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The Pineapple

O THE PINEAPPLE (Ananas ananas: Nat. Ord.

Bromeliacea) UTSIDE of the citrus fruits none is to be found which is more entirely beneficial to the human system, more simple and direct in wholesome effect than the pineapple when in perfect condition: not the stunted, woody specimens too often sold as pineapple. It has not so much nutritive value as some other fruits but is rich in mineral salts and these, with the water which forms so large a percentage of pine-pulp, and the fruit-sugar, purify the system and soothe the stomach. The active principle of the fruit, ananasine, may be very properly considered a vegetable counterpart of the gastric juice since, as discovered by Señor V. Marcano, the juice of the ordinary pineapple possesses the "power of digesting proteid vegetable and animal substances." Chittenden, who, with others, followed up the investigations, found, in addition, that this digestant is active with "either acids or alkaline carbonates" and that "the ferment, to which the name 'bromelin' has been given, is more nearly related to trypsin than to pepsin." The simple fact that pineapple juice will, for instance, digest beef, is very interesting to even the simplest understanding.

The juice is extremely healing in catarrhal affections and physicians recommend its use as a gargle for ordinary sore throats and even for diphtheria. For the greatest benefit to be secured the pineapple is of course best in simplest form, uncooked, but when eaten as often as fruit should be eaten, sameness sometimes palls with even the most delicious of foods and of this there is no necessity as there are many tempting ways of preparing and serving the pineapple.