The general rule to be observed is, that patients should partake of light, digestible, nourishing food to satisfy hunger; and of such drink as nature requires to allay thirst; and abstain from everything of a medicinal or injurious nature.

In acute or febrile diseases, only the lightest and most simple kinds of nutriment are proper, viz. :

Pure cold water in preference to all other drinks; or water with the addition of some sugar, raspberry or strawberry syrups, or quince and apple- jelly prepared without spices. Barley-water, rice-water, thin oatmeal gruel, panada, gum Arabic water, whey, milk, preparations or arrow-root, sago, tapioca, semolina, or tous-les-mois, all without any other seasoning than a little salt or loaf sugar, or one of the syrups above-mentioned.

Toast-water: the toast should be made from stale bread, either home-made or from bakers who make use of neither potash, soda, or alum; the slices ought to be thin and thoroughly toasted, but not too brown, and never black. To make a good toast-water, pour boiling water on the toast while hot and let it stand.

Ice-water is often injurious and increases the thirst. The water, having been filtered if impure, should be cooled if possible without putting the ice in it. Put the vessel, containing the water to be cooled, into a larger vessel, a wooden one is preferable, which contains pieces of ice, and let it remain till sufficiently cold. If this cannot be done, put a lump of ice in the water and take it out again as soon as the water is cooled.

Most kinds of ripe, succulent fruits, possessing little or no acidity, fresh or prepared by cooking, and eaten in moderation : as ripe grapes, sweet apples, pears, peaches, raspberries.

Some kinds of dried fruits : as apples, quinces, peaches cherries, prunes, dates, figs, etc.

All imported dried fruits, raisins, figs, etc., should be washed before using, first in cold and afterwards in hot water.

Sweet oranges when well ripened are allowed, but all delayed, spotted and sour ones, ought to be avoided.

With regard to apricots, nectarines, plums, gages, watermelons and cherries, the physician should be consulted.

No fruit whatever should be used in cases of colic, diarrhoea, dysentery, cholera, and in croup, not even in the convalescence.

When the more violent symptoms of acute disease have subsided, and the appetite calls for more substantial food, a wider range may be gradually allowed in the choice of aliment, and all the articles used which are allowed in chronic or long-continued diseases, viz.:

All kinds of light and not too fresh bread, and plan biscuit containing no potash, soda, alum or other similar ingredients; cakes made of meal, eggs, sugar, a little butter; arrow-root, rice and other cakes not raised with fermenting powders; light puddings and dumplings of wheat, rye, Indian meal, rice, tapioca, sago, oatmeal, or bread, without wines, spices, or rich sauces; hominy, rice, and pearl barley boiled with water, milk or soup. Potatoes, turnips, carrots, beets, salsify, artichokes, spinach, cabbage, cauliflower, green peas, or beans, the green pods of scarlet and French beans; and in some cases also, asparagus, mushrooms, dried peas, beans, lentils, millet, haricot beans, etc.

Milk, raw or boiled, fresh buttermilk, whey, milk posset; but care should be taken not to use milk from unhealthy cows.

Ice-creams with the syrup of strawberries and that of other allowed fruits, and not flavored with aromatics nor colored with cochineal or injurious drugs.

Pure chocolate or cocoa, and in some cases weak black tea.

Butter, free from any rancid or unusual taste, cream, mild from cheese, milk cheese, curds, and other simple preparations of milk; plain custards, pure sweet olive oil.

Raw or boiled eggs and egg-tea, except in diarrhoea.

Soups and broths of animal and vegetable substances otherwise allowed, seasoned with a little salt only; beef tea, mutton broth and chicken water, after having been boiled for at least half an hour.

Beef, mutton, all kinds of tongues, venison and wild game, the lean part of ham, pigeons, chickens and turkeys; the latter only in the winter season and not in all cases.

Cod, haddock, whiting, sole, turbot, trout, pike, perch, carp, mackerel, herrings. Salt fish may be taken after having been well soaked in cold water before it is used.

Oysters, raw, roasted in the shell,or boiled in soup.

Salt, and also sugar or molasses, may be used, but always with great moderation.

Should any of the allowed articles of diet disagree with the patient, on account of some constitutional peculiarity, or the nature of the disease, they should be avoided by him, though they may be perfectly wholesome for others.

The patient should not overload his stomach, nor oppress it with various or incongruous dishes. The demands of the appetite for solids are to be satisfied at states and not too frequent periods, and at no other time.

Regularity in the time of eating is of great importance.

The diet of children at the breast should not ordinarily be changed during their sickness; but in such cases that of the mother should be regulated according to the preceding rules.