280 On Chronic DebiUty 



whether broiled, or boiled, very easy of digestion, and of- 

 ten remarkably grateful. That which is not of the best 

 quality, which is imperfectly pickled, or packed, and 

 rendered rusty, will be nearly as offensive to the stomach, 

 as it is disgusting to the palate. The lean part of pork 

 hams, when properly cured, is usually grateful and healthy, 

 to those having debilitated stomachs. 



Broths, though very nourishing food, are improper in 

 dyspepsia. They soon pass off into the intestines. The 

 debilitated stomach needs the constant stimulus of foody 

 the stimulus in quality, and the stimulus of distension to 

 a moderate degree ; otherwise the acid acts with so much 

 force upon its naked coats, as to produce constant unea- 

 siness. Broths also occasion in such persons, costive- 

 ness. 



Drinks it is proper next to consider. Most of those 

 in which a vegetable acid abounds, are hurtful to a weak 

 stomach. All inferior wines, low beer, common cider, 

 and strong undiluted porter, occasion much acidity and 

 flatulence. Pungent hop beer, made bitter with hops, and 

 stimulating with ginger, and replete with carbonic acid 

 gas, is a healthy drink for very hot weather, when the per- 

 spiration is abundant ; but in cool weather^ it is less safe. 

 Very pungent bottled cider is often highly serviceable, 

 and safe, when most kinds of wine are otherwise, but 

 not invariably so. Very sound old Madeira wine, drunk 

 in moderate quantities, is in many instances, highly use- 

 ful. It should be always laid aside, however, wdien it is 

 not needed, as by constant use it loses a part of its effica- 

 cy ; and all that efficacy will be wanted, Mdienever the 

 debility becomes severe. When none of the foregoing 

 drinks can be used without occasioning unpleasant con- 

 sequences, pure French brandy, properly diluted with 

 water, may be advantageously resorted to. As every 

 man habitually using ardent spirits of any kind, is in dan- 

 ger of contracting an unsafe attachment, it will always 

 be prudent for every person, to restrict himself within 

 narrow bounds, and on no ordinary account, to exceed 

 two or three table spoonfuls a day. Very pure old spir- 

 its may be used as a substitute. All other distilled spir- 

 its are hurtful ; and whenever the stomach will bear oth- 



