The Art of Invigorating and Prolonging Life

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}Continuation of former Pursuits.

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60 }

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65 -Consciousness of a Virtuous Life.

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}Perfection of Earthly Happiness.

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70 -Preparation for ETERNITY.

The most common cause of Dyspeptic Disorders, which are so prevalent at the commencement of the Third Period of Life-is an increasing indolence, inducing us to diminish the degree of the active Exercise we have been in the habit of taking-without in a corresponding degree diminishing the quantity of our Food-on the contrary, people seem to expect the Stomach to grow stronger and to work harder as it gets Older, and to almost entirely support the Circulation without the help of Exercise.-

As the activity of our existence-and the accommodating powers of the Stomach, &c. diminish-in like degree-must we lessen the quantity-and be careful of the quality of our Food, eat oftener and less at a time-or Indigestion-and the multitude of Disorders of which it is the fruitful parent, will soon destroy us.

The System of Cornaro has been oftener quoted, than understood-most people imagine, it was one of rigid Abstinence and comfortless Self-denial-but this was not the case:-his Code of Longevity consisted in steadily obeying the suggestions of Instinct-and Economizing his Vitality, and living under his income of Health,-carefully regulating his temper-and cultivating cheerful habits.

The following is a Compendium of his plan-in his own words.

He tells us that when Fourscore

"I am used to take in all twelve ounces of solid nourishment, such as Meat, and the yolk of an Egg, &c. and fourteen ounces of drink:-I eat Bread, Soup, New-laid Eggs, Veal, Kid, Mutton, Partridge, Pullets, Pigeons, &c. and some Sea and River Fish.

"I made choice of such Wines and Meats as agreed with my Constitution, and declined all other diet-and proportioned the quantity thereof to the strength of my Stomach, and abridged my Food-as my years increased.

"Every one is the best judge of the food which is most agreeable to his own Stomach,-it is next to impossible, to judge what is best for another;-the Constitutions of men are as different from each other as their complexions."-p. 36.

"1st. Take care of the quality.

"2dly. Of the quantity-so as to eat and drink nothing that offends the Stomach, nor any more than you can easily digest: your experience ought to be your guide in these two principles when you arrive at Forty: by that time you ought to know that you are in the midst of your life; thanks to the goodness of your Constitution which has carried you so far: but that when you are arrived to this period, you go down the hill apace-and it is necessary for you to change your course of life, especially with regard to the quantity and quality of your diet-because it is on that, the health and length of our days do radically depend. Lastly; if the former part of our lives has been altogether sensual-the latter ought to be rational and regular; order being necessary for the preservation of all things, especially the life of man.-Longevity cannot be attained without continence and sobriety18."

"At thirty Man suspects himself a Fool,

Knows it at forty, and reforms his plan."

By the small quantity of Food, and great proportion of his Meat to his Drink, this noble Venetian, at the age of forty, freed himself, by the advice of his Physicians, from several grievous disorders contracted by intemperance, and lived in health of body, and great cheerfulness of mind, to above an hundred.-Briefly, the secret of his Longevity seems to have been, a gradually increasing Temperance "in omnibus"-and probably, after a certain time of Life, abstinence from the "opus magnum."

The source of physical and moral Health, Happiness, and Longevity,-

"Reason's whole pleasure, all the Joys of Sense

Lie in three words, Health, peace, and competence.

But Health consists in temperance alone;

And Peace, oh Virtue! Peace is all thy own."

Pope.

Intensive Life, can only be purchased at the price of Extensive.

If you force the Heart to gallop as fast during the second, as it does during the first stage of life-and make the steady fire of 42, to blaze as brightly as the flame of 21,-it will very soon be burnt out.

Those who cannot be content to submit to that diminution of action ordained by nature, against which there is no appeal,-as it is the absolute covenant, by the most attentive and implicit observance of which we can only hope to hold our lease of life comfortably,-will soon bring to the diminished energy of the Second Stage of Life-the Paralysis of the Third.

From 40 to 60, a witty French author tells us, is "La belle saison19 pour la Gourmandise;"-for the artificial pleasures of the Palate, it may be, and the Bon Vivant cultivates them as the means of prolonging the vigour of Youth-and procrastinating the approach of Age.

Restoration may certainly be considerably facilitated, by preparing and dressing food so as to render it easily soluble-if the secret of Rejuvenization be ever discovered; it will be found in the Kitchen.

Very soon after we pass the Meridian of Life, (which, according to those who train men for athletic exercises, and to Dr. Jameson,20 is our 28th, and to Dr. Cheyne, about our 35th year,) the elasticity of the Animal System imperceptibly diminishes,-our Senses become less susceptible, and are every hour getting the worse for wear, however Self-Love, assisted by your Hair-dresser, and Tailor, &c. may endeavour to persuade you to the contrary.

Digestion and Sleep are less perfect-the restorative process more and more fails to keep pace with the consuming process-the body is insufficiently repaired, more easily deranged, and with more difficulty brought into adjustment again; till at length the vital power being diminished, and the organs deteriorated,-Nourishment can neither be received, or prepared and diffused through the constitution-and Consumption so much exceeds Renovation, that decay rapidly closes the scene of Life.

One may form some Idea of the Self-consumption of the human body, by reflecting that the pulsation of the Heart, and the motion of the Blood connected with it, takes place 100,000 times every day; i. e. on an average

the pulse21 beats 70 times in a minute,

multiplied by 60 minutes in an hour,

--

24 hours in a day,

--–

100800 pulsations in a day.

What Machine, of the most adamantine material, will not soon be the worse for wear, from such incessant vibration-especially if the Mainsprings of it are not preserved in a state of due regulation?

The generative faculties, which are the last that Nature finishes-are the first that fail.-Economy in the exercise of them-especially before and after the second period of Life-is the grand precept for the restoration and accumulation of Strength, the preservation of Health, and the prolongation of Life;-we are vigorous, in proportion to the perfection of the performance of the Restorative process, i. e. as we Eat hearty, and Sleep soundly-as our Body loses the power of renovating itself, in like ratio, fails its faculty of creating-what may be a salutary subduction of the superfluous health of the Second-during the Third period of life, will be a destructive sacrifice of the strength of both the Mind and the Body.-See also the 9th chapter of the First Edition of Willich on Diet. 8vo. 1799.

The next organical defect, (we perceive too plainly for our self-love to mistake it,) is manifested by the Eye22. To read a small print-you must remove it from the Eye further than you have been accustomed to do-and place it in a better light.

The Falsetto Voice now begins to fail, and the Ear loses some of its quickness-several extraordinary Musicians have been able till then, if a handful of the keys of a Harpsichord were put down so as to produce the most irrelative combinations-to name each half note without a mistake.-When I mentioned this to that excellent Organ Player, Mr. Charles Wesley, he said, "At the age of twenty, I could do it myself-but I can't now." He was then in his 55th year.

About the same time, the Palate is no longer contented with being employed as a mere shovel to the Stomach,-and as it finds its master becomes every day more difficult to please-learns to be a more watchful Purveyor.

After 40,-the strongest People begin to talk about being Bilious, or Nervous, &c. &c. and the Stomach will no longer do its duty properly-unless the Food offered to it is perfectly agreeable to it-when offended, Indigestion brings with it, all that melancholy depression of the Animal Spirits, which disables a Man from either thinking with precision, or acting with vigour-during the distressing suspension of the restorative process-arise all those miseries of Mind and Body, which drive Fools to get drunk, and make Madmen commit suicide:-without due attention to Diet, &c. the Third period of Life is little better than a Chronic Disease.

