known, and one of the handsomest of our native plants. It is biennial, that is, the first year a tuft of leaves only is formed, and the flowers do not appear till the second summer. About the middle of June, the wand-like stem, rising from two to four feet high from the centre of the root leaves, begins to expand its purple blossoms, resembling in some degree, in shape, the finger of a glove, from which resemblance the plant is named. Digitalis is a very powerful medicine, and, except in skilled and careful hands, a dangerous one, and can never be employed with propriety as a domestic remedy, although in Ireland it is used by the peasantry for the cure of epilepsy. Fox-glove acts powerfully upon the kidneys in many cases, but its most marked, and, at the same time, most dangerous property, is that which it possesses of depressing the action of the heart, the hazard being increased from the tendency of the medicine to accumulate in the system, and suddenly to develope its depressing or poisonous effects. There are but few cases of direct poisoning by fox-glove recorded, but accidents sometimes happen from the incautious administration of it as a medicine; in these cases, great languor and depression of the action of the heart, yawning, giddiness, nausea, and a sense of anxiety are the usual symptoms. The best antidotes would be wine or brandy, small doses of opium, ammonia, and strong infusion of green tea.* DILL, or DILL-SEED-is the fruit of an umbelliferous plant, the Anethum Graveolens. It is a native of South Europe, but is cultivated in Britain. The distilled water or "dill water is one of our best carminatives for infants, in one or two tea-spoonful doses, either alone or combined with magnesia or chalk.† DILUENTS-are agents used medieinally for diluting the fluids of the body, and in many diseases their employment is a subject of much practical importance. In most cases, either in health or disease, the necessity for the use of diluents is made known by the occurrence of thirst. This sensation, which is perceived in the mouth and throat principally, is evidently only felt from sympathy with the body generally, for it is not relieved by the mere moistening of these parts, but only by a supply of fluid afforded to the system at large, either, as in most cases, by the stomach, or through the medium of the skin. Diluents may, however, be very serviceable in the treatment of some diseases when thirst is not felt. as in gravel; they are much more largely used, and perhaps abused, as medi cinal agents, on the continent, than they are in this country. Many reputed mineral waters act most beneficially by their diluting effects; under the hydropathic system, the treatment is carried to a most unlimited, and often injurious extent. There is no question, however, that the employment of diluents is too generally neglected in the treatment of disease in this country, although it is more resorted to now than formerly. Dr. Holland classes the beneficial action of diluents under three heads. First the dilution and washing away of excrementitious and morbid matter from the alimentary canal; secondly, as acting upon the blood by dilution; and thirdly, by influencing the various secretions and excretions of the body. Diluents, therefore, are useful in many affections of the stomach and bowels, in which their contents-as in bilious cholera-are acrid; in fever generally, and in those cases in which natural secretions and excretions, such as the urine, are diminished in quantity and irritating in quality. In health, a certain amount of fluid, or of diluent, is required periodically by the body to supply the waste continually going on by the discharge of vapour from the lungs and skin, and by the excretions from the kidneys and bowels. The amount must, of course, vary somewhat according to the conditions of the surrounding atmosphere as to temperature and dryness, and also according to the amount of exercise taken; a man making much active exertion, and perspiring profusely, requiring a much larger supply of diluent than one who is not. Stokers, ironfounders, and others who work hard under great heat, consume an almost incredible amount of fluid. The unnecessary use of diluents by persons in health, is undoubtedly hurtful, particularly when the amount is taken along with food; the gastric juice is thereby diluted too greatly, and its digestive powers impaired; moreover, persons who drink largely with their food, are apt to wash it down in a half masticated condition, and to take more than is necessary. A certain amount of dilution is, nevertheless, requisite for digestion, and error on this side also, is, undoubtedly, committed; but these are points connected with individual constitution which every man's sense and experience ought, as far as he himself is concerned, to determine better than another can do for him. All dilution must, of course, be due to water, and the various forms of diluents used in illness are but varied modes of administering the pure element disguised. In many cases this is too largely practised, and • DIGITALIS.