360 THE TREATMENT OF DISEASES. 



but the principle is the same. "Well, if you really cannot do without something in 

 the way of stimulants, we suppose you must have it. Abernethy used to say that 

 nobody could be persuaded to pay due attention to his digestive organs till death or 

 the dread of death was staring him in the face, and he was about right. At all 

 events, we shall have to keep you strictly within the bounds of moderation, and 

 you must not take anything except at meals. "What may you have 1 Well, if you 

 really must have it, it does not matter so very much how you take it sherry, or 

 claret, or hock, or champagne, just as you like. The best way is to ring the changes 

 on them, if they all agree with you equally well. You must strictly limit the 

 quantity : a pint bottle of champagne, three fair-sized glasses of sherry, or a pint of 

 good claret is quite enough for the day. Raw spirits are strictly forbidden no, not 

 even your petit verre. May you have beer 1 You may try it if you like, but malt 

 liquors are very apt to produce wind, so do not grumble if you have to suffer for it 

 afterwards. Simple aerated waters, soda or seltzer, often prove very grateful to an 

 irritable stomach. If you take coffee after your dinner, do not taste it for at least 

 half an hour after you have finished your meal. 



The following plan of diet is recommended in, say, the case of a gentleman 

 about forty, engaged in business for six or eight hours daily, and troubled with an 

 irritable, revengeful stomach, and no great amount of vital power : 



7.0 A.M. A cup of tea or a tumblerful of equal parts of milk and soda water, or of milk and lime 

 water, or of milk with just a dash of rum or brandy. 



7.30A.M. To get up. Cold or tepid sponge-bath, containing sea-salt; brisk rub with rough 

 towel. Dumb-bells or Indian clubs. Dress leisurely. If fine, five or ten minutes' walk in 

 open air. 



8.30 A.M. fireakfttst. One cup of tea or coffee with plenty of milk, or cocoa made with nibs. 

 Sole, or whiting, or the lean of a not over-cooked mutton chop, or one or two new-laid eggs 

 lightly boiled. Stale bread, or toast with a little fresh butter. Watercresses occasionally if 

 they do not cause flatulence. 



1.0 P.M. Luncheon. Oysters, if they agree, or slice of roast mutton. Biscuit, or stale bread. 

 One glass of dry sherry. If there be little or no appetite, a raw egg beaten up in a glass of 

 sherry, and taken with a biscuit, may be substituted. 



6.0 P.M. Dinner. Cod, sole, whiting, smelts, turbot, or brill. Mutton, venison, chicken, grouse* 

 partridge, pheasant, tripe, sweetbread, boiled leg of lamb, or roast beef. Stale bread. Cauli- 

 flower, asparagus, vegetable marrow, French beans, floury potato, or sea kale. Half a wine- 

 glassful of cognac in a bottle of soda water, or two glassfuls of dry sherry or claret. A 

 few grapes, an orange, a baked apple, or strawberries if desired. 



9.0 P.M A small glass of cold brandy and water and a biscuit, or cup of weak tea with slice of 

 bread and butter, or a small cup of gruel or arrowroot. 



11.0 P.M. Bed. To sleep on a mattress without much covering. The room to be properly 

 ventilated, and a small fire kept burning if the weather is cold. 



Such a dietary as this would probably prove too liberal for a person of sedentary 

 habits. We, of course, were presuming that a fair amount of exercise had 

 been taken, and that something attempted, something done, has earned a night's 

 repose. 



This is merely a broad outline of what a dyspeptic should take and what 

 he should avoid, but to this, as to all rules, there are many exceptions. Milk 

 agrees capitally with most people, but with some it induces vomitiug, diarrhoea, 