As our assimilating powers become enfeebled, we must endeavour to entertain them with food so prepared, as to give them the least trouble, and the most nourishment23.

In the proportion that our Food is restorative, and properly digested-our bodies are preserved in Health and Strength-and all our faculties continue vigorous and perfect.

If it is unwholesome, ill-prepared, and indigestible-the Body languishes, and is exhausted even in its youth-its strength and faculties daily decrease, and it sinks beneath the weight of the painful sensations attendant on a state of Decay.

Would to Heaven that a Cook could help our Stomachs, as much as an Optician can our Eyes: our Existence would be as much more perfect than it now is, as our Sight is superior to our other Senses.

"The vigour of the Mind decays with that of the Body-and not only Humour and Invention, but even Judgment and Resolution, change and languish, with ill constitution of Body and of Health."-Sir William Temple.

The following account of the successful REDUCTION OF CORPULENCE AND IMPROVEMENT OF HEALTH, the Editor can vouch for being a faithful statement of Facts.

30 January, 1821.

MY DEAR SIR,

In consequence of the Conversation I had with you, upon the advantages I had derived from Exercise and attention to Diet in the reduction of Weight, and your desire that I should communicate as far as I recollect them, the particulars of my Case; I have great pleasure in forwarding to you the following Statement.

I measure in height six Feet and half an Inch,-possess a sound Constitution and considerable activity.-At the age of Thirty I weighed about 18 Stone-two years afterwards I had reached the great weight of nineteen Stone, in perfect Health, always sleeping well and enjoying good Appetite and Spirits-soon after, however, I began to experience the usual attendants on fullness of Habit, a disinclination to rise in the morning from drowsiness, heaviness about the Forehead after I had risen, and a disposition to Giddiness;-I was also attacked by a complaint in one of my Eyes, the Symptoms of which it is unnecessary to describe, but it proved to be occasioned by fullness of blood, as it was removed by cupping in the temple. I lost four ounces of blood from the temple; and thinking that the loss of a little more might be advantageous, I had eight ounces taken from the back; and in order to prevent the necessity, as far as possible, of future bleeding, I resolved to reduce the system-by increasing my Exercise and diminishing my Diet.

I therefore took an early opportunity of seeing Mr. Jackson, (whose respectability and skill as a teacher of sparring is universally acknowledged,) and after some Conversation with him, determined upon acting under his Advice.

I accordingly commenced Sparring, having provided myself with flannel Dresses, which I always used, being extremely careful on changing them to avoid the risk of cold, and I recollect no instance in which I was not successful.

I also had recourse to Riding Schools, riding without stirrups, so as to have the advantage of the most powerful exercise the Horse could give;-these exercises I took in the morning in the proportion probably of sparring twice a week, and riding three or four times.

Frequently at night I resumed my Exercise,-Walking and sometimes Running, generally performing about five miles an hour, till I again produced perspiration; every other Opportunity I could resort to of bodily exercise I also availed myself of.

In respect to diet, I had accustomed myself to Suppers and drinking excellent Table Beer in large quantities, and for probably ten Years, had indulged myself with Brandy and Water after Supper:-this practice I entirely discontinued, substituting Toast and Water with my Dinner, and Tea and a good allowance of Toast for Supper, always avoiding copious Draughts.

I left off drinking malt Liquor as a habit, and indeed, very seldom drank it at all.-I took somewhat less meat at Dinner, avoiding Pies and Puddings as much as possible, but always took three or four Glasses of Port after dinner.

During the time I was under this training, I took the opinion of an eminent Physician upon the subject, who entirely approved of my Plan, and recommended the occasional use of Aperient medicine, but which I seldom resorted to.

The Result of all this, was a reduction of my Weight of upwards of three Stone, or about Forty-five Pounds, in about six or seven months.-I found my activity very much increased, and my wind excellent, but, I think, my Strength not quite so great, though I did not experience any material Reduction of it: my Health was perfect throughout.

I then relaxed my System a little, and have up to the present time, being a period of ten Years, avoided the necessity of bleeding, and have enjoyed an almost uninterrupted continuance of good Health, although my Weight has gradually increased; sometimes, however, fluctuating between 7 or 8 Pounds and a Stone, according to my means of Exercise,-always increasing in Winter, and losing in Summer;-and at this moment (January 29th, 1821,) I am about a Stone more than I ought to be, having ascertained, that my best bodily Strength, is at sixteen Stone and a half.

When the object is to Reduce Weight, rest and moderate Food will always sufficiently restore the exhaustion arising from Exercise;-if an additional quantity of Food and nourishing Liquors be resorted to, the Body will in general be restored to the weight it was before the Exercise.

I have sometimes lost from ten ounces to a Pound in weight by an Hour's sparring. If the object be not to reduce the weight, the Food may safely be proportioned to the Exercise.

You will readily perceive, that the plan I adopted, ought only to be resorted to by Persons of sound Constitution and of athletic bodily Frame,-it would be absurd to lay down a general rule for the adoption of all fat men.

I think, with all lusty men, the drinking of malt Liquor of any kind is injurious,-Meat taken more than once a day is liable to the same Objection. I still persevere in the disuse of malt Liquors and Spirits, and Suppers, seldom taking more than four Glasses of Wine as a habit,-although I do not now deem it necessary to make myself so far the Slave of habit, as to refuse the Pleasures of the Table when they offer.

I am, dear Sir,

Yours very truly,

* * *

The following are the most interesting Facts in Dr. Bryan Robinson's Essay on the Food and Discharges of the Human Body, 8vo. 1748, which has become scarce.

"I am now, in May 1747, in the 68th year of my age. The length of my Body is 63 Inches: I am of a sanguine but not robust constitution-and am at present neither lean nor fat. In the year 1721 the Morning weight of my body without Clothes, was about 131 Avoirdupois pounds, the daily weight of my food at a medium was about 85 Avoirdupois ounces, and the proportion of my Drink to my Meat, I judge was at that time about 2.5-to 1.

"At the latter end of May 1744, my weight was above 164 pounds, and the proportion of my Drink to my Meat was considerably greater than before, and had been so for some time. I was then seized with a Paralytic disorder, which obliged me to make an alteration in my diet. In order to settle the proportion of my Drink to my Meat, I considered what others have said concerning this proportion.

"According to Sanctorius, though he reckons it a disproportion, the drink to the meat in his time, was about 10 to 3 in temperate bodies.

Cornaro's drink to his Meat, was as 7 to 6.

Mr. Rye's, in winter, as 4 to 3.

Dr. Lining's, at a medium 11 to 3.

And my drink to my meat 5 to 2.

A mean taken from all these makes the

Drink to the Meat-about 2 to 1.

B. Robinson on Food and Discharges, p. 34.

"At the age of 64, by lessening my food, and increasing the proportion of my meat to my drink, i. e. by lessening my drink about a third part, (i. e. to 20 ounces) and my meat about a sixth, (i. e. 38 ounces) of what they were in 1721, I have freed myself for these two years past from the returns of a Sore throat and Diarrh?a,-Disorders I often had, though they were but slight, and never confined me. I have been much more costive than I was before, when I lived more fully, and took more Exercise, and have greatly, for my age, recovered the paralytic weakness I was seized with three years ago.

