438 
ON DIETETICS. 
be at once withdrawn; in this way, in the absence of appe¬ 
tite, an animal may safely fast for a considerable time, 
according to circumstances, until indeed the acute stage of 
the malady has slightly subsided, when the assimilative func¬ 
tions are partially restored, and food of a proper kind may be 
given with benefit. 
The most succulent articles of diet are universally preferred 
for sick animals to dry food, even although the latter may 
be most nutritious; as the nutriment is not in so available a 
form we gain nothing by selecting it, while the moist diet is 
more easily masticated, besides being much less stimulating. 
For these reasons carrots or green food are desirable; the last, 
in particular, i3 usually very harmless, and tends to increase 
secretion by the amount of water it contains, besides acting 
beneficially by means of its saline constituents ; the amount of 
nutritious matter contained in such diet is exceedingly small, 
but quite equivalent to the present wants of the system. 
In the absence of succulent food, mashes are the nearest 
representatives, but as bran is irritating in some states of the 
mucous membrane, its use is not at all times allowable; 
where any contrary indications are present, flour gruel, or 
linseed tea, or a mixture of the two, will generally be taken 
by the patient with readiness, and will afford sufficient sup¬ 
port to the system without causing any excitement of the 
membrane of stomach or intestines. It is hardly necessary 
to remark that succulent vegetables are not to be permitted 
in cases of diarrhoea, as their action is ordinarily laxative, in 
consequence, probably, of the quantity of water which they 
contain; nor, by the same rule, will carrots or turnips be legi¬ 
timate diet during polyuria, as under any circumstances a 
diuretic effect generally follows their use, the white carrot we 
have noticed to be particularly active in this respect. 
Against the system of abstinence at the commencement 
of an acute malady, it may be urged that the disease and the 
necessary depletive treatment will sufficiently weaken the 
patient, and that, supporting the body by nutritious food is 
the only method of compensation. It might be easity shown 
that the same objection would apply to any kind of depletive 
treatment; it is unfortunately true that we cannot attack 
acute diseases successfully without, to a considerable extent, 
lessening the tone of the system. If it were the case that 
nutritious food would furnish a remedy for this untoward 
consequence, without adding anything to the present excite¬ 
ment, we should be justified in defending its use, but as the 
system owes its support to the matter assimilated , and not 
merely to the food sicallov'ed , we can hardly expect much 
