is
she thought greatly preferable to entire abstinence.

At this time I did not press her to abandon wholly an article of food,
which, though partially rejected, was yet slowly producing derangement
of her digestive system, and might, in time, result in internal disease,
which would be serious and irremediable. I did not do it; first, because
I knew my advice would not be very acceptable; secondly, for want of
that full measure of gospel benevolence which leads us to try to do
good, even in places where we have no right to expect it will be
received; and, lastly, no doubt for want of moral courage.

Were I to live my life over again, particularly my medical life, I would
pray and labor for a little more of what I am accustomed to call holy
boldness. By this term I do not mean _meddlesomeness_,--for this is by
no means to be commended,--but true Christian or apostolic boldness.

Of late years the young woman above referred to has been in
circumstances which, I have reason to believe, practically precluded the
use of the offending article. I meet her occasionally, but always with a
smooth face, which greatly confirms my prepossessions.[H] Happy would it
be for a multitude of our race if their circumstances were such as to
exclude this and many other articles of food and drink which are well
known to injure them.

One instance occurred in the very neighborhood of the foregoing, which,
though I received it at second hand, is not a little striking, and is
wholly reliable. A certain young mother--the wife of a merchant in easy
circumstances, was so excessively fond of butter, that, though she was a
dyspeptic, and knew it increased her dyspepsia, she used to eat it in a
manner the most objectionable which could possibly have been devised.

For example: she would take a ball of this article,--say half or
three-quarters of a pound,--pierce it with the point of a firm stick,
and having heated it, on all sides, over the fire, till the whole
surface was softened, would then plunge it into a vessel of flour, in
such a manner that the latter would adhere to it on all sides, till a
great deal was absorbed by the butter. Having done this, she would again
heat the surface of the ball and again dip or roll it in the flour. This
alternate melting the surface of the ball and rolling it in flour, was
continued till the whole became a mass of heated or scorched flour,
entirely full of the melted butter, and as completely indigestible as