WCP7222

[1]

Broadstone, Wimborne

Nov^r. 27th. 1906

James Marchant Esq,

Dear Sir,

I quite forget the title publisher of Dufour's ["]History of Prostitution in all Ages and all Countries"¹— which I think was the full title; but no doubt you can get it from Dulau & Co. or any other of the Foreign Booksellers in London. All I remember is, that it was a thick paper-covered volume in the usual French style.

As to your palpitations, my experience is, that it depends almost wholly on taking too [2]] much food which the system can not assimilate. Mine, which accompanied my Asthma are wholly gone, so long as I keep strictly and carefully to my diet. What I should recommend is. to leave off potatoes and [1 word deleted] bread entirely — to eat vegetables of all kinds, very sparingly, except the most easily digestible & nourishing — to take solid food only twice a day — eating nothing whatsoever between, but taking from half a pint to a pint of very hot water, (flavoured with anything you like) about an hour or 1 1/2 hour[s] before [3] each meal. My meals are midday (1 o'clock) and 7pm.

For breakfast I take only weak ^china tea, infused less than a minute; but a cup of hot weak bovril² would do as well. Your main food should be good, well-cooked meat —(beef I find best) with perhaps one meal-biscuit, eaten slowly and thoroughly masticated. Drink nothing (or very little) at meals. A little well-cooked fruit may be eaten, but no pudding or pie crust. Light milk puddings, junket,³ or custard in moderation, — also cheese [4] if it agrees with you.

Your case being so severe a one, I think the American doctors would make you fast absolutely for perhaps a week, drinking only hot water — but you can try my less heroic plan first, and if you follow it strictly, and taking sufficient exercise &c., I shall be very much surprised if you do not feel greatly benefited in a few weeks.

Yours very truly | Alfred R. Wallace [signature]