in medicine, according to some, comprehends the whole regimen, or rule of life, with regard to the six non-naturals, air, meats and drinks, sleep and watching, motion and rest, passions of the mind, retentions and excretions.

The more accurate writers, however, restrain the term of diet to what regards eating and drinking, or solid aliment and drinks. See MEDICINE.

DIET-DRINKS, a form in physic, including all the medicated wines, ales, and wheys, used in chronic cases. They require a course or continuation to answer any intention of moment.

DIET OF APPEARANCE, in Scots law, the day to which a defender is cited to appear in court, and every other day to which the court shall afterwards adjourn the consideration of the question.

or DYET, in matters of policy, is used for the general general assembly of the states, or circles of the empire of Germany, and of Poland, to deliberate and concert measures proper to be taken for the good of the public.

The general diet of the empire is usually held at Raifbon: it consists of the emperor, the nine electors, and the ecclesiastical princes; viz. the archbishops, bishops, abbots, and abbeys; the secular princes, who are dukes, marquises, counts, viscounts, or barons; and the representatives of the imperial cities. It meets on the emperor's summons, and any of the princes may send their deputies thither in their stead. The diet makes laws, raises taxes, determines differences between the several princes and states, and can relieve the subjects from the oppressions of their sovereigns.

The diet of Poland, or the assembly of the states, consists of the senate and deputies, or representative of every palatinate or county and city, and meet usually every two years, and oftener upon extraordinary occasions, if summoned by the king, or, in his absence, by the archbishop of Gneina. The general diet of Poland sits but six weeks, and often breaks up in a tumult much sooner: for one dissenting voice prevents their passing any laws, or coming to any resolutions on what is proposed to them from the throne. Switzerland has also a general diet, which is usually held every year at Baden, and represents the whole Helvetic body: it seldom lasts longer than a month. Besides this general diet, there are diets of the protestant cantons, and diets of the catholic ones; the first assemble at Araw, and are convoked by the canton of Zurich; the second at Lucern, convoked by the canton of that name.