CHAPTER XIX 



THE PINEAPPLE (Ananas ananas: Nat. Ord. 

 Bromeliacea:) 



OUTSIDE of the citrus fruits none is to be found which 

 is more entirely beneficial to the human system, 

 more simple and direct in wholesome effect than the pine- 

 apple when in perfect condition: not the stunted, woody 

 specimens too often sold as pineapple. It has not so much 

 nutritive value as some other fruits but is rich in mineral 

 salts arid these, with the water Which forms so large a per- 

 centage of pine-pulp, and the fruit-sugar, purify the system 

 and soothe the stomach. The active principle of the fruit, 

 ananasine, may be very properly considered a vegetable 

 counterpart of the gastric juice since, as discovered by 

 Senor V. Marcano, the juice of the ordinary pineapple 

 possesses the "power of digesting proteid vegetable and 

 animal substances." Chittenden, who, with others, fol- 

 lowed up the investigations, found, in addition, that this 

 digestant is active with "either acids 'or alkaline 

 carbonates" and that "the ferment, to which the name 

 'bromelin' has been given, is more nearly related to trypsin 

 than to pepsin." The simple fact that pineapple jtiice will, 

 for instance, digest beef, is very interesting to even the 

 simplest understanding. 



The juice is extremely healing in catarrhal afEections 

 and physicians recommend its use as a gargle for ordinary 

 sore throats and even for diphtheria. For the greatest 

 benefit to be secured the pineapple is of course best in sim- 

 plest form, uncooked, but when eaten as often as fruit 



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