DIETETICS. 



107 



extract). Clear soups are mainly dilute solutions of meat ex- 

 tractives, but in beef tea, ,if properly made, there is much 

 meat protein. 



Other Foods and Condiments. Although green vegetables 

 and salads consist very largely of water, they are very important 

 articles of diet, because they contain cellulose, which serves to 

 increase the bulk of the intestinal contents to serve as ballast, 

 as it were and prevent constipation by keeping the intestinal 

 musculature active. Some vegetables, such as spinach, are 

 especially important since they contain iron. Salads have a 

 further importance because of the oil taken with them. The rel- 

 ishes and the condiment flavors are by no means insignificant 

 adjuncts of diet for they give the relish to food without which 

 digestion is likely to be inefficient. This most important prop- 

 erty of diet has been sufficiently insisted upon elsewhere. 



