(from alo to nourish), implies food both solid and liquid; from which, by the process of digestion, is prepared a very mild, sweet, and whitish liquor, resembling milk, and distinguished by the name of chyle; which being absorbed by the lacteal veins, by them conveyed into the circulation, and there assimilated into the nature of blood, affords that supply of nutrition which the continual waste of the body is found to require.—Next to air, food is the most necessary thing for the preservation of our bodies; and as on the choice thereof our health greatly depends, it is of great importance to understand, in general, what is the properest for our nourishment; and, in particular deviations from health, what is the best adapted to restore us. Our blood and juices naturally incline to become putrid and acrimonious: fresh chyle, duly received, prevents this destructive tendency, and preserves in them that mild state which alone confers with health. An animal diet affords the most of this bland nutritious mucilage; watery fluids dilute the too gross parts, and carry off what is becoming unfit for use. It is only the small portion of jelly which is separated from the farinaceous parts of vegetables, that, after being much elaborated, is converted into the animal nature; yet the use of vegetables prevents both repletion and a too great tendency to a putrefactive acrimony of the blood. blood. In hot climates, as well as against the constitutional heat of particular persons, vegetables are demanded in the largest portion; animal substances afford the highest relish while our appetite continues; but will sate the appetite before the stomach is duly filled. Vegetables may be eaten after either flesh or fish; few herbs or fruits satiate so much as that the stomach may not be filled with them, when it is already satisfied with flesh or fish; whence it may be observed, that no diet which is very nourishing can be eaten to fulness, because its nutritious parts are oily and satiating.—Health depends almost wholly on a proper crisis of the blood; and to preserve this a mixture of vegetables in some degree is always required, for a loathing is soon the consequence of animal food alone: hot acrid habits, too, receive from milk and vegetables the needful for correcting their excesses; but in cold, pituitous, and nervous habits, who want most nourishment from least digestion, and from the smallest quantity of food, animal diet is to be used more freely.

Thus much being offered as general principles with respect to the matter and quality of our aliment, the valetudinarian may easily regulate his diet with some advantage to himself by an attention to the few ensuing particulars. In winter, eat freely, but drink sparingly: roast meat is to be preferred, and what is drank should be stronger than at other seasons. In summer, let thirst determine the quantity to be drunk; cold stomachs never require much: boiled meats and vegetables, if not otherwise contradicted, may now be more freely used. Lax habits require the winter's diet to be continued all the year, and rigid ones should be confined to that of summer. Fat people should fast at times, but the lean should never do so. Those who are troubled with eruptions occasioned by their food, should drink but little, and use some unaccustomed exercise. The thirsty should drink freely, but eat sparingly. In general, let moderation be observed; and tho' no dinner hath been had, a light supper is at all times to be preferred. After very high-seasoned meats, a glass of water acidulated with the acid elixir of vitriol, or in very weak stomachs the sweet elixir of vitriol, is far more affiant to the work of digestion than the common method of taking brandy. See further Food and Drink.

Obligation of Aliment, in Scots law, the natural obligation on parents to provide their children with the necessaries of life, &c. See Law, Part III. No clxxiii.

Alimentarii Pueri, &c. were certain children maintained and educated by the munificence of the emperors, in a sort of public places, not unlike our hospitals.—Trajan was the first that brought up any of these alimentary boys. He was imitated by Adrian. Antoninus Pius did the same for a number of maids, at the solicitation of Faustina; and hence, in some medals of that empress, we read Puellae Faustinianae.—Alexander Severus did the like at the request of Mammæa; and the maids thus educated were called Mammæae.

Alimentary Duct or Canal, is a name given by Dr Tyton and some others to that part of the body through which the food passes, from its reception into the mouth to its exit at the anus; including the gula, stomach, and intestines. See Anatomy.

This duct has been said to be the true characteristic of an animal, or (in the jargon of the schools) in pro-Alimentary prium quarto modo; there being no animal without it, and whatever has it being properly enough ranged under the class of animals. Plants receive their nourishment by the numerous fibres of their roots, but have no common receptacle for digesting the food received, or for carrying off the recrements. But in all, even the lowest degree of animal life, we may observe a stomach and intestines, even where we cannot perceive the least formation of any organ of the fenses, unless that common one of feeling as in oysters. Phil. Trans. No 269, p. 776, seq.

Dr Wallis brings an argument from the structure of the alimentary tube in man, to prove that he is not naturally carnivorous; to which Dr Tyton makes some objections. V. Phil. Trans. No 269, p. 777.

Alimentary Law, i.e. alimentaria, was an old law among the Romans, whereby children were obliged to find sustenance for their parents.