paration, if cautiously administered, may be productive of good effects.
In young persons, however, there is always less danger than in adults; and as we propose to communicate some important matter respecting the treatment of these complaints, under the articles Epilepsy and Spasm, we shall at present only state another remedy that has lately been used, on the Continent, with uncommon success: it simply consists of the liquid vegetable alkali (Oleum Tartari per deliquium).—Dr.Michaelis, of Leipzig; Dr. Kargens, of Kiel, and several other physicians, have prescribed from 15 to 25 drops of it to be taken for a dose, by children several years old, as well as adults, and frequently repeated, according to circumstances; though we should hesitate to administer so large a dose as 25 drops, every five minutes, to a child three years and a half of age, as has been successfully practised by the first-mentioned gentleman. Hence, we would recommend to regulate the number of drops, according to the age of children, so as to commence with five drops, under twelve months old, adding one drop for every year, and to convey this medicine in a little thin gruel, or weak broth.
COOKING, the art of dressing or preparing food. It is effected by various methods, of which boiling is the most common, but also the most objectionable; as it deprives flesh of its nutritious juice. A better mode of dressing animal food is roasting, by which its strength is less dissipated; because a crust is soon formed on its surface, that more effectually preserves the nutritive particles from evaporation. Hence, one pound of roasted meat is, in real nourishment, equal to double that quantity of boiled animal food.
Many substances, though naturally possessed of salubrious qualities, are rendered unwholesome, by the refinements of cookery. By compounding several incongruous ingredients, to produce a poignant sauce, or rich soup, the cook frequently forms compositions that are almost poisonous. Thus, high seasoning of every kind, pickles, and the like, merely stimulate the palate, and cannot fail to injure the stomach. Hence, the plainest dishes are uniformly the most conducive to health, while they are most easily digested. This self-evident proposition is acknowledged by every reflecting person, but gives the least satisfaction to the epicure, who consults his taste, before he appeals to his warped understanding.
Animal food is generally boiled in half-open vessels, instead of which, close utensils only ought to be employed for that purpose. We therefore preferably recommend the process called stewing; as it is not only the most wholesome mode of dressing meat, but at the same time well adapted to retain and concentrate the most substantial parts of animal food. The utility of preparing victuals after this method, having been generally acknowledged, various patents have been granted to persons for the invention of machinery, by which that object may be attained, at the smallest expence. Of these, we shall communicate the following, for the better illustration of which we have subjoined Cuts.
A patent was granted, in December 1793, to Mr. Stanley Howard, of St. Paul's Church-
