LUNGS DISEASES OF THE LUNGS. 39o 



are thrown into immediate peril by disease involving reduction, such, for example, 

 as acute inflammations, and severe mechanical injuries, necessitating a restricted 

 diet for their treatment. Thin people often make a mistake in trying to get fat. 



We have no intention of entering into the treatment of lung diseases, for full 

 directions will be found under the individual complaints (see CONSUMPTION, BRON- 

 CHITIS, PLEURISY, <fcc.). We may, however, mention that cod-liver oil may nearly 

 always be used with advantage in chronic cases. We rarely fail to induce a patient 

 to take it in some form or other. Some people like it best in milk ; others cover 

 the taste by eating a piece of red herring, or anchovy, or sardine before or after 

 the dose. A very good plan is to add to every two tea-spoonfuls of the oil from 

 tn to twenty drops of ether. The pure ether of the British Pharmacopoeia must be 

 used, so that the oil may not be rendered muddy, as it would be if the ether contained 

 spirit or water. This combination is indicated whenever there is an inability to take 

 the oil in the usual way. It makes an emulsion, and fat or oil when emulsified is more 

 easily digested than in any other form. A stomach once intolerant of fat will good- 

 naturedly accept full doses of cod-liver oil if combined with ether. Many doctors 

 maintain that the administration of tincture of pulsatilla, in small doses, will enable 

 their patients to digest fat in any form. It is very desirable that the oil should be 

 the best of its sort, that is, as free from smell, taste, and colour as possible, showing 

 its careful and recent preparation. It is not a bad plan, where there is likely to be 

 a large consumption of cod-liver oil, to have a barrel over from Newfoundland. We 

 have known this done in several cases. Many large firms do it for the benefit of 

 their employes. In cases where there is an insurmountable objection to the oil, some 

 substitute may be found. It is a capital plan to take a pint of milk, warm from t/te 

 cow, several times a day. It is so prescribed in order that the cream may not be 

 removed by skimming, but the entire milk obtained. Milks rich in fatty matter, 

 such as asses' milk and milk drawn from the cows at a short interval after the greater 

 part of itheir milk has been withdrawn, and known as the " droppings " or " after- 

 cup," are found to be beneficial. The same may be said of cream, Devonshire cream, 

 and butter. There are many ways in which butter can be taken without upsetting 

 the stomach. Haricot beans or lentils will soak up an enormous amount of butter, as 

 every cook knows, and they form a very convenient mode of administering fat. Baked 

 potatoes may be used, too, for the same purpose. Success has in many cases attended 

 the use of caviar, fat bacon, and the marrow of bones. Oysters are especially 

 nutritious. The following somewhat old-fashioned remedy may be found useful as 

 an article of diet and adjunct to other treatment : " Take of linseed, half an ounce ; 

 fine bran, one ounce ; water, one quart. Boil these for two hours and strain ; then 

 add beef, mutton, or any other meat that may be fancied, to the amount of one 

 pound, and boil to a soup with vegetables, to which celery-seed or other flavouring 

 may be added. The whole quantity ought to be reduced by one-third." The 

 following is not to be despised : Take six eggs, which must be quite new-laid, wipe 

 them with a damp cloth and put them in a large basin. Now squeeze over them the 

 juice of seven lemons. Soon little bubbles of gas appear in the fluid indicating that 

 the acid is acting on the shells. Continue the maceration till the shells are quite 

 dissolved this may take two or three days then beat up the eggs with a pint of 



