p. 494 | Eating When Sick by Dio Lewis

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Aug 13, 1885

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 11, No. 31.

Eating When Sick.

By Dio Lewis

It is the custom among a certain class of people, when a member of the family falls sick, to begin at once to ask, "Now, what can you eat?" Every one has heard the old story of the man who always ate eighteen apple dumplings when he was sick. On one occasion, when engaged upon the eighteenth, his little son said, "Pa, give me a piece?" "No, no, my son," replied the father, "go away, pa's sick." When a young man has surfeited, in season and out of season until exhausted nature gives way, and a fever is coming on, the good mother is in trouble. She anxiously inquires, "Now, John, what can you eat? You must eat something! People can't live without food!" Then come toast and tea, etc. The stomach is exhausted, and no more needs stimulating, or food, than a jaded horse needs the whip! What is needed is rest, complete rest. Nine-tenths of the acute diseases might be prevented by a few days' starvation when the first indications appear. I don't mean complete abstinence in every case, but perhaps a piece of coarse bread, with cold water for drink. If such a policy was generally adopted, what ruin would overtake the medical profession!

—Dr. Dio Lewis.