If milk seems to produce gas in the stomach with distress and the
milk is retained too long in the stomach from the interference with
its movements caused by the gas, a teaspoonful of malt extract may be
added to each glass of milk. If the malt extract is not at hand, four
teaspoonfuls of malted milk to each glass may be used.
Equal parts of cream and hot water to which has been added a third of a
teaspoon of soda may be used, for the same purpose.
If milk disagrees because of an excess of hydrochloric acid and the
formation of hard curds, a saltspoon of salt or bicarbonate of soda may
be used, or one part of limewater to six parts of milk.
When milk seems to disagree because digestion is somewhat slow and
the milk does not offer enough bulk to excite peristaltic action, it
remains too long in the stomach and fermentation occurs. A slice of
bread, a couple of crackers, a piece of zweiback, a tablespoonful of
Nestle’s or Mellin’s food or of arrowroot gruel added to each glass, or
eaten with the milk, will give it more body and prevent the formation
of large curds.
When the stomach is excessively weak because of a lack of the digestive
juices and a consequent incomplete action of the stomach, only
predigested milk should be taken until the stomach has been brought
to a normal tone. Pepsin or pancreatin may be used for the partial
digestion. Milk so predigested must be freshly prepared each time
it is used or must be kept on ice until used. The stomach will find
practically no difficulty in assimilating milk thus prepared, and
constipation will be avoided.
_It must be remembered that milk must be sipped slowly and be well
mixed with saliva before it is swallowed._
Milk can be soured and taken separated as a variation, the curds and
whey being relished by many when properly prepared. A little sugar and
cinnamon or nutmeg sprinkled on curds or mixed with the whey make a
palatable mixture. Buttermilk or kumyss offer still other variations.
With all these means of varying the taste, appearance, or condition of
milk it is hardly possible that some way cannot be found whereby milk
may be taken and be well borne by the stomach and the full benefits
from its use be derived.
* * * * *
[Sidenote: Cheese]
This is the casein (protein) which has been separated from milk by the
action of rennet. It is highly nutritious and many varieties are on the
market. In Europe it is largely used to take the place of meat. Cheese
contains almost as much again protein as is contained in the same
quantity of meat.
In this country more highly flavored cheeses are in demand, and when
eaten in moderate quantities they aid digestion. They are highly
concentrated food and but a small quantity should be eaten at a meal,
particularly if meat has constituted a part of the meal.
The cheeses poor in fat are more difficult to digest as they are harder
and not so easily masticated.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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