-The tincture of Digitali has within the last few years been highly extolled as a remedy in dalirium tremens; as, however, the doses are required to be very large, some consider dangerously large, it is not a medicine for unprofessional hands: † DILL-See article "Children," p. 105. patients, very commonly, after having gone | water, is unfit for drinking. Diluents may the round of the various artificial drinks, are also be administered by injection into the found to prefer, and to adhere to the simple bowels. water as their most grateful and only drink. Refer to Cold-Cookery-Heat-Thirst How often does the child with fever ask for -Water, &c. "water from the pump" in preference to everything else. DINNER-is the meal of the twenty-four hours, the principal occasion on which the daily waste of the body is restored by food. At dinner, for the most part, the articles either of food or drink taken, are stronger and more stimulating than at any other meal, consequently its disposal makes the greatest demand upon the digestive powers. It matters not that what some persons call dinner, others would call supper, for by the designation is here meant the principal meal of the day. The regulation of the meal as to time and circumstances, often requires more attention and care, in relation to health, than is bestowed upon it, either by medical men or the public. In more primitive times, and where primitive habits prevail at the present day, the timing of this principal meal, must obviously be very different from what it should be when taken in connexion with the habits and modes of life of many in this country, particularly in our large cities. When Water may be used as a diluent in its purest condition, that of distilled water, or rain water, or as procured from the various sources of spring, well, river, or lake, in which cases it is more or less impregnated with foreign matters. Its temperature may be modified, for it may be used either ice cold, or tepid, or warm; or it may be administered in the form of some of the artificial drinks, such as toast-water, barley-water, thin gruel, or, as on the continent, as ptisan of various kinds. Weak tea is a common and favourite diluent with many. But diluents are not necessarily unstimulating, though most generally so; as a dietetic diluent, beer, or wine, or spirit and water, may be more serviceable than the simpler forms, and the same may be the case on occasion, where there is intense thirst, along with nervous exhaustion. Persons who have become exhausted by severe labour, having at the same time been ex-persons, such as those engaged in country posed to heat, may often with greater benefit and safety take a small quantity of slightly stimulating diluent, than a larger, or even the same amount of plain water. This must not be understood as a recommendation of stimulants under circumstances of ordinary labour, but as applying to cases of exhaustion, and even in these the stimulant must be in very moderate proportion. The instinctive desire for fluid in cholera, and in diseases generally which are attended with fever, ought not to be neglected. There appears to be almost a superstitious fear with many, particularly of the poorer classes, of allowing the sick to "drink cold water," and many a sufferer regards most gratefully the unlimited permission of the medical attendant to take it freely, after it had perhaps been begged for, but withheld by mistaken friends. There are few safer prescriptions, none perhaps which may be more freely carried out by unprofessional persons, than the unrestricted allowance of simple, unstimulating drink, in all acute diseases in which thirst exists, and especially if fever be present. As mentioned in the first part of this article, diluents may be administered through the medium of the skin, and thirst and distress allayed in this way, when the power of swallowing is impaired, or lost either temporarily or permanently, or when the only diluent at command, such as sea and agricultural work, rise very early, breakfast early, and are engaged in active muscular exertion in the open air, there can be no question, that by the time of noon, the system is ready for, and requires a full supply of good nourishment; and the powers of digestion are fully equal to the task, even though the interval of rest be not very great, and that, further, half-adozen hours' work afterwards, pave the way for another substantial meal; such being the case with our agriculturists, the healthiest and strongest, probably, of our population, and people seeing this, have jumped somewhat hastily to the conclusion that the early dinner is the secret of health, forgetting the other accessories of fresh air and exercise, and in the case of the labourer, not over active minds. The case of mechanics and artizans generally, who begin the day early, is nearly, but not quite similar to that of the labourer; they require a good meal tolerably early in the day, but not having the advantage in many cases of the fresh air of the agriculturist, many of them might with