FOOD FOR THE SICK 311 



into the coffee pot, and pour on boiling water, 1 pt. oi a little more; steep and 

 season also as coffee, with cream and sugar. It is nourishing and sufficiently 

 stimulating to allay a nauseous stomach before vomiting has taken place. See 

 also browned corn meai gruel for weak stomachs. 



29. Corn Tea. — Make the same as the corn coffee above, except not to 

 use the egg. It is pleasant, hot or cold, but not quite as nourishing, lacking 

 the egg: hence adapted to very weak patients (see also the herb teas), but as 

 there will be found patients in every condition of strength, or want of strength, 

 it becomes important that a variety of receipts should be given, and hence the 

 following: 



30. Rice Coffee, Especially Nice for Children or Weakly 

 Patients. — Brown the rice carefully, as you would the coffee bean, or corn, 

 above; then grind, or mash in a mortar, and to 1 cup of this pour on 1 qt. of 

 boiling water, let it stand 15 minutes; strain if it does not pour off clear. 

 Sweeten all these coffees with loaf or granulated sugar, and use boiled milk 

 ■with them, as freely as relished. It may be drank as freely as the stomach will 

 bear. Children are very fond of it; and it is better for them, or for weakly 

 persons, than common coffee. The same holds good, also, of the corn prepar- 

 ations above. 



31. Common Teas. — A rather weak tea (never a strong one) maybe 

 made of any of the ordinary green or black teas, when craved by the sick, 

 sweetening and using milk as desired; for we believe it better to allow a mild 

 beverage of this kind to any sick person rather than to allow their minds to 

 worry over a refusal, for all excitement is to be avoided if reasonably possi- 

 ble, for amendment seldom begins, nor does it continue long, after any dissatis- 

 faction arises, no matter what the subject, nor how slight the dissatisfaction 

 may be; hence indulge all opinions, or even whims, that have not in themselves 

 an absolute wrong. 



32. Eggnog for the Sick.— Beat the yolk of 1 egg with 1 table spoon- 

 ful of pulverized sugar to the consistency of cream; grate in a little nutmeg; 

 add 1 large table-spoonful of brandy and 2 of Madeira wine. Beat the white of 

 the egg to a stiff froth, and mix in with 1 cup of nice sweet milk. 



Remarks. — This is palatable, and for weak and feeble patients will be found 

 very invigorating and strengthening, the true "Madeira" being rich in its: 

 tonic and invigorating qualities. The original formula ran thus: ' The yolks, 

 of 16 eggs, and 16 table spoonfuls of pulverized loaf-sugar (the day of this ' ' loaf- 

 sugar" is over, except in small cubes or squares) beaten to a cream; 1 grated 

 nutmeg; 3^ pt. of good brandy or rum, and 2 glasses of Madeira wine. The 

 whites beaten to a stiff froth and put in, finishing with 6 pts. of milk made 

 cold. " This would indicate that it was being made for general or hospital use, 

 or the patient must have been expected to live on it for a week at least, or other- 

 wise to have many visitors. But this was a universal practice in an early day» 

 and finally whiskey took the place of the brandy and the wine. No party or 

 evening gathering was considered to be well provided for unless a large supply 

 of milk punch or eggnog was prepared and set before the guests, when every 



