s and currants contain the most acid
of all.

Uses of Fruit.

(1) To furnish nutriment; (2) to convey water to the system and
relieve thirst; (3) to introduce various mineral matter (salts) and
acids which improve the quality of the blood; (4) as anti-scorbutics;
(5) as laxatives and cathartics; (6) to stimulate the appetite,
improve digestion and provide variety in the diet. Apples, lemons and
oranges are especially valuable for the potash salts, lime and
magnesia they contain. Fruit as a common article of daily diet is
highly beneficial, and should be used freely in season. Cooked fruit
is more easily digested than raw, and when over-ripe should always be
cooked in order to prevent fruit poisoning.

NUTS.

Nuts contain proteid, with some starch and sugar, but are not
considered valuable as nutrients. Cocoanuts, almonds and English
walnuts are the most nutritious.

Beverages.

TEA.

Tannin is an astringent of vegetable origin which exists in tea, is
also found in coffee and wines, and is very injurious. Tea is a
preparation made from the leaves of a shrub called Thea. The
difference between black and green tea is due to the mode of
preparation, and not to separate species of plant. Green tea contains
more tannin than black. The following table will show the
difference:--

=======================+===================+===================
| GREEN TEA. | BLACK TEA.
-----------------------+-------------------+-------------------
Crude protein | 37.43 | 38.90
Fibre | 10.06 | 10.07
Ash (mineral matter) | 4.92 | 4.93
Theine | 3.20 | 3.30
Tannin | 10.64 | 4.89
Total nitrogen | 5.99 | 6.22
-----------------------+-------------------+-------------------

The stimulating properties which tea possesses, as well as its color
and flavor, depend upon the season of the year at which the leaves are
gathered, the variety of the plant, the age of the leaves, which
become tough as they grow older, and the care exercised in their
preparation. Much depends upon the manner in which tea is infused. (1)
Use freshly boiled water; (2) allow it to infuse only three or four
minutes, in order to avoid extracting the tannin. When carefully
prepared as above, tea is not considered unwholesome for peopl