advantage divide the meals a little more equally, diminish the dinner, and add to the meal made after work is concluded, more particularly when the dinner hour is short, or shortened by the necessity of walking home from the place of employment to the meal. When the case of the higher classes 18 made conformable to the one object-health. An early dinner almost certainly involves supper of some kind, and this may or may not be an objection according to circumstances. Undoubtedly, modern habits and luxury tend frequently to make even this principal meal, a much too abundant one, chiefly by tempting the appetite with a variety of food, and it is impossible to lay down any set rules on this head beyond that which every rational man must be well aware of, that none can perseveringly transgress the bounds of temperance, either in eating or drinking, without sooner or later disease being the result. Sleeping after dinner may suit a few persons, but it is not advisable for those of full habit of body. For the reasons already mentioned, the time immediately succeeding dinner should be one of easy relaxation, to the man of mental toil in particular. The use of wine, beer, or any stimulant falls of course to be considered under the other articles more directly bearing on these subjects. A cup of coffee is sometimes taken shortly after dinner; opinions differ as to the propriety or not of the practice; it will probably be found to be best regulated by individual experience; the practice, however, of taking tea or coffee two or three hours after the meal is unquestionably a serviceable one amid the usages of civilized life, and assists the perfection of the latter stages of digestion. These diluents, however, ought not to be taken too strong, or too late in the evening, otherwise their effect upon the nervous system will interfere with sleep. considered, it must be evident how com- | beneficial, but these must be cases in which pletely the time for their principal meal either the state of health, or circumstances, must be altered by circumstances; begin-require or permit all arrangements to be ning the day, for the most part, some hours later than the operatives, making, generally, much less physical exertion, and working the head more, there is not the necessity for the principal meal being early in the day; moreover, the employments generally of the class in question, being more of the mind than of the body, and often of an anxious and thought-engrossing nature, they cannot in the midst of them cast loose the mind, or place it in the same careless ease as the physical labourer can do, consequently the digestive powers are interfered with. If these observations are taken in connexion with those upon "Digestion," in the article devoted to that subject, their force will be seen. From them the following deductions may be drawn, that although those engaged in physical exertion, either of business or pleasure, particularly if early hours are observed generally, require and ought to have the principal meal of the day early; those engaged in occupations of mental rather than of bodily exertion, ought to delay it till the necessity for the mental stretch is passed over. This subject has been more dwelt upon, from its so frequently being the case, that early dining is prescribed in cases of stomach disorder as a sort of panacea, which it does not prove. It is not counselled that the dinner hour should be thrown too late in the evening, probably six o'clock should be the limit, but it is far better that it should be late, than interpolated in the midst of the turmoil and anxieties of business, or mental strain of study. It is objected that a late dinner involves either too long an interval between breakfast and dinner, or a luncheon. This is matter of constitution simply; some persons of good constitutional powers, who can make a substantial breakfast between eight and nine in the morning, do not require, and indeed are better without food between that meal and a five or six o'clock dinner; those who cannot take so much at a time, are much more likely to do well with a light luncheon, not a meat one, in the midst of their work, than with a heavy meal, as even the lightest dinner must be. It is no real objection against a late dinner, that its being made after work, induces people to indulge in the pleasures of the table more than if they dined early; abuse will neutralize the good of anything, however beneficial, but it is not an argument against its use. Further, there are undoubtedly invalids, and certain impaired states of health, in which an early hour for dinner is found Some individuals of weak digestive powers are in the habit of taking a "dinner pill," for the purpose either of exciting the appetite, of stimulating the digestion, or of both. As a habit, the practice is bad, because it must be a substitute for more efficient and permanent means of improving appetite and digestion; occasionally, however, in some cases the dinner pill is useful as a temporary remedy. Eighteen grains of compound rhubarb pill, six grains