"Hence we gather, that good and constant Health consists in a just quantity of food; and a just proportion of the meat to the drink: and that to be freed from chronical disorders contracted by Intemperance-the quantity of food ought to be lessened; and the proportion of the meat to the drink increased-more or less, according to the greatness of the disorders, p. 61.

"I commonly ate four ounces of Bread and Butter, and drank half a pound of a very weak infusion of Green Tea for Breakfast. For Dinner I took two ounces of Bread, and the rest Flesh-meat,-Beef, Mutton, Pork, Veal, Hare, Rabbit, Goose, Turkey, Fowl tame and wild, and Fish. I generally chose the strongest meats as fittest, since they agreed well with my stomach, to keep up the power of my body under this great diminution of my food; I seldom took any Garden stuff-finding that it commonly lessened perspiration and increased my weight.-I drank four ounces of water with my meat and a pound of Claret after I had done eating. At night I ate nothing, but drank 12 ounces of water with a pipe of Tobacco, p. 63.

"There is but one Weight, under which a grown body can enjoy the best and most uninterrupted Health. p. 91. That Weight is such as enables the Heart to supply the several parts of the body with just quantities of Blood. p. 100.

"The weight under which an Animal has the greatest strength and activity-which I shall call its Athletic weight,-is that weight under which the Heart-and the proportion of the weight of the Heart to the weight of the body are greatest: the strength of the Muscles is measured by the strength of the Heart, p. 117.

"If the weight of the body of an Animal be greater than its Athletic Weight, it may be reduced to that weight by evacuations, dry food and exercise. These lessen the weight of the Body, by wasting its fat, and lessening its Liver; and they increase the weight of the Heart, by increasing the quantity and motion of the blood. Thus a game Cock in ten days is reduced to his athletic weight, and prepared for fighting.

"If the Food, which with Evacuations and Exercise, reduced the Cock to his athletic weight in ten days, be continued any longer, the Cock will not have that strength and activity which he had before under his athletic weight; which may be owing to the loss of weight going on after he arrives at his athletic weight.

"It is known by experiment, that a Cock cannot stand above 24 hours at his athletic weight, and that a Cock has changed very much for the worse in 12 hours.

"When a Cock is at the top of his condition, that is, when he is at his athletic weight, his Head is of a glowing red colour, his Neck thick, and his Thigh thick and firm;-the day after his complexion is less glowing, his Neck thinner, and his Thigh softer;-and the third day his Thigh will be very soft and flaccid. p. 119.

"If the increase of weight in a small compass of time, rise to above a certain quantity, it will cause disorders.

"I can bear an increase of above a pound and a half in one day, and an increase of three or four pounds in six or seven days, without being disordered; but think I should suffer from an increase of five or six pounds in that time.

"An increase of weight may be carried off by lessening the Food,-or by increasing the Discharges.-The discharges may be increased either by exercise, or by evacuations procured by art.

"By lessening the daily quantity of my food to 23 ounces, I have lost 26 ounces;-by fasting a whole day, I lost 48 ounces, having gained 27 the day before.

"Mr. Rye was a strong, well set, corpulent man, of a sanguine complexion; by a brisk walk for one hour before breakfast he threw off, by insensible perspiration, one pound of increased weight; by a walk of three hours, he threw off two pounds of increased weight. The best way to take off an increase of weight which threatens a distemper, is either by fasting or exercise. p. 84.

"The mean loss of weight by several grown bodies caused by a purging medicine composed of a drachm of Jalap and ten grains of Calomel, was about 2? Avoirdupois pounds; and the mean quantity of Liquor, drank during the time of Purging, was about double the loss of Weight."-Robinson on the Animal Economy, p. 458.

"I have lost, by a spontaneous Diarrh?a, two pounds in twenty-four hours; and Mr. Rye lost twice that quantity in the same time."-On the Food and Discharges of Human Bodies, by B. Robinson, p. 84.

"Most Chronic Diseases-arise from too much Food and too little Exercise,-both of which lessen the weight of the Heart and the quantity of Blood;-the first by causing fatness; the second by a diminution of the blood's motion.

"Hence, when the Liver is grown too large by Intemperance and Inactivity, it may be lessened and brought to a healthful magnitude by Temperance and Exercise.-It may be emptied other ways by art; but nothing can prevent its filling again, and consequently secure good and constant Health-but an exact Diet and Exercise. Purging and Vomiting may lessen the Liver, and reduce it to its just magnitude;-but these evacuations cannot prevent its increasing again, so long as persons live too fully, and use too little exercise-and can only be done by lessening the Food and increasing the Exercise.

"Much sleep, much food, and little exercise, are the principal things which make animals grow fat. If the Body, on account of Age or other Infirmities, cannot use sufficient Exercise, and takes much the same quantity of Sleep, its weight must be lessened by lessening the Food, which may be done by lessening the Drink, without making any change in the Meat; as I have proved myself by experience."-p. 90.

On this subject, see also-Dr. Stark on Diet, and Sanctorius' Medecina Statica. Dr. Heming on Corpulency.-Mr. Wadd on Corpulency.-Dr. Arbuthnot on Aliment.

* * *

SLEEP.

* * *

"When tired with vain rotations of the Day,

Sleep winds us up for the succeeding dawn."

Young.

Health may be as much injured by interrupted and insufficient Sleep, as by luxurious indulgence.

Valetudinarians who regularly retire to rest, and arise at certain hours, are unable, without injurious violence to their feelings-to resist the inclination to do so.

"Pliant Nature more or less demands

As Custom forms her; and all sudden change

She hates, of Habit even from bad to good.

If faults in Life-or new emergencies

From Habits24 urge you by long time confirm'd,

Slow must the change arrive, and stage by stage,

Slow as the stealing progress of the Year."

Armstrong's Art of Preserving Health.

How important it is, then, to cultivate good and convenient Habits:-Custom will soon render the most rigid rules, not only easy, but agreeable.-

"The Strong, by bad habits, grow weaker, we know;

And by good ones, the Weak will grow stronger also."

The Debilitated require much more rest than the Robust:-nothing is so restorative to the nerves, as sound, and uninterrupted Sleep, which is the chief source of both Bodily and Mental Strength.

The Studious need a full portion of Sleep, which seems to be as necessary nutriment to the Brain, as Food is to the Stomach.

Our Strength and Spirits are infinitely more exhausted by the exercise of our Mental, than by the labour of our Corporeal faculties-let any person try the effect of Intense Application for a few hours-He will soon find how much his Body is fatigued thereby, although He has not stirred from the Chair He sat on.

Those who are candidates for Health-must be as circumspect in the task they set their mind,-as in the exercise they give to their Body.

Dr. Armstrong, the Poet of Health, observes,

"'Tis the great Art of Life to manage well

The restless Mind."

The grand secret seems to be, to contrive that the exercise of the Body, and that of the Mind, may serve as relaxations to each other.

Over Exertion, or Anxiety of Mind, disturbs Digestion infinitely more than any fatigue of Body-the Brain demands a much more abundant supply of the Animal Spirits, than is required for the excitement of mere Legs and Arms.

"'Tis the Sword that wears out the Scabbard."

Of the two ways of fertilizing the Brain-by Sleep, or by Spirituous Stimulus-(for some write best in the Morning, others when wound up with Wine, after Dinner or Supper:) the former is much less expensive-and less injurious to the constitution than either Port, or Brandy, whose aid it is said that some of our best Authors have been indebted to, for their most brilliant productions.

