Blogger Choice: Lord Sommerville, in his Address to the Board of Agriculture, gave an interesting account of the effects of a punishment which formerly existed in Holland. "The ancient laws of the country ordained men to be kept on bread alone, un-mixed with salt, as the severest punishment that could be inflicted upon them in their moist climate. The effect was horrible: these wretched criminals are said to have been devoured by worms engendered in their own stomachs."
"The wholesomeness and digestibility of our bread are undoubtedly much promoted by the addition of the salt which it so universally receives. A pound of salt is generally added to each bushel of flour. Hence it may be presumed, that every adult consumes two ounces of salt per week, or six pounds and a half per annum, in bread alone."
Dr. Paris on Diet.
FRUITS.-These, and of all kinds whether fresh or dried, a delicate child is better without; except the orange, which when perfectly ripe may be allowed to any child, but the white or inner skin should be scrupulously rejected, as it is most indigestible.
A healthy child may be permitted to partake of most fresh fruits. Of the stone-fruits, the ripe peach, the apricot, and nectarine, are the most wholesome; but cherries, from the stones being but too frequently swallowed, had better not be allowed. Apples and pears, when ripe and well masticated, are not unwholesome; and the apple when baked affords a pleasant repast, and where there is a costive habit, it is useful as a laxative. The small-seeded fruits, however, are by far the most wholesome. Of these, the ripe strawberry and raspberry deserve the first rank. The grape is also cooling and antiseptic, but the husks and seeds should be rejected. The gooseberry is less wholesome on account of the indigestibility of the skin, which is too frequently swallowed.
Dried fruits a child should never be permitted to eat.
WATER.-This should be the only beverage throughout childhood. Toast-and-water, if the child prefer it, which is rendered slightly more nutritive than the more simple fluid. The water employed in its preparation, however, must be at a boiling temperature, and it ought to be drunk as soon as it has sufficiently cooled; for by being kept, it acquires a mawkish and unpleasant flavour.
WINE, BEER, etc.-The practice of giving wine, or, indeed, any stimulant, to a healthy child, is highly reprehensible; it ought never to be given but medicinally.
The circulation in infancy and childhood is not only more rapid than in the adult, but easily excited to greater vehemence of action; the nervous system, too, is so susceptible, that the slightest causes of irritation produce strong and powerful impressions: the result in either case is diseased action in the frame, productive of fever, convulsions, etc.; wine, accordingly, is detrimental to children.
