     
BENEFITS OF PLUM
The disfavour with which “stone fruits,” especially plums,
are generally regarded owes its being to the fact that they are
too often eaten when unripe. When ripe, they are as wholesome
as any other fruit.
Unripe they provoke choleraic diarrhoea.
The prune, a variety of dried plum, has been recommended as a
remedy against viciousness and irritability. An American doctor
declares that there is a certain medicinal property in the
prune which acts directly upon the nervous system, and that is
where the evil passions have their seat. He reports that he
tried the experiment of including prunes in the meals of the
vicious, intractable youths of a reformatory, and that by the
end of a week they were peaceable as lambs. Most writers who
comment on this seem to suggest that any fruit which is mildly
aperient would produce the same effect. But the mother of a
large family tells me that she has observed that prunes seem to
possess a soothing property that is all their own.
Prune Tea
Prune tea is an excellent drink for irritable persons. It is
made as follows: To every pint of washed prunes allow 1 quart
of distilled water. Soak the prunes all night, and afterwards
simmer to rags in the same water. Strain, and flavour with
lemon juice if desired.
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