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to the stomach. It promotes the digestion and assimilation of the food, and will generally, if taken freely, supersede aperient medicines, whilst it will equally correct a disposition to diarrhoea.

If plain hot water should be imagined to be inadmissible, the addition of a small quantity of some light bitter, such as is acquired by pouring boiling water on a slip of dried orange-peel, and allowing it to cool down to the drinking-point.

There is sold by druggists a concentrated infusion of orange-peel, a teaspoonful of which added to a tumbler of hot water imparts a bitter very agreeable to most persons. This saves trouble, and proves a valuable promoter both of appetite and digestion.

An eminent surgeon has recently amused and surprised a large audience by expressing the opinion, that the importance of obtaining pure water is exaggerated. He regards it as a matter of indifference whether we drink one kind of water or another, alleging that as it can never be found perfectly pure, a little more or less of organic or earthy matter may be disregarded. We are so accustomed to have in popular assemblies the

strangest notions and paradoxes advanced, apparently with no other view than to startle the world, that we need give little heed to this, which is contrary to all experience and science. The surgeon's faith is in his knife. Suppose a chemist were to employ impure water in his investigations, what would be the value of his results? The human frame is far more sensitive to the action of agents, and its processes more easily disturbed by the presence of foreign matter, even in the minutest quantities, than any chemical compound. Common sense is adequate to judge and determine this question.

MINERAL WATERS.

In all ages the water from springs, hot or cold, holding salts and minerals in solution, has been recognised as salubrious to the healthy and remedial in many diseases.

The subject of the composition of mineral waters, and the value of any especial one, in the disorders of advanced life, is too large to be entered upon here.

Two cautions worthy of attention may be given

to persons past middle life, respecting their use of mineral waters.

Ist. In resorting to any spa or watering-place, and adopting the use of the mineral water, elderly people should consider-1. The climate. 2. The effects of the journey. 3. The change of habits involved. 4. The exact nature and properties of the water. The step should not be taken at haphazard, or because commended by others on the ground that they were benefited by it. If A extols a remedy which cured him-B should hesitate to employ it unless he is quite sure his own case is the same.

2nd. The next precaution may be best understood by an analogy. A farmer finds the soil of a field in a bad state-his crops failing. He employs a dressing of lime, and finds its effect great and satisfactory. His crop, from that field, is doubled the first year. He employs another dressing of the same kind the next year. thinks the land improved, but in a far less degree. A third time he uses the same dressing, and the result is a total failure. He has inflicted a positive injury on his land.

He

In a manner precisely similar, an elderly person takes a course of mineral water, well selected, we may suppose, for the purpose. Its influence on the general decay which has begun within his system is most favourable. He is invigorated, and rejoices in the elasticity and vigour which it has imparted. The next year, of course, the remedy is repeated. There may be some good produced. The third time, not only is there no advantage derived, but serious and even fatal consequences ensue.

The introduction of mineral salts into the blood and tissues the first time supplies a real need; the very same mineral salts in excess are deleterious, and really poisonous.

The life of the Emperor Napoleon III. was evidently cut short prematurely by just such a proceeding with the waters of Vichy. A city millionaire, within my knowledge, was recommended the internal use of Seltzer water. Its effect was at first extremely beneficial. He went on with it to excess, and the result was an injury to the constitution which proved fatal.

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STIMULANTS-SPIRITUOUS AND MALT LIQUORS

WINE.

To the general remarks, page 32, the following may be added.

The advocates of total abstinence signally fail to produce evidence in support of their opinion that wine, beer, and all stimulants, are inimical to health and longevity. Their bold assertions are of no more soundness than the Bacchanalian songs which represent wine as the panacea for all human ills.

Science, common sense, Holy Scripture, and all experience, testify to the benefits to be derived from wine when used in moderation and with proper restrictions. Malt liquors may be regarded as equivalent to wine. They contain some portion of stimulant with much real nutritive matter.

I am speaking to elderly people; and, as a Physician, I say-a portion of good sound malt liquor, be it porter or ale, taken with the food, satisfies the appetite, and prevents the repletion apt to follow a meal of mere animal and vegetable

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