, toast- water, weak lem- 

 onade, gruel and extract of meat, are valuable variations of diet. 

 When mere is disrelish for food or difficulty of swallowing arising 

 from the arrest of the mucous secretions of the mouth and throat, 

 the parched lips and tongue may be moistened by a little lemon- 

 juice and water, or other agreeable fluid, a few minutes before 

 food is taken. Sometimes the mouth is so foul with slime that 

 great attention is essential to keep it clean, and it may be necessary 

 to wipe it out frequently with a soft rag, moist with a weak solution 

 of permanganate of potash. The cleaner the mouth is kept the bet- 

 ter and it should be invariably cleansed before giving food. 

 Sucking and swallowing small bits of ice is both grateful and use- 

 ful. If prostration, feeble and irregular circulation or complica- 

 tions indicate it, wine or brandy must be given, but the quantity of 

 stimulants, and indeed of nourishment, must be regulated by the 

 character of the pulse and the condition of the nervous system. 

 Some allowance of alcohol is indicated when there is great prostra- 

 tion of strength, or trembling of the hands, or quivering of the 

 voice, or low, muttering delirium when the patient is left quiet. It 

 should always be borne in mind that alcoholic drinks are not food, 

 afford no nutrition and cannot take the place of food. They are 

 stimulating auxiliaries, but can never render nourishment unneces- 

 sary and should never be administered except with the greatest care 

 and discretion. Roast-apples, grapes, strawberries, oranges, pome- 

 granates, lemons and other ripe pulpy fruit in season may often be 

 given, in the absence of diarrhea, provided all skins and seeds be 

 rejected. They are cooling to the mouth and pleasant to the taste. 

 They are all more wholesome before other food than after. But at 

 a certain stage of typhoid fever, fruits are not admissible in conse- 

 quence of the danger of extensive ulcerations which are so common 

 in this disease. 



Fresh eggs are highly nutritious and if taken raw or beaten up 

 with milk or water are quickly assimilated. They may also be 

 beaten up with a little wine if stimulants are advisable. If, how- 

 ever, the eggs be stale, or if the albumen be hardened by cooking, 

 or if from the state of the stomach the digestion be slow, eggs wul 



