The laxative effects of fruit are most obtained if the fruit be taken alone the first thing in the morning on an empty stomach, half an hour before breakfast, with a little water.

The Uses of Fruits are as follozus: - To supply nourishment - the greatest amount is contained in the banana, date, fig, prune, and grape, this being due to the large proportion of sugar which they contain.

They are thirst-quenchers, and supply water, the most watery fruits being melons, oranges, lemons, limes, and grapes.

They possess well - marked antiscorbutic properties, especially those which have an abundant supply of potash salts as well as lime and magnesia - e.g., apples, lemons, limes, and oranges. There is also a diuretic influence, partly due to the water, but chiefly to the organic acids and salts, which stimulate the circulation and also probably the activity of the renal epithelium.

The acidity of the urine is lessened or even made alkaline by the ingestion of fruit, the alkaline salts are broken up in the blood or tissue, and re-formed into alkaline carbonate and as such are excreted. Their laxative action is due to the cellulose and seed, and to the special influence of their organic ingredients: the best fruits to attack constipation are fresh apples, figs, oranges, grape fruit, prunes, and peaches.

Their digestibility depends on the fruit, its ripeness, freshness, and the personal idiosyncrasy of the consumer. The most easily digested are grapes, oranges, grape fruit, lemons, cooked apples, figs, peaches. Somewhat less digestible are water-melons, prunes, pears, apricots, bananas, raspberries, currants, pineapples. The best for invalids are juice of lemons, oranges, baked apples, pulped stewed prunes grapes, and pineapple juice.