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summer complaints ; and the juices of all fruits tend to drive humors 

 to the surface, and to purify the blood ; and uhole families with 

 scrofulous tendencies have been saved and restored to blooming and 

 elastic health, by returning back to the simple fruit diet of nature. 

 In these respects, fruit is the antipodes of the mineral potash j^oison 

 that, in the form of saleratus and soda, is destroying the teeth, 

 stomach, and tissues of those of our countrymen who use such an 

 uncivilized diet. The principal element of the bile is a scdaic alkali, 

 and the natural acids of fruits stimulate the secretions of the gastric 

 juice, and, by uniting with the alkaline secretions of the liver, purge 

 the stomach and bowels of any excess of bile, cleanse and purify the 

 whole system, and render all its secretions and motions natural and 

 healthful. Carry the puny children of our towns and cities, who 

 have been brought up on a miserable regimen, principally of meats, 

 cakes, and teas, into the free, open couri^ry, to feed on berries and 

 fruits, and they soon pick up and grow plump, rosy, and hearty. 

 Oh 1 how the meagre, wizened, pale-faced little ones of the street 

 leap with joy at the sight of the glowing peaches and shining apples, 

 bottling up, in their beautiful perfumed skins, more potent medicines 

 than any apothecary's shop can boast, as curative as they are grateful. 

 Third, — Doubtless dram-drinking and intemperance itself would be 

 infinitely lessened, if not utterly banished from our soil, by an abund- 

 ance of fruits ; for the love of wines, cordials, ardent spirits, and 

 liquor?, is but a corruption of the true and natural taste for the juices 

 of fruits ; and it has been often noticed, that those addicted to the ex- 

 cessive use of such drinks are extremely fond of fruits by nature ; 

 and only give such an abundance of fresh wholesome fruit, and they 

 will soon banish their Avines and liquors, and various poisonous 

 spirituous mixtures. Fourth, — Again, the philosophy of specifics, 

 which is but just in its infancy, even in its application to the vegetable 

 world, will, ere long, be seen to be equally applicable to the animal 

 organization ; and it will be found that, while potatoes, cabbage, 

 &c., tend to muscular development, as instanced in the Irish and in 

 the Dutch, the hull of corn and grain contributes to the bones, and 

 their flour to the substance of the brain — fruits feed the nervous 

 tissues and the spiritual boJy, and produce a mental elevation and 

 harmony, and an exhilaration of spirits, that give a perpetual 

 serenity, peace, and joy. 



Such are some among the many reasons, beside the continually 



