Dictamia. A strengthening and restorative preparation. Arrowroot, 6 parts; meal of triticum monococcum, 6 parts; chocolate, 4 parts; vanilla, 1⁄4 part (Richter). Sugar, 217 parts; bran extract, 92 parts; starch, 125 parts; Caracas and Maragnan cocoa, 30 parts; vanilla, 1 part. (Chevallier.)

DIDYM′IUM. Di. A rare metal, found associated with cerium and lanthanium in the Swedish mineral cerite. See Cerium.

DI′ET. Food or victuals. In medicine food regulated by certain rules, or prescribed for the cure or prevention of disease. The dietetic part of medicine is no inconsiderable branch, and deserves a much greater share of regard than it commonly meets with. A great variety of diseases might be removed by the observance of a proper diet and regimen, without the assistance of medicine, were it not for the impatience of the sufferers. On all occasions it may come in as a proper assistant to the cure, which sometimes cannot be performed without a due observance of the non-naturals.

Writers on dietetics (DIETETICA, L.) have taken much trouble to divide and classify the numerous articles of food suitable to the various conditions of the body in health and disease; but little practical advantage has resulted from their labours. Low diet, middle diet, full diet, milk diet, farinaceous diet, fruit diet, and vegetable diet, are terms which, under most circumstances, are sufficiently simple to be almost self-explanatory.

DIGES′TION. In chemistry and pharmacy the operation of exposing bodies to a gentle and continuous heat. The best digesters are thin glass flasks and beakers, and the most convenient source of heat is the sand bath. Digestion is often performed to soften and otherwise modify bodies that are to be distilled. In physiology the term is applied to the conversion of food into chyme, or the process of dissolving food in the alimentary canal, and preparing it for circulation and nourishment. In surgery digestion signifies a method of treating ulcers, wounds, &c. See Digestives (below).

DIGESTIBILITY OF DIFFERENT FOODS.

Foods.How cooked.Mean time
of chymification
in stomach.
h. m.
RiceBoiled1
Eggs, whippedRaw1 30
Trout, salmon, freshBoiled1 30
Venison, steakBroiled1 35
SagoBoiled1 45
MilkBoiled2
Eggs, freshRaw2
MilkRaw2 15
TurkeyBoiled2 25
GelatinBoiled2 30
Goose, wildRoasted2 30
Pig, suckingRoasted2 30
Lamb, freshBroiled2 30
Beans, podBoiled2 30
Potatoes, IrishBaked2 30
ChickenFricassed2 45
Oysters, freshRaw2 55
Eggs, freshSoft-boiled3
Beef, lean, rareRoasted3
Mutton, freshBoiled3
Bread, cornBaked3 15
ButterMelted3 30
Cheese, old, strongRaw3 30
Potatoes, IrishBoiled3 30
BeefFried4
Veal, freshBroiled4
Fowls, domesticRoasted4
Ducks, DomesticRoasted4
Veal, freshFried4 30
Pork, fat, and leanRoasted5 15
CabbageBoiled4 30

The results recorded in the above table, giving the respective time required for the digestion of different foods, were obtained by Dr Beaumont, through his being enabled to watch the process of digestion actually going on in the stomach of a man, who had received a wound in that organ, by which part of it was laid bare, and could thus be seen into.

The above data were controlled by a series of independent experiments, which consisted in digesting different foods in a solution of gastric juice, and heating the mixture to 100°. The relative results of both sets of experiments were found to agree pretty closely; and they have since, on the whole, being confirmed by the researches of other physiologists.

DIGES′TIVES. In surgery substances which, when applied to wounds or tumours, induce or promote suppuration. All stimulating applications are of this class. Heat is a most powerful digestive agent. The action of digestives is opposed to that of DISCUTIENTS, which repel or resolve tumours and indurations.