Calling one day on a literary friend, we found him reclining on a Sofa-on expressing our concern to find him indisposed, he said, "No, I was only hatching,-I have been writing till I was quite tired-my paper must go to Press to day-so I was taking my usual restorative-A Nap-which if it only lasts five minutes, so refreshes my Mind-that my Pen goes to work again spontaneously."

Is it not better Economy of Time, to go to sleep for half an hour,-than to go on noodling all day in a nerveless and semi-superannuated state-if not asleep, certainly not effectively Awake-for any purpose requiring the Energy of either the Body, or the Mind.

"A Forty Winks Nap," in an horizontal posture, is the best preparative for any extraordinary exertion of either.

Those who possess, and employ the powers of the Mind most-seldom attain the greatest Age25:-see Brunaud de L'Hygiene des Gens de Lettres, Paris, 8vo. 1819:-the Envy their Talent excites,-the Disappointment they often meet with in their expectations of receiving the utmost attention and respect, (which the world has seldom the gratitude to pay them while they live,) keep them in a perpetual state of irritation and disquiet-which frets them prematurely to their Grave26.

To rest a whole Day-under great fatigue of either Body or Mind, is occasionally extremely beneficial-it is impossible to regulate Sleep by the hour;-when the Mind and the Body have received all the refreshment which Sleep can give, people cannot lie in Bed, and till then, they should not Rise27.

"Preach not me your musty Rules

Ye Drones, that mould in idle cell;

The Heart is wiser than the Schools,

The Senses always reason well."

Comus.

Our Philosophical Poet here gives the best practical maxim on the subject for Valetudinarians-who, by following his advice, may render their Existence, instead of a dull unvaried round of joyless, useless self-denial,-a circle of agreeable sensation;-for instance, go not to your Bed till You are tired of sitting up-then remain in an Horizontal posture,-till You long to change it for a Vertical: thus, by a little management, the inevitable business of Life may be converted into a source of continual Enjoyment.

All-healing Sleep soon neutralizes the corroding caustic of Care-and blunts even the barbed arrows of the marble-hearted Fiend, Ingratitude.

When the Pulse is almost paralysed by Anxiety,-half an hour's repose, will cheer the circulation, restore tranquillity to the perturbed spirit-and dissipate those heavy clouds of Ennui, which sometimes threaten to eclipse the brightest Minds, and best Hearts.-Child of Woe, lay thy Head on thy pillow, (instead of thy Mouth to the bottle,) and bless me for directing Thee to the true source of Lethe-and most sovereign Nepenthé for the Sorrows of Human Life.

The Time requisite to restore the waste occasioned by the action of the Day-depends on the activity of the habits, and on the Health of the Individual,-in general it cannot be less than Seven-and need not be more than Nine hours28.

Invalids will derive much benefit from indulging in the Siesta whenever they feel languid.

A Sailor will tell you, that a Seaman can sleep as much in five hours, as a Landsman can in ten.

Whether rising very early lengthens Life we know not,-but think that sitting up very late shortens it,-and recommend you to rise by eight, and retire to rest by eleven; your feelings will bear out the adage, that "one Hour's rest before midnight, is worth two after."

When Old People have been examined with a view to ascertain the causes of their Longevity, they have uniformly agreed in one thing only,-that they ALL went to Bed early, and rose early.

"Early to bed, and early to rise,

Will make you healthy, wealthy, and wise."

Dr. Franklin published an ingenious Essay on the advantage of early rising-He called it "an Economical Project," and calculated, that the saving that might be made in the City of Paris, by using Sunshine instead of Candles-at no less than ￡4,000,000 Sterling.

If the Delicate, and the nervous, the very Young, or the very Old-sit up beyond their usual hour, they feel the want of artificial aid, to raise their spirits to what is no more than the ordinary pitch of those who are in the vigour of their Life-and must fly from the festive board-or purchase a few hours of hilarity at the heavy price of Head-Ach and Dyspepsia for many days after; and a terrible exasperation of any Chronic Complaint they are afflicted with.

When the Body and Mind are both craving repose-to force their action, by the spur of spirituous stimulus, is the most extravagant waste of the "Vis Vit?," that Fashion ever invented to consume her foolish Votaries-for Fools they certainly are, who mortgage the comfort of a Week, for the conviviality of an Hour-with the certainty of their term of Life being speedily foreclosed by Gout, Palsy, &c.

Among the most distressing miseries of this "Elysium of Bricks and Mortar," may be reckoned how rarely we enjoy "the sweets of a Slumber unbroke."

Sound passes through the thin Party Walls of modern Houses, (which of the first rate, at the Fire Place, are only four inches in thickness;) with most unfortunate facility; this is really an evil of the first magnitude,-if You are so unlucky as to have for next door neighbours-fashionable folks who turn night into day, or such as delight in the sublime Economy of Cindersaving, or Cobweb catching,-it is in vain to seek repose, before the former has indulged in the Evening's recreation of raking out the Fire, and has played with the Poker till it has made all the red coals black; or, after Molidusta, the Tidy One, has awoke the Morn-with "the Broom, the bonny, bonny Broom."

A determined Dusthunter, or Cindersaver, murders its neighbour's sleep-with as little mercy, as Macbeth did Malcolm's-and bangs doors, and rattles Window shutters, till the "Earth trembles, and Air is aghast!"

All attempts to conciliate a Savage who is in this fancy-will be labour in vain-the arrangement of its fire29 is equally the occupation of the morning, and the amusement of the evening; the preservation of a Cinder and the destruction of a Cobweb, are the main business of its existence:-the best advice we can give you, gentle Reader-is to send it this little Book-and beseech it to place the following pages opposite to its Optic nerves some morning-after you have diverted it from Sleep every half hour during the preceding Night30.

Counsellor Scribblefast, a Special Pleader, who lived on a ground-floor in the Temple-about the time that Sergeant Ponder who dwelt on the first floor, retired to rest, began to practise his Violoncello, "And his loud voice in Thunder spoke."-The Student above-by way of giving him a gentle hint, struck up "Gently strike the warbling Lyre," and Will. Harmony's favourite Hornpipes of "Dont Ye," and "Pray be Quiet:" however, the dolce and pianissimo of poor Ponder produced no diminution of the prestissimo and fortissimo of the indefatigable Scribblefast.

Ponder, prayed "silence in the Court," and complained in most pathetic terms-but, alas! his "lowly suit and plaintive ditty" made not the least impression on him who was beneath him.-He at length procured a set of Skettles, and as soon as his musical neighbour had done fiddling, he began con strepito, and bowled away merrily till the morning dawned.-The enraged Musician did not wait long after daylight, to put in his plea against such proceedings, and received in reply, that such exercise had been ordered by a Physician, as the properest Paregoric, after being disturbed by the thorough Bass of the Big Fiddle below-this soon convinced the tormentor of Catgut, who dwelt on the Ground-Floor, that He could not annoy his superior with Impunity, and produced silence on both sides.

People are very unwisely inconsiderate how much it is their own Interest to attend to the comforts of their Neighbours, for which we have a divine command "to love our neighbour as ourself." "Sic utere tuo, ut alienum non l?das," is the maxim of our English law. Interrupting one's Sleep is as prejudicial to Health, as any of the nuisances Blackstone enumerates as actionable.

The majority of the Dogs,-Parrots,-Piano-Fortes, &c. in this Metropolis, are Actionable Nuisances!!!

