Oranges

Oranges are an exceedingly useful article of invalid diet. The juice of ripe oranges allays thirst, and it is well borne in cases where there is considerable gastric irritation and tendency to vomiting. It is only in the worst forms of gastric disorders that orange juice disagrees, and there is no fruit which is so generally available in the sick-room, for it is agreeable to almost every one, and is refreshing in fevers. I often give it in typhoid fever. Orange juice is laxative, particularly for infants, and is the best remedy for infantile scurvy. It may be given undiluted or made into orangeade with one of the effervescing waters. In renal and other diseases in which it is desirable for the patient to drink large quantities of fluid for its diluent and diuretic effect, the addition of orange juice to beverages will encourage their consumption.

Orange marmalade is a wholesome relish, having an appetising, bitter flavour.

Orange water ice, as well as lemon ice, well frozen, if not made too sweet, may be allowed in the milder forms of fever, inflammations of the throat, etc., especially in children. It is soothing, refreshing, and cooling, and is less likely to disagree than the richer ice cream.

Apples, when ripe and properly selected, are extremely wholesome and very digestible. They contain abundant potassium and sodium salts, as well as those of lime, magnesium, and a trace of iron. Their nutritive value is not high, depending mainly upon a little sugar, for they are largely composed of water, having over 83.5 per cent (Bauer). In dried apples the percentage of water is reduced to one third, while that of sugar is proportionately increased.

Apples contain free organic acids (malic and gallic) as well as 14 salts, such as malates, citrates, and tartrates. They also contain lime, phosphates, plant albumin, gum, and chlorophyll. They are good antiscorbutic remedies, and are laxative, especially when taken into an empty stomach. There are many dyspeptics who thrive upon apples, even if eaten raw, and who can regulate the action of the bowels with them effectually. They should be given to most invalids only when cooked. They are most digestible when baked and eaten with cream, or they may be beaten with white of egg to add to their nutritive power. They are both palatable and very digestible for convalescents if stewed as apple sauce, when there is no objection to the addition of the greater quantity of sugar which is required in this method of cooking. They should be avoided in all cases of diarrhœa, gastro-intestinal irritation, and diabetes.

Pears are similar to apples in their effect, but are less laxative. If fully ripe and soft they are even more digestible raw than apples. They have the advantage of keeping their flavour when well preserved in sirups, but they possess no special food value, and are mainly used for their choice flavour, aroma, and appearance, which stimulate the appetite.

Quinces are indigestible unless very thoroughly cooked.

Peaches, nectarines, and apricots are of comparatively little nutrient value, but their flavour and appearance make them tempting articles for the table. They do not contain as much sugar as apples and other fruits. When thoroughly ripe they are wholesome if not eaten in excess. They agree well with some gouty persons, and are even allowed to diabetics in cases of moderate severity. Peach and apricot juices are laxative.

Pineapples (Ananassa sativa), as usually obtained in this country, have been picked green in Cuba, and if eaten raw are indigestible. Their ripe juice is, however, very wholesome, and they contain a ferment capable of digesting proteid material, which is used to some extent in the preparation of predigested invalid foods, such as Mos-quera's beef meal. Prof. R. H. Chittenden has isolated this ferment, which has a rapid softening, disintegrating, and digesting effect upon such proteids as blood fibrin and muscle tissue. It is an acid fluid which acts best in a neutral medium, but, like trypsin, it also digests in both acid and alkaline solution. Three ounces of the juice will dissolve ten to fifteen grains of dried albumin in four hours. He also found a milk-curdling ferment in the juice.

Tamarinds are cooling and laxative. When added to milk they cause curdling, and form a whey which may be used as a beverage in fevers when constipation is to be overcome.

The mango is a sweet and somewhat acid fruit, with moderately laxative action.

The pomegranate is a pulpy fruit, wholesome when fresh, but it is expensive and little used in this country. It has a thick, tough rind, which is astringent, with a bitter-sweetish taste. A taeniacide for the tapeworm is made from an infusion of the rind, but it is so nauseous and disgusting to the taste that patients can seldom retain it unless it is put into the stomach with a tube.