of cayenne pepper, and twelve grains of extract of gentian, made up into twelve pills, of which one or two may be taken a quarter of an hour before dinner, will be found useful. The practice of taking spirits, or stimulant cordials or bitters before dinner, is highly injurious to the stomach, exhausting and irritating in a way that must interfere with. digestion. A draught of cold water is a patients, very commonly, after having gone the round of the various artificial drinks, are found to prefer, and to adhere to the simple water as their most grateful and only drink. How often does the child with fever ask for "water from the pump" in preference to everything else. water, is unfit for drinking. Diluents may Refer to-Cold-Cookery-Heat-Thirst DINNER-is the meal of the twenty-four hours, the principal occasion on which the Water may be used as a diluent in its daily waste of the body is restored by food. purest condition, that of distilled water, or At dinner, for the most part, the articles rain water, or as procured from the various either of food or drink taken, are stronger sources of spring, well, river, or lake, in and more stimulating than at any other which cases it is more or less impregnated meal, consequently its disposal makes the with foreign matters. Its temperature greatest demand upon the digestive powers. may be modified, for it may be used It matters not that what some persons call either ice cold, or tepid, or warm; or it dinner, others would call supper, for by the may be administered in the form of some designation is here meant the principal of the artificial drinks, such as toast-water, meal of the day. The regulation of the barley-water, thin gruel, or, as on the con- meal as to time and circumstances, often tinent, as ptisan of various kinds. Weak requires more attention and care, in relatea is a common and favourite diluent with tion to health, than is bestowed upon it, many. But diluents are not necessarily either by medical men or the public. In unstimulating, though most generally so; more primitive times, and where primitive as a dietetic diluent, beer, or wine, or spirit habits prevail at the present day, the timand water, may be more serviceable than ing of this principal meal, must obviously the simpler forms, and the same may be the be very different from what it should be case on occasion, where there is intense when taken in connexion with the habits thirst, along with nervous exhaustion. Per- and modes of life of many in this country, sons who have become exhausted by severe particularly in our large cities. When labour, having at the same time been ex-persons, such as those engaged in country posed to heat, may often with greater benefit and safety take a small quantity of slightly stimulating diluent, than a larger, or even the same amount of plain water. This must not be understood as a recommendation of stimulants under circumstances of ordinary labour, but as applying to cases of exhaustion, and even in these the stimulant must be in very moderate proportion. The instinctive desire for fluid in cholera, and in diseases generally which are attended with fever, ought not to be neglected. There appears to be almost a superstitious fear with many, particularly of the poorer classes, of allowing the sick to "drink cold water," and many a sufferer regards most gratefully the unlimited permission of the medical attendant to take it freely, after it had perhaps been begged for, but withheld by mistaken friends. There are few safer prescriptions, none perhaps which may be more freely carried out by unprofessional persons, than the unrestricted allowance of simple, unstimulating drink, in all acute diseases in which thirst exists, and especially if fever be present. As mentioned in the first part of this article, diluents may be administered through the medium of the skin, and thirst and distress allayed in this way, when the power of swallowing is impaired, or lost either temporarily or permanently, or whe the only diluent at comm and agricultural work, rise very early, breakfast early, and are engaged in active muscular exertion in the open air, there can be no question, that by the time of noon, the system is ready for, and requires a full supply of good nourishment; and the powers of digestion are fully equal to the task, even though the interval of rest be not very great, and that, further, half-adozen hours' work afterwards, pave the way for another substantial meal; such being the case with our agriculturists, the healthiest and strongest, probably, of our population, and people seeing this, have jumped somewhat hastily to the conclusion that the early dinner is the secret of health, forgetting the other accessories of fresh air and exercise, and in the case of the labourer, not over active minds. The case of mechanics and artizans generally, who begin the day early, is nearly, but not quite similar to that of the labourer; they require a good meal tolerably early in the day, but not having the advantage in many cases of the fresh air of the of them might with ad |