However inferior in rank and fortune, &c. your next door neighbour may be-there are moments when He may render you the most valuable service.-"A Lion owed his life to the exertions of a Mouse."

Those who have not the power to please-should have the discretion not to offend;-the most humble may have opportunities to return a Kindness, or resent an Insult.

It is Madness to wantonly annoy any one.

There is plenty of Time for the performance of all offensively noisy operations, between 10 in the Morning and 10 at Night-during which the industrious Housemaid may indulge her Arms in their full swing-and while she polishes her black-leaded grate to the lustre which is so lovely in the eyes of "the Tidy," the Tat-Too her brush strikes up against its sides may be performed without distressing the irritable ears of her Nervous Neighbours-to whom undisturbed Repose is the most Vital Nourishment.

Little Sweep Soot Ho is another dreadful disturber.-The shrill screaming of these poor boys, "making night hideous," (indeed at any time) at five or six o'clock in cold dark weather, is a most barbarous custom, and frequently disturbs a whole street before they rouse the drowsy sluggard who sent for him-his Row dy Dow when he reaches the top of the Chimney, and his progress down again, awaken the soundest sleepers, who often wish, that, instead of the Chimney,-he was smiting the skull of the Barbarian who set the poor Child to work at such an unseasonable hour.

The Editor's feelings are tremblingly alive on this subject.

"Finis coronat opus."

However soundly he has slept during the early part of the night-if the finishing Nap in the morning is interrupted from continuing to its natural termination-his whole System is shook by it, and all that sleep has before done for him, is undone in an instant;-he gets up distracted and languid, and the only part of his head that is of any use to him, is the hole between his Nose and Chin.

The firm Health of those who live in the Country, arises not merely from breathing a purer Air,-but from quiet and regular habits, especially the enjoyment of plenty of undisturbed Repose,-this enables them to take Exercise, which gives them an Appetite, and by taking their food at less distant and more equally divided intervals-they receive a more regular supply of that salutary nourishment, which is necessary to restore the wear of the system, and support it in an uniform state of excitement,-equally exempt from the languor of inanition, and the fever of repletion.

Thus, the Animal Functions are performed with a perfection and regularity, the tranquillity of which, in the incessantly irregular habits of a Town-life, is continually interrupted,-some ridiculous Anxiety or other consumes the Animal Spirits, and the important process of Restoration is imperfectly performed.

Dyspeptic and Nervous disorders, and an inferior degree of both extensive and intensive Life31 are the inevitable consequence, and are the lowest price for (what are called) the Pleasures of Fashionable Society.

Dr. Cadogan has told us (very truly) that Chronic diseases, (and we may add, most of those equivocal Disorders, which are continually teasing people, but are too insignificant to induce them to institute a medical process to remove them,) are caused by Indolence-Intemperance-and Vexation.

It is the fashion to refer all these Disorders to Debility-but Debility is no more than the effect of Indolence, Intemperance, and Vexation-the two first are under our own immediate control-and Temperance, Industry, and Activity, are the best remedies to prevent, or remove the Debility which reduces our means of resisting the third.

During the Summer of Life32, i. e. the second period of it, (see page 34,) while we hope that every thing may come right, the Heart bounds with vigour, and the Vital flame burns too brightly to be much, or long subdued by vexation.

This originally least cause, soon becomes the greatest, and in the Autumn of our existence, when Experience has dissipated the theatric illusion with which Hope varnished the expectations of our earlier days, we begin to fear that every thing will go wrong.

"The whips and scorns of Time,

The oppressor's wrong, the proud man's contumely,

The pangs of despis'd Love, the Law's delay,

The insolence of office, and the spurns

That patient merit of the unworthy takes."

The insatiable ruling passions of the second and third periods of Life,-Ambition and Avarice,-the loss of our first and best friends, our Parents,-regret for the past, and anxiety about the future, prevent the enjoyment of the present,-and are the cause of those Nervous and Bilious Disorders, which attack most of us at the commencement of the third period of Life-these precursors of Palsy and Gout, may generally be traced to Disappointments and Anxiety of mind33; and

People need not groan about the Insanities and Absurdities of others-it is surely quite sufficient to suffer for our own, of which most of us have plenty-we ought to endeavour to convert those of others, into causes of comfort and consolation, instead of fretting about them-if you receive rudeness in return for civility-and ingratitude for kindness, it may move your Pity-but should never excite your Anger-instead of murmuring at Heaven for having created such Crazy Creatures! be fervently thankful that you are not equally inconsistent and ridiculous-and Pray, that your own Mind, may not be afflicted with the like aberrations.

Indigestion34, is the chief cause of perturbed Sleep, and often excites the imaginary presence of that troublesome Bedfellow the Nightmare. On this subject see Peptic Precepts

Some cannot Sleep if they eat any Supper-and certainly the lighter this meal is, the better-Others, need not put on their Night cap, if they do not first bribe their Stomachs to good behaviour by a certain quantity of Bread and Cheese and Beer, &c. &c., and go to Bed almost immediately after.

As to the wholesomeness of a Solid Supper, per se, we do not think it advisable,-but habit may have made it indispensable, and we know it is often the most comfortable Meal among the middle ranks of Society, who have as large a share of Health as any.

We caution Bad sleepers to beware how they indulge in the habit of exciting sleep, by taking any of the preparations of Opium-they are all injurious to the Stomach-and often inconvenient in their effects upon the Bowels:-

"Repose by small fatigue is earned, and Weariness can snore upon the flint, when nesty Sloth, finds a down pillow hard."

As there can be no good Digestion without diligent Mastication,-so there can be no sound Sleep, without sufficient Exercise.

The most inoffensive and agreeable Anodyne is to drink some good White Wine, or Mulled Wine, by way of a supplement to your Night cap.-One glass, taken when in Bed, immediately before lying down, is as effective as two or three if you sit up any time after.-(See Tewahdiddle, No. 467.)

Many people, if awoke during their first sleep, are unsettled all that night-and uncomfortable and nervous the following day.-The first sleep of those who eat Suppers, commonly terminates when the food passes from the Stomach.-Invalids then awake, and sometimes remain so, in a Feverish state,-the Stomach feeling discontented from being unoccupied, and having nothing to play with:-a small crust of Bread, or a bit of Biscuit well chewed, accompanied or not, as Experience and Instinct will suggest, with a few mouthsful of Mutton or Beef Broth (No. 564), or Toast and Water (No. 463*), or single Grog35, (i. e. one Brandy to nine Waters), will often restore its tranquillity, and catch Sleep again, which nothing invites so irresistibly, as introducing something to the Stomach,-that will entertain it, without fatiguing it.

We have heard persons say they have been much distressed by an intemperate craving for Food when they awoke out of their first sleep, and have not got to sleep soundly again after-and risen in the morning as tired as when they went to bed at night-but without any appetite for Breakfast-such will derive great benefit from the foregoing Advice.

A Broth (No. 564), or Gruel (No. 572) Supper, is perhaps the best for the Dyspeptic,-and those who have eaten and drank plentifully at Dinner.

The Bed Room should be in the quietest situation possible, as it were "the Temple of Silence,"-and, if possible, not less than 16 feet square-the height of this Apartment, in which we pass almost half of our Time, is in modern houses absurdly abridged, to increase that of the Drawing Room, which is often not occupied once in a month:-instead of living in the pleasant part of the House, where they might enjoy Light and Air, how often we find people squeezing themselves into "a nice snug Parlour," where Apollo cannot spy.

