MARCH 267 



their cooking too fast. Bleached almonds are a pleasant 

 addition as a change in these compotes. 



I read with regret the other day in a leading evening 

 newspaper of the authoritative revival of the notion that 

 eating tomatoes is the cause of the increase of cancer. 

 This theory seems likely to deprive the poorer public of 

 one of the best and cleanest blood-purifiers within reach 

 of the inhabitants of our towns. It seems to me on a par 

 with Swift's idea that his life-long headaches were in a 

 great measure due to a surfeit of fruit consumed when 

 very young at Moor Park, and which, naturally enough, 

 brought on the first attack, as a dish of strawberries will 

 upset a meat-eating and gouty patient this state of the 

 blood being produced by eating, not too much, but too 

 little fruit. The population of the whole South of Europe 

 has eaten tomatoes from time immemorial. Would it not 

 be far more sensible to look for the cause of cancer in the 

 great increase of meat-eating, especially in towns, the 

 over-fed and diseased cattle, tinned and other preserved 

 animal foods, and the much-consumed modern stimulant, 

 beef -tea? 



I do not vouch for the absolute correctness of the 

 following statements, but I find them among my notes, 

 and I think there is some truth in them : 



Lettuce is calming and beneficial to anyone suffering 

 from insomnia. 



Honey is wholesome, strengthening, cleansing, healing, 

 and nourishing. 



Lemons afford relief to feverish thirst in sickness ; 

 and, mixed with hot water, are a help in biliousness, 

 low fever, colds, coughs, rheumatism, etc. 



In cases of disease of the nerves and nervous dyspepsia 

 tomatoes are a powerful aperient for the liver, and are 

 invaluable in all conditions of the system in which the 

 use of calomel is indicated. 



