Mental distress and consequent despondence, impedes the cure of those who otherwise might recover, and should be obviated as much as possible. Happily, patients labouring under Phthisis, generally with difficulty, resign hopes of recovery, and despondence from that source does not often depress them. But mental anxiety, produced by other causes, is very injurious. It should be relieved, as much as possible, by pleasant amusements, a journey, a sea-voyage or any other method most suited to the particular circumstances of the patient. In the second stage of Consumption, the diet of the patient must be altered, as well as the medical treatment. The most nutritious articles of food are then to be chosen, and such as are at the same time the most easily digested. It is well ascertained that the older meats, as beef and mutton, possess these properties in a higher degree than veal or lamb; and generally, the brown more than white meats. With the same view, wild fowl and game generally, form nutritious articles of diet, proper for consumptive patients. Eggs combine a large quantity of nourishment in a small compass, and may be freely used. They should be taken either quite raw, or boiled a very few minutes. When boiled hard, they form one of the most indigestible and offensive substances, to the delicate stomach, that are used in diet. The various culinary preparations, of which eggs form a principal part, are for the same reasons proper. Jellies also contain a great quantity of nutritious matter, and are very acceptable to patients, who, as in Consumption, have little appetite. Oysters and some other of the testacea, are also extremely nutritious. Isinglass boiled in milk is frequently in use, and with advantage, in these cases. Of the vegetable nourishments, those should be chosen which are most nutritious and abounding in mucilage, as rice, sago, arrowroot and Tapioca. Chocolate, when prepared in such a manner as to be free from oily matter, is a very pleasant article of diet. The drinks of the patient should also be stimulating and nutritious. Malt liquors combine both these properties with some tonic virtues, which they obtain from the bitter of the hops infused in them, and therefore constitute the best drink for consumptive patients. Wine, also, may be used moderately with advantage, but requires some caution; and should be immediately abandoned, if any undue excitement be produced by it.