Cut, say, a pound of perfectly lean beef into small pieces, put them
into a wide-mouthed bottle (a pickle-bottle answers the purpose), cork
it tightly, and place it in a pot of _cold_ water in which there is a
saucer at the bottom. Heat it gradually, then let it boil slowly for two
or three hours, when all the juice will be drawn out of the meat.
Now pour off the juice, season it with salt carefully, as it requires
very little. When it is cold, skim off all the globules of fat.
This is an invaluable aliment for invalids who are very ill, or for weak
infants, when they need much nourishment in small compass. This beef tea
can then be given by the tea-spoonful at regular intervals,
administering it as medicine.
ANOTHER BEEF TEA (_for Convalescents_).
Soak three-quarters of a pound of small-cut pieces of lean steak (say a
cut from a round steak) in a pint of cold rain-water for half an hour,
squeezing the beef occasionally; then put it on the fire, cover it, and
boil it slowly for ten minutes, removing the scum. Season with salt, and
serve hot. Serve Albert biscuit, or thin wafers (see page 72), with it.
The addition of a little boiled rice makes a pleasant change.