242 
VITIS VINIPERA. 
convulsive affections, as symptomatic tetanus, chorea, and deliriany, 
which is the consequence of nervous debility, much benefit has been 
derived from the use of wine.* During convalescence from severe 
diseases, particularly fevers, which have much debilitated the system, 
wine is the most efficacious, and the quickest remedy for the restora- 
tion of health and vigour. The quantity of wine to be given, and 
the proper time to exhibit it, must of course depend on the nature 
of the disease, and the state of the patient. In febrile habits. 
Port, Burgundy, and the stronger white wines should be avoided ; 
but in diseases of debility, and where a tonic is indicated, these 
wines will prove highly beneficial. It is to be observed, that wine 
acts less powerfully on the system in a state of oisease than during 
health. In convalescence from fever, and other acute diseases, we 
have generally found Claret the best and safest wine to give the 
patient : Hock and Moselle are also recommended under such cir- 
cumstances ; they should be taken on an empty stomach. 
As an article of diet, the moderate use of good wine is strongly 
recommended, while it is deemed equally pernicious when taken to 
excess ; but it is extremely difficult to draw the line of demarcation 
in such cases, for much must depend on the constitution, and much 
on the habits of the individual: a ijuantity of wine which would be 
sufficient to intoxicate and seriously injure one man, may produce 
no effect upon another; and again, some persons are more easily 
effected by the white wines, and some by red. It has been generally 
said, that the late Mr. Pitt was in the habit of preparing himself for 
any arduous or brilliant display in the House of Commons, by drink- 
ing two or three bottles of Claret; and we are told of " a man who 
had not retired sober to bed for twenty years, and yet lived to 
upwards of eighty years of age." f More wine, and of a stronger 
kind, may be drank with impunity in a cold than in a hot climate: 
in the latter Port wine should be abstained from. In the East and 
West Indies, Madeira is considered the safest wine, the very thin 
and weak wines being more disposed to become acid in the 
stomach, and to produce diarrhoea. 
Super-tartrate of potass, and carbonate of potass, or salt of 
* Dr. Currie mentions a case of symptomatjc tetanus, where the patient took fire 
bottles of Madeira wine dailj for some time, without producing the least symptom of 
inebriety, or morbidly exciting the pulse ; but with the utmost advantage in allaying 
irritation. 
+ Thomson's Mat. Med. 
