338 DIET FOR HEABT DISEASE. 



in whatever form or combination this substance is presented; fatty 

 matters butter, cream and fat meat, whether simply cooked or in 

 the form of pastry; alcoholic beverages, especially in the form of 

 sherry, port and the stronger wines, strong beer, champagne, etc. 

 Tea and coffee must also be taken in moderation. Abstinence from 

 these substances is recommended on the ground that the labor of the 

 liver will thus be greatly lightened and correspondingly the vicar- 

 ious work of the kidneys will be diminished. Succulent vegetables 

 and fruits when cooked should be preferred. Lemon-juice is cor- 

 rective. But rhubarb, sorrel, apples, pears and other acid raw fruit 

 and vegetables should be avoided. Water-cresses and lettuce are 

 the least objectionable because they correct any scorbutic tendency 

 of the blood and act as sedatives to the urinary organs. Milk -diet 

 and frequent draughts of pure, soft water are also recommended. 

 Filtered rain, or distilled water, rendered alkaline by soda or caustic 

 potash, has a great solvent power and may be taken to the extent of 

 one or two pints daily. Indeed, removal to a locality where pure 

 soft water can be procured is often alone curative. 



The value of water-treatment is due to the fact that from drink- 

 ing but little fluid the urine becomes concentrated and acid and thus 

 irritates the mucous membrane, while more water dilutes the urine. 

 And not only is there a real and substantial benefit through the 

 diminution which the water effects as a diluent in the irritating 

 qualities of the urine, but a still greater benefit is realized in the 

 flushing and cooling of the congested liver. It is quite open to 

 question whether the alkaline waters that are frequently recom- 

 mended do not confer benefit as diluents rather than as medica- 

 ments. At any rate, the free drinking of pure, soft water is of 

 priceless advantage. 



DIET FOB HEART-DISEASE. 



A diseased heart is a feeble heart and its impulse is slow; hence 

 the circulation of blood is sluggish and the absorption of liquids 

 through the mucous membranes is retarded. The consequence of 

 this is that liquids are slowly absorbed by the stomach and if any 

 large quantity be taken at once this occasions considerable incon- 

 venience and interferes with the digestion of solid food. The dis- 

 tention of the stomach also interferes with the action of the heart, 

 already too slow and labored. 



In heart-disease, then, only a moderate amount of liquid should 

 be taken at once. Dry diet is accompanied by less discomfort. 

 Soup should not be taken at the commencement of dinner; drink 

 taken during the meal should only be sipped and should not be cold. 

 Between meals thirst should be quenched by sips. Dry diet is 

 especially indicated if the sufferer be corpulent, particularly if fat has 

 accumulated about the chest. The diet should be nitrogenous and 