We do not recommend either Curtains or Tester, &c. to the Bed, especially during the Summer;-by the help of these, those who might have the benefit of the free circulation of air in a large Room, very ingeniously contrive to reduce it to a small Closet:-Chimney-Boards and Window-Curtains are also inadmissible in a Bed Room; but Valetudinarians who are easily awoke, or very susceptible of Cold, will do wisely to avail themselves of well made Double36 Windows and Doors, these exclude both Noise and Cold in a very considerable degree.

The best Bed is a well stuffed and well curled Horsehair Mattress, six inches thick at the Head, gradually diminishing to three at Feet, on this another Mattress five or six inches in thickness: these should be unpicked and exposed to the air, once every Year. An elastic Horsehair mattress, is incomparably the most pleasant, as well as the most wholesome Bed.

Bed Rooms should be thoroughly ventilated by leaving both the Window and the Door open every day when the weather is not cold or damp-during which the Bed should remain unmade, and the Clothes be taken off and spread out for an hour, at least, before the Bed is made again.

In very Hot Weather, the temperature becomes considerably cooler every minute after ten o'clock-between eight o'clock and twelve, the Thermometer often falls in Sultry weather-from ten to twenty degrees-and those who can sit up till twelve o'clock, will have the advantage of sleeping in an Atmosphere many degrees cooler, than those who go to bed at ten:-this is extremely important to Nervous Invalids-who however extremely they may suffer from heat, we cannot advise to sleep with the smallest part of the window open during the night-in such sultry days, the Siesta (see page 94,) will not only be a great support against the heat, but will help You to sit up to enjoy the advantage above stated.

A Fire in the Bed Room, is sometimes indispensable-but not as usually made-it is commonly lighted only just before bed-time, and prevents Sleep by the noise it makes, and the unaccustomed stimulus of its light.

Chimneys frequently smoke when a fire is first lighted, particularly in snowy and frosty weather; and an Invalid has to encounter not only the damp and cold of the Room-but has his Lungs irritated with the sulphureous puffs from the fresh lighted Fire.

A Fire should be lighted about three or four hours before, and so managed that it may burn entirely out half an hour before you go to Bed-then the air of the room will be comfortably warmed-and certainly more fit to receive an Invalid who has been sitting all day in a parlour as hot as an Oven,-than a damp chamber, that is as cold as a Well.

* * *

THE SIESTA.

* * *

The Power of Position and Temperature to alleviate the Paroxysms of many Chronic Disorders, has not received the consideration it deserves-a little attention to the variations of the Pulse, will soon point out the effect they produce on the Circulation, &c.-extremes of Heat and Cold, with respect to Food, Drink, and Air, are equally to be guarded against.

Old and Cold Stomachs-The Gouty-and those whose Digestive Faculties are Feeble-should never have any thing Cold37, or Old, put into them-especially in Cold Weather.

Food must take the temperature of our Stomach, (which is probably not less than 120,) before Digestion can commence.

When the Stomach is feeble, Cold Food frequently produces Flatulence-Palpitation of the Heart, &c.-and all the other troublesome accompaniments of Indigestion.-The immediate remedy for these is Hot Brandy and Water, and the horizontal Posture.

Dyspeptic Invalids will find 75 a good temperature for their drink at Dinner, and 120 for Tea, &c.

Persons who are in a state of Debility from Age,-or other causes,-will derive much benefit from laying down, and seeking Repose whenever they feel fatigued, especially during (the first half-hour at least of) the business of Digestion-and will receive almost as much refreshment from half an hour's Sleep-as from Half a Pint of Wine.

The Restorative influence of the recumbent Posture, cannot be conceived-the increased energy it gives to the circulation, and to the organs of Digestion, can only be understood by those Invalids who have experienced the comforts of it.

The Siesta is not only advisable, but indispensable to those whose occupations oblige them to keep late hours.

Actors especially, whose profession is, of all others, the most fatiguing-and requires both the Mind and the Body to be in the most intense exertion between 10 and 12 o'clock at Night,-should avail themselves of the Siesta-which is the true source of Energy-half an hour's repose in the horizontal posture, is a most beneficial Restorative.

Good Beef Tea38, (No. 563), with a little bit of slightly toasted Bread taken about nine o'clock-is a comforting restorative, which will support You through exertions that, without such assistance, are exhausting-and you go to bed fatigued-get up fevered, &c.

When Performers feel Nervous, &c.-and fear the circulation is below Par,-and too languid to afford the due excitement, half an hour before they sing, &c.-they will do wisely, to wind up their System, with a little "Balsamum Vit?."-See "Peptic Precepts."-Or tune their throats to the pitch of healthy vibration with a small glass of Johnson's39 "Witte Curacoa," see (No. 474) and Index, a glass of Wine, or other stimulus.-

To "Wet your Whistle," is occasionally, as absolutely necessary, as "to rosin the Bow of a Violin."-See "Observations on Vocal Music," prefixed to the Opera of Ivanhoe.

Actors and Singers are continually assailed by a variety of circumstances extremely unfavourable to Health-especially from sitting up late at night-to counteract which, we recommend the Siesta, and plenty of Exercise in a pure Air.

When they feel Nervous-Bilious, &c. i. e. that their whole System is so deranged by fatigue and anxiety, that they cannot proceed effectively and comfortably,-they must give their Throats two or three days' rest-cleanse the Alimentary Canal with Peristaltic Persuaders-see Index-and corroborate the Organs of Digestion with the Tonic Tincture (No. 569), see Index.

Strong Peppermint Lozenges, made by Smith, Fell Street, Wood Street, Cheapside, are very convenient portable Carminatives:-as soon as they are dissolved, their influence is felt from the beginning to the end of the Alimentary Canal-they dissipate Flatulence so immediately, that they well deserve the name of Vegetable Ether; and are recommended to Singers and Public Speakers-as giving effective excitement to the Organs of Voice-as a support against the distressing effects of Fasting too long-and to give energy to the Stomach between Meals.

The Power of the Voice depends upon the vigorous state of the circulation supplying the Organs of Voice, with energy to execute the intentions of the Singer or Speaker-without which-the most accurate Ear and experienced Throat, will sometimes fail in producing the exact quality and quantity of Tone they intend.

That the Voice is sometimes too Flat, or too Sharp, &c. is not a matter of astonishment-to those who really understand how arduous a task Singers have sometimes to perform;-it would only be wonderful if it was not-how is the Throat exempted from those collapses which occasionally render imperfect the action of every other fibre and function of our Body?

The Dyspeptic, who Tries the effect of Recumbency after Eating,-will soon be convinced that Tristram Shandy was right enough, when he said, that "both pain, and pleasure, are best supported in an horizontal posture."

"If after Dinner the Poppies of repletion shed their influence on thy Eyelids-indulge thou kind Nature's hint."-"A quiet slumber in a comfortable warm room, favoureth the operation of Digestion-and thou shalt rise, refreshed, and ready for the amusements of the Evening."

The Semi-Siesta is a pleasant position-(i. e. putting up the feet on a stool about eight inches high;) but catching a nap in a Chair is advisable only as a substitute when the Horizontal posture is not convenient-when you can, lie down on a Sofa-loosen all ligatures-and give your Bowels fair play.

These opinions,-which are the results of Personal experience-are exactly in unison with those of the following Medical Professors.

