.2'76 On Chronic Debility 



with safety eat scarcely any of the foregoing vegetables, 

 at certain times, and that some persons cannot for con- 

 siderable periods ; but this is only when the disease is 

 particularly severe. 



Nuts of every kind, and mushrooms, should be whol- 

 ly avoided. 



Of farinaceous food, good wheat bread is decidedly 

 the best, for ail persons having debilitated stomachs. — 

 The flour should be of the best quality, and the bread 

 well fermented, and thoroughly baked ; and then it fur- 

 nishes an article of diet, usually as safe, as it is palata- 

 ble. But if all foreign substances are not separated from 

 the wheat before it is ground, or if the bread is not well 

 fermented, or if it is imperfectly baked, or too much fer- 

 mented, it will occasion acidity, or considerably aggra- 

 vate it. If the bread is in a slight degree sour, whether 

 from too long a fermentation, or from being made of 

 sour flour, it will occasion distressing acidity. I have 

 repeatedly known well fermented, and thoroughly baked 

 bread, which was made out of sour flour, occasion exces- 

 sive acidity, and severe costiveness, in a person previ- 

 ously enjoying very tolerable health, or in other words, 

 having a pretty regular digestion, and open bowels ; 

 though possessing a stomach alway inclined to the pro- 

 duction of acidity. In such cases the acid will not of 

 course, subside on the cause being removed, but will in 

 some instances, continue in the stomach, a considerable 

 period ; a little leaven leavening daily the whole alimenta- 

 ry mass, till relief is afforded, by an emetic, cathartic, or 

 spontaneous diarrhea. Hot bread will almost uniformly 

 occasion, and aggravate the same complaints, in the per- 

 sons irader consideration, and sometimes cause habitual 

 headaches, where it is used daily. A gentleman of my ac- 

 quaintance, who was dyspeptic, and troubled with very 

 frequent sick headache, found entire relief from the lat- 

 ter complaint, by the disuse of hot bread, to which he 

 had before daily accustomed himself. Persons having 

 weak stomachs, ought never to eat bread, till it has been 

 baked at least tvv-enty-four hours. New bread is more 

 glutinous and insoluble. The bread customarily made 

 in this country, is by no means sufliciently baked. With 



