1755. Care Before Eating.

But at the same time it should be understood, that it is not advisable to take violent exercise immediately before a meal, as digestion might thereby be r.e.t.a.r.ded.

1756. Time Before Eating.

Neither should we sit down to a substantial dinner or supper immediately on returning from a fatiguing walk, at the time when the blood is heated, and the body in a state of perspiration from previous exertion, as the worst consequences may arise, especially when the meal is commenced with cooling dishes, salad, or a gla.s.s of cold drink.

1757. Not After Meals.

Exercise is always hurtful after meals, from its impeding digestion, by propelling those fluids too much towards the surface of the body which are designed for the solution of the food in the stomach.

1758. Walking.

To walk gracefully, the body must be erect, but not stiff, and the head held up in such a posture that the eyes are directed forward. The tendency of untaught walkers is to look towards the ground near the feet; and some persons appear always as if admiring their shoe-ties.

The eyes should not thus be cast downward, neither should the chest bend forward to throw out the back, making what are termed round shoulders; on the contrary, the body should be held erect, as if the person to whom it belongs were not afraid to look the world in the face, and the chest by all means be allowed to expand. At the same time, everything like strutting or pomposity must be carefully avoided. An easy, firm, and erect posture is alone desirable. In walking, it is necessary to bear in mind that the locomotion is to be performed entirely by the legs. Awkward persons rock from side to side, helping forward each leg alternately by advancing the haunches.

This is not only ungraceful but fatiguing. Let the legs alone advance, bearing up the body.

1759. Utility of Singing.

It has been a.s.serted, and we believe with some truth, that singing is a corrective of the too common tendency to pulmonic complaints. Dr.

Rush, an eminent physician, observes on this subject:

"The Germans are seldom afflicted with consumption; and this, I believe, is in part occasioned by the strength which their lungs acquire by exercising them in vocal music, for this const.i.tutes an essential branch of their education. The music master of an academy has furnished me with a remark still more in favour of this opinion.

He informed me that he had known several instances of persons who were strongly disposed to consumption, who were restored to health by the exercise of their lungs in singing."

1760. The Weather and the Blood.

In dry, sultry weather the heat ought to be counteracted by means of a cooling diet. To this purpose cuc.u.mbers, melons, and juicy fruits are subservient. We ought to give the preference to such alimentary substances as lead to contract the juices which are too much expanded by the heat, and this property is possessed by all acid food and drink. To this cla.s.s belong all sorts of salad, lemons, oranges, pomegranates sliced and sprinkled with sugar, for the acid of this fruit is not so apt to derange the stomach as that of lemons; also cherries and strawberries, curds turned with lemon acid or cream of tartar; cream of tartar dissolved in water; lemonade, and Rhenish or Moselle wine mixed with water.

1761. How to get Sleep.

How to get sleep is to many persons a matter of high importance.

Nervous persons who are troubled with wakefulness and excitability, usually have a strong tendency of blood on the brain, with cold extremities. The pressure of the blood on the brain keeps it in a stimulated or wakeful state, and the pulsations in the head are often painful. Let such rise and chafe the body and extremities with a brush or towel, or rub smartly with the hands, to promote circulation, and withdraw the excessive amount of blood from the brain, and they will fall asleep in a few moments. A cold bath, or a sponge bath and rubbing, or a good run, or a rapid walk in the open air, or going up and down stairs a few times just before retiring, will aid in equalizing circulation and promoting sleep. These rules are simple, and easy of application in all cases.

1762. Early Rising.

Dr. Wilson Philip, in his "Treatise on Indigestion," says:

"Although it is of consequence to the debilitated to go early to bed, there are few things more hurtful to them than remaining in it too long. Getting up an hour or two earlier often gives a degree of vigour which nothing else can procure. For those who are not much debilitated, and sleep well, the best rule is to get out of bed soon after waking in the morning. This at first may appear too early, for the debilitated require more sleep than the healthy; but rising early will gradually prolong the sleep on the succeeding night, till the quant.i.ty the patient enjoys is equal to his demand for it. Lying late is not only hurtful, by the relaxation it occasions, but also by occupying that part of the day at which exercise is most beneficial."

1763. Appet.i.te.

Appet.i.te is frequently lost through excessive use of stimulants, food taken too hot, sedentary occupation, costiveness, liver disorder and want of change of air. The first endeavour should be to ascertain and remove the cause. Change of diet, and change of air will frequently be found more beneficial than medicines.

1764. Temperance.

"If," observes a writer, "men lived uniformly in a healthy climate, were possessed of strong and vigorous frames, were descended from healthy parents, were educated in a hardy and active manner, were possessed of excellent natural dispositions, were placed in comfortable situations in life, were engaged only in healthy occupations, were happily connected in marriage, and kept their pa.s.sions in due subjection, there would be little occasion for medical rules."

All this is very excellent and desirable; but, unfortunately for mankind, unattainable.

1765. More than Man.

Man must be something more than Man to be able to connect the different links of this harmonious chain--to consolidate this _summum bonum_ of earthly felicity into one uninterrupted whole; for, independent of all regularity or irregularity of diet, pa.s.sions, and other sublunary circ.u.mstances, contingencies, and connections, relative or absolute, thousands are visited by diseases and precipitated into the grave, independent of accident, to whom no particular vice could attach, and with whom the appet.i.te never overstepped the boundaries of temperance. Do we not hear almost daily of instances of men living near to and even upwards of a century? We cannot account for this either; because of such men we know but few who have lived otherwise than the world around them; and we have known many who have lived in habitual intemperance for forty or fifty years, without interruption and with little apparent inconvenience.

1766. No Link to Background.

The a.s.sertion has been made by those who have attained a great age (Parr, and Henry Jenkins, for instance), that they adopted no particular arts for the preservation of their health; consequently, it might be inferred that the duration of life has no dependence on manners or customs, or the qualities of particular food. This, however, is an error of no common magnitude.

1767. Moderation.

Peasants, labourers, and other hard-working people, more especially those whose occupations require them to be much in the open air, may be considered as following a regulated system of moderation; and hence the higher degree of health which prevails among them and their families. They also observe rules; and those which it is said were recommended by Old Parr are remarkable for good sense; namely,

"Keep your head cool by temperance, your feet warm by exercise; rise early, and go soon to bed; and if you are inclined to get fat, keep your eyes open and your mouth shut,"

in other words, sleep moderately, and be abstemious in diet;--excellent admonitions, more especially to these inclined to corpulency.

1768. Corpulence.

The late Mr. William Banting, author of a "Letter on Corpulence,"

gives the following excellent advice, with a dietary for use in cases of obesity (corpulence):

i. _Medicine._--None, save a morning cordial, as a corrective.

ii. Dietary.

_Breakfast._--Four or five ounces of beef, mutton, kidneys, broiled fish, bacon, or any kind of cold meat except pork, a large cup (or two) of tea without milk or sugar, a little biscuit or dry toast.

_Dinner._--Five or six ounces of any fish except salmon, any meat except pork, any vegetables except potatoes; one ounce of dry toast; fruit out of a pudding; any kind of poultry or game, and two or three gla.s.ses of claret or sherry. Port, champagne, and beer forbidden.

_Tea._--Two or three ounces of fruit; a rusk or two, and a cup or two of tea, without milk or sugar.

_Supper._--Three or four ounces of meat or fish as at dinner, with a gla.s.s or two of claret.

_Nightcap_ (if required).--A gla.s.s or two of grog,--whisky, gin, or brandy,--without sugar; or a gla.s.s or two of sherry.

Mr. Banting adds,