The Rhode Island Republican

WATER MELONS.

It is not generally known that Water Melons are extremely deleterious to health, especially at this season of the year, and among children. The inhabitants of Mississippi and Louisiana, even of the most sanguine constitutions, dare not eat them, and it is believed that the complaint so prevalent among children, at this time may generally be attributed to the excessive use of this fruit. Their pernicious effects may be accounted for in this way-their extreme fluidity, when taken into the stomach, has the effect of diluting the saliva, which is the active agent of digestion; thereby producing indigestion, weakness of the stomach, and of consequence; diarrhœa, dysentery and general emaciation. The extensive use of fruit of all kinds, but particularly melons, produce more disease than all the miasms of our country-would it not be well then for parents who regard their children's health to banish these pernicious agents of disease from their houses? Experience has taught me to avoid them, as I would the effluvium of the poison trees on the Island of Java.-Boston Patriot.