An Apple a Day Keeps the Doctor Away

[Baker, John M.]

        I found this proverb, in its now canonical form, in Anne Walbank
Buckland, Our Viands 177 (1893) (Google Books):  'An apple a day keeps
the doctor away,' says the proverb, and there can be no doubt that in
temperate climes the apple, from its excellent hygienic and keeping
qualities, ranks first in usefulness.

        This is an antedating of YBQ, which has the proverb in this form
only back to 1900, although variants are older.


John Baker

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