, 



168 EFFECTS OF SKINS OF FRUITS, STONES, ETC. 



often resist the operation of powerful cathartics, especially if there ia 

 a torpid condition of the bowels. The loss of a son from these causes, 

 though unobserved by the attending physician, has induced the author 

 to notice the importance of these facts, and to call the attention of 

 parents and physicians to them, as he is well convinced that the heed- 

 lessness so commonly manifested on this subject is the primary and 

 frequently unknown cause of disease and death with great numbers. 



It may be said that, with some of the grains, the external skin or 

 husk acts as a stimulant and mechanical agent on the bowels. This 

 may be true with respect to some of the lower animals, but few per- 

 sons are willing to acknowledge themselves a horse or a cow. And, 

 although the practice of swallowing these husks may find an apology 

 in the opinion that they are mechanical and stimulating agents, it by 

 no means follows that the husks of all or any other fruits are, in like 

 manner, to be swallowed with impunity. 



The vulgar practice also of swallowing the stones of many fruits is 

 not less reprehensible, either from a voraciousness which admits of no 

 regard to safety, or from the not less unreasonable opinion that they 

 contribute to the digestion or wholesome effects of the fruit. The 

 stones of many fruits are known to contain prussic acid; and it has 

 been said by some writers that they, as well as the seeds of fruits, 

 should be, or were designed to be eaten. But this opinion can find no 

 fact in science to support it. As to the husks of some of the grains 

 being ground, mixed and eaten with the flour or meal, there can be 

 less objection in certain conditions of the body, but the constant prac- 

 tice is not warranted by the necessities of our nature or the organiza- 

 tion of the alimentary system. Certain it is that, in order to afford 

 the required nutriment, a much larger quantity of matter must be con- 

 sumed, and it is equally certain that the husks do not contribute a par- 

 ticle of such nourishment, nor are they in any form digestible. If the 

 contrary were to be contended for, or the utility of swallowing the 

 husks admitted, the swallowing of most kinds of indigestible trash hav- 

 ing no nutriment, with most other kinds of food, cannot be objected to. 

 The fact commonly is that too much of the nutritive and unadulterated 

 flour is eaten at a time, or is quite as commonly wretchedly prepared, 

 but this offers no apology for eating an indigestible substance, or for 

 adulterating wholesome and nutritive food. 



! The external covering of the seeds of the cerealia, and particularly 

 of wheat, is the best form in which lignine may be taken. Bread," 

 says Dr. Prout, made with undressed flour, or with an extra quantity 

 of bran, is the best form in which farinaceous matter, can be usually 

 taken, not only in diabetes but in most of the other varieties of dys- 

 pepsia, accompanied by constirpation." The fleshy parts of mush- 

 rooms are similar to lisnine. It is the part remaining of mushrooms 

 after all other parts have been dissolved in water, alcohol, or a weak 

 alkaline sulution. 