"From Eating comes Sleep-from Sleep Digestion."-Sanctorius, Sec. iv. Aph. 59.

"Perhaps one of the uses of Sleep, and of the horizontal posture during that period-may be to facilitate the introduction of Chyle into the Blood."-Cruickshank on the Absorbents, p. 95.

"The Brute Creation invariably lay down and enjoy a state of rest, the moment their stomachs are filled. People who are feeble, digest their Dinner best, if they lie down and sleep as most Animals do, when their stomachs are full."-Darwin's Zoonomia, vol. iv. p. 137.

"Dr. Harwood, Professor of Anatomy at Cambridge, took two pointers who were equally hungry, and fed them equally well,-one he suffered to follow the promptings of Instinct-curled himself round till he was comfortable-and went to sleep, as animals generally do after eating-the other was kept for about two hours in constant exercise. On his return home-the two Dogs were killed.-In the Stomach of the one who had been quiet and asleep, all the food was digested; in the Stomach of the other, that process was hardly begun."

"Quiet of Body and Mind for two hours after Dinner, is certainly useful to the Studious, the Delicate, and the Invalid."-Adair on Diet, p. 44.

"After Dinner, rest for three hours."-Abernethy's Surgical Obs. 8vo. 1817, p. 93.

"After Dinner sit a while."-Eng. Prov.

"If you have a strong propensity to Sleep after Dinner-indulge it, the process of Digestion goes on much better during Sleep, and I have always found an irresistible propensity to it-whenever Dyspeptic symptoms were considerable."-Waller on Incubus, 1816, p. 109.

"Aged Men-and weake bodies, a short Sleepe after Dinner doth help to nourish."-Lord Bacon's Nat. Hist. Cent. I. 57.

* * *

CLOTHES.

* * *

Of all the Customs of Clothing, the most extremely absurd is the usual arrangement of Bed Clothes, which in order as the chambermaid fancies to make the Bed look pretty in the Day time-are left long at the head, that they may cover the Pillows; when they are turned down, You have an intolerable load on your Lungs, and that part of the Body which is most exposed during the day-is smothered at night-with double the quantity of Clothes that any other part has.

Sleep is prevented by an unpleasant degree of either Heat or Cold; and in this ever-varying climate, where often "in one monstrous day all seasons mix," delicate Thermometrical persons will derive much comfort from keeping a Counterpane in reserve for an additional covering in very Cold Weather: when some extra clothing is as needful by Night,-as a great coat is by Day.

A Gentleman who has a mind to carry the adjustment of his Clothes to a nicety-may have the shelves of his Wardrobe numbered 30, 40, 50, 60, &c. and according to the degree of Cold pointed to by his Fahrenheit40, he may wear a corresponding defence against it:-This mode of adjusting Dress according to the vicissitudes of the weather, &c. is as rational as the ordinary practice of regulating it by the Almanack, or the Fashion, which in this uncertain Climate and capricious Age-will as often lead us wrong, as right.

Leave off your Winter Clothes late in the Spring;-put them on early in the Autumn. By wearing your Winter Clothes during the first half dozen warm days-You get some fine perspirations-which are highly salutary in removing obstructions in the cutaneous pores, &c.

Delicate and Dyspeptic persons are often distressed by changing their Dress,-which must be as uniform as possible,-in thickness-in quality-and in form,-especially (Flannel, or indeed) whatever is worn next to the Skin.

The change of a thick Waistcoat for a thin one-or a long one for a shorter one-not putting on Winter garments soon enough, or leaving them off too soon,-will often excite a violent disorder in the Lungs-or Bowels, &c. and exasperate any constitutional complaint.

Those who wear Flannel Waistcoats, are recommended to have their new ones about the middle of November, with sleeves to them coming down to the wrist-the shortening these sleeves in the warm weather, is as effective an antidote against extreme Heat-as lengthening them, and closing the Cuff of the Coat, is against intense Cold.

Our Coat41 should be made so large-that when buttoned we may be as easy as when it is unbuttoned, so that without any unpleasant increase of pressure on the Chest, &c. we can wear it closely buttoned up to the Chin-the power of doing this is a convenient provision against the sudden alternations from heat to cold-buttoning up this outer garment, will protect the delicate from many mischiefs which so often arise in this inconstant climate from the want of such a defence; and the additional warmth it produces will often cure slight Colds, &c.

Another way of accumulating Caloric, is to have two sets of button holes to the Cuff of the Coat, (especially of your Great Coat,) one of which will bring it quite close round the wrist.

When the Circulation is languid, and your Feet are Cold-wear worsted Stockings, have your Shoes well warmed-and when you take them from the Fire-put your Slippers42 to it-that they may be warm and comfortable for you on your return home.

In Wet Weather wear Shoes with double upper-leathers-- two thin leathers will keep you much drier than one thick one, and are more pliable-the Currier's Dubbing is the best nourisher of Leather-and renders it as soft as satin, and impervious to Water.

The mean temperature of England is about 50 degrees of Fahrenheit-it sometimes rises 25 degrees above this, in the height of Summer,-falls about as much below, in the depth of Winter-and in Summer frequently varies from 20 to 30 degrees between Mid-day and Midnight.

The restoration, and the preservation of the Health, especially of those who have passed their Fortieth Year,-depends upon minute and unremitting attentions to Food,-Clothes,-Exercise, &c. which taken singly may appear trifling-but combined, are of infinite importance.

"If you are careful of it, Glass will last as long as Iron." By a regular observance of a few salutary precepts, a delicate Constitution will last as long, and afford its Proprietor as many Amusements, as a Strong Body,-whose Mind takes but little care of it.

Invalids are advised to put on a Great Coat when they go out, and the temperature of the external air is not higher than 40. Some susceptible Constitutions require this additional clothing when the Thermometer falls below 50; especially at the commencement of the Cold weather.

A Great Coat must be kept in a Room where there is a Fire,-if it has been hung up in a cold damp Hall, as it often is, it will contribute about as much to your Calorification,-as if You wrapped a Wet Blanket about You.

Clothes should be warm enough to defend us from Cold43,-and large44 enough to let every movement be made with as much ease when they are on,-as when they are off.

Those whose employments are sedentary,-especially hard Students-who often neglect taking sufficient Exercise45, suffer extremely from the pressure of tight Waistbands-Garters, &c. which are the cause of many of the mischiefs that arise from long sitting-during which they should be loosened.

Braces have been generally considered a great improvement in modern dress-because they render the pressure of the Waistband unnecessary, which when extremely close is certainly prejudicial-but we have always thought they have produced more inconvenience than they have removed-for if the inferior Viscera get thereby more freedom of action-the superior suffer for it-and, moreover, Ruptures are much more frequent-the Girdle which formerly prevented them being removed,-and, instead of that useful and partial horizontal pressure, in spite of the elastic springs which have been attached to the Braces, the whole body is grievously oppressed by the Vertical Bands.

The best material for Breeches, is the elastic worsted stocking stuff.

Tight Stays-and Braces-obstruct the circulation of the Blood, &c. are the cause of many Chronic Complaints, and often create Organic Diseases46.

* * *

FIRE.

* * *

As we advance in Age-the force of the circulation being lessened, the warmth of our Clothes and our coverings at night should be gradually increased. "After the age of 35, it may be better to exceed, rather than be deficient in clothing."-Adair's Cautions, p. 390.

