btained for
fourpence a day, yet the average working man spends sevenpence.

"I advise the buying of more vegetable foods, particularly peas, beans,
and lentils, and the cheaper varieties of fish. The working classes
should also be taught how to cook cheese, and thus make it more
digestible, as the Italians do. Cheese contains much building material,
and is therefore a valuable article of diet.

"I strongly recommend one good meal of oatmeal a day, instead of so
much bread, butter, and tea, which is the staple diet of so many poor
families, because it is easily prepared, and because of human laziness.

"Skimmed milk is better than no milk at all, for it contains all the
original proteids, and has only lost its fat. More dripping and
margarine should be eaten, instead of jam; margarine being quite as
digestible and nourishing as butter."

Vegetable oils are, however, more digestible than animal fats. Cocoanut
butter is a cheap and excellent substitute for margarine or butter. As
it contains no water it will go much further.

Another instance of bad economy is the use of cod liver oil. Butter or
even cream are quite as fattening and much more digestible.

Malt extract is much dearer than honey, which is superior to it in
value as a food.

To supply a healthy man with the amount of proteid required by him
daily in beef extracts would cost 7s., in milk (a comparatively
expensive food) would only cost about 1s.

Diphtheria.--The most striking symptom of diphtheria is the growth of a
substance in the upper part of the windpipe, which threatens to close
it entirely. Good medical skill is of first importance here, yet much
may be done where that is not available. We have often seen the
swallowing of a little hot water and treacle enable the children to
throw up the entire obstruction and make the breathing perfectly free.
Mark at once whether the feet are cold or warm. If cold, oil them well
with olive oil, and pack in a hot blanket fomentation to the knees.
When the feet and knees are thoroughly warm in this, put a cold cloth
on the back of the neck down between the shoulders. Change this as
often as felt comfortable. The throat may be brushed out with a weak
solution of Condy's Fluid, but a strong solution of common salt will do
very well. Good white vinegar and water (_see_ Acetic Acid) is perhaps
best of all. We have never seen this fail in changing the character of
such growths, and if the windpipe can be washed