Cold often kills the infirm and the aged, and is the proximate cause of most Palsies;-it is extremely desirable that Bed and Sitting Rooms for Winter occupation, should have a Southern aspect-when the Thermometer is below 30, the proper place for people beyond 60, is their own Fire-side:-many of the disorders and Deaths of persons at this period of Life-originate from irregularity in Diet, Temperature, &c. by Dining out, and frisking about, joining in Christmas Gambols, &c. in Cold weather.

The Art of making a room comfortably warm, does not consist merely in making a very large Fire in it-but depends as much on the keeping of cold air out-this is best done by Double Windows, see page 91, and double Doors,-at least take care that your Sashes fit close,-that the beads of the window frames are tight-stop the aperture between the skirting boards and the floor with putty-and list the Doors.

We suppose it almost needless to say that every room in the house should be thoroughly ventilated47 by a current of fresh Air-at least once every day, when the weather is not very damp-or cold. By making a Fire accordingly-this may be done almost every Day in the Year.

If You leave the Door open for Five minutes-it will let in more cold air than your Fire can make warm in Fifteen-therefore, initiate your Domestics in these first principles of the Economy of Caloric,-and when the Weather is cold, caution them to keep Doors shut.

A regular Temperature may be preserved by a simple contrivance attached to a Thermometer, which will open an aperture to admit the external air-when the apartment is heated above the degree desired (i. e. about 60 for common constitutions,) and exclude it when it falls below it.

A Room, which is in constant occupation all day-may be occasionally pumped by moving the door backward and forward for several minutes.

We do not advise Invalids to indulge themselves in heating their rooms to a higher temperature48 than from 60 to 65.-Those who have resided the best part of their Life in warm climates-will like the latter best. While we recommend the Aged and Infirm to be kept comfortably warm-they must at the same time cautiously avoid excess of heat.

When the Thermometer tells them that the external air is under 60,-whether it be in July, or in January,-those who are susceptible of Cold, must tell their Servants to keep a small fire-especially if the Weather be at the same time damp.

Those who, from caprice, or parsimony,-instead of obeying this comfortable and salutary precept, sit shivering and murmuring, and refuse to employ the Coal-merchant, as a substitute for the Sun-may soon spend in Physic, more than they have saved in Fuel.

By raising the temperature of my Room to about 65, taking a full dose of Epsom Salts, and a Broth Diet, and retiring to rest an hour sooner than usual, I have often very speedily got rid of Colds, &c.

The following Plan of Lighting and managing a Fire, has been attended with great comfort and convenience to myself, (particularly at the beginning and the end of winter, when a very small fire is sufficient), and I think considerable saving of coals.

Fill your Grate with fresh coals quite up to the upper bar but one, then lay in your faggot of wood in the usual manner, rather collected in a mass, than scattered, that a body of concentrated heat may be produced as soon as possible; over the faggot place the cinders of the preceding day-piled up as high as the grate will admit, and placed loosely in rather large fragments-in order that the draft may be free-a bit or two of fresh coal may be added to the cinders when once they are lighted, but no small coal must be thrown on at first, for the reason above stated:-when all is prepared, light the wood, when the cinders becoming in a short time thoroughly ignited-the gas rising from the coals below, which will now be effected by the heat, will take fire as it passes through them, leaving a very small portion of smoke to go up the Chimney.

The advantage of this mode of lighting a fire is, that small coal is better suited to the purpose than large-except a few pieces in front to keep the small from falling out of the Grate-it may be kept in reserve, to be put on afterwards if wanted. I have frequently known my fire lighted at 8 o'clock in the morning, continue burning till 11 at night, without any thing being done to it: when apparently quite out, on being stirred, you have in a few minutes a glowing fire: it will sometimes be necessary to loosen, or stir slightly the upper part of the fire if it begins to cake-but the lower part must not be touched, otherwise it will burn away too soon.

* * *

AIR.

* * *

Many Invalids are hurried into their Grave-by the indiscreet kindness of their friends forcing them from the comforts of Home-for the sake of Air more abounding with Oxygen, i. e. the vivifying part of the atmosphere:-that great benefit is received from what is called change of air is true enough-it is seldom considered that there is also a change in most of the other circumstances of the patient-many, of infinitely more importance, than that which derives all the credit of the Cure.

For instance, if a person living in a confined part of the City-neglecting exercise, harassed all day by the anxieties of Business, and sitting up late at Night, &c. be removed to the tranquillity of rural scenes, which invite him to be almost constantly taking Exercise in the open Air, and retiring to rest at an early hour-and thus, instead of being surrounded by irritations unfavourable to Health, enjoying all the "jucunda oblivia vit?" which are favourable to it-such a Change will often do wonders, and sufficiently account for the miraculous cures attributed to-Change of Air.

Chemical Philosophers assert indeed-that a Gallon of the unsavoury Gas from Garlick Hill, gives as high a proportion of Oxygen, as the like quantity of the ethereal element of Primrose Hill:-this seems incredible, and must arise either from the imperfection of the Eudiometer giving erroneous results, or from the air being impregnated with matter unfriendly to Health, which the instruments employed to analyze it, have not the power of denoting:-let any one thread the mazes of a crowded city, and walk for the same space of time in a pleasant Country-the animal spirits will soon testify, which is the most exhilarating.

However, people certainly do live long, and enjoy Health, in situations apparently very unfavourable to Animal Life.

Our Omniscient Creator has given to our Lungs, the same faculty of extracting nutriment from various kinds of Air-as the Stomach has from various kinds of Aliment:-the Poor man who feeds on the coarsest food, is supported by it in as sound Health, as the Rich man who fares sumptuously every day.

Well then, in nine cases out of ten, to change the Atmosphere we have been long accustomed to, is as unadvisable as a change in the Food we have been used to-unless other circumstances make it so, than the mere change of Place.

The Opulent Invalid who has been long indulged with a Home arranged to his humour-must beware (especially during any exacerbation of his infirmity) of leaving it-it would be almost as desperate a procedure as to eject an Oyster from his Shells.

* * *

EXERCISE.

* * *

"By ceaseless action, all that is subsists,

Constant rotation of the unwearied wheel

That nature rides upon, maintains her health,

Her beauty, her fertility. She dreads an instant's pause,

And lives but while she moves."-Cowper's Task.

"The wise, for Health on Exercise depend;

God never made his work for Man to mend."

The more luxuriously you live, the more Exercise49 you require,-the "Bon Vivant" may depend upon the truth of the advice which Sir Charles Scarborough gave to the Duchess of Portsmouth, "You must Eat less,-or take more Exercise50-or take Physic,-or be Sick."

Exercise is the grand power to promote the Circulation through the capillary vessels, by which the constitution is preserved from obstructions,-Appetite increased, and Digestion improved in all its stages,-the due distribution of nourishment, invigorates the Nervous System, gives firmness and elasticity to the Muscles, and strength to every part of the System.

Exercise, to have its full effect, must be continued till we feel a sensible degree of Perspiration,-(which is the Panacea for the prevention of Corpulence)-see page 50-and should, at least once a-day, proceed to the borders of fatigue, but never pass them,-or we shall be weakened instead of strengthened.

Health depends upon perpetual Secretion and Absorption, and Exercise only can produce this.

After Exercise, take care to get cool gradually-when your Head perspires, rub it, and your Face, &c. dry with a cloth:-this is better for the Hair than the best "Bear's Grease," and will beautify the Complexion beyond "La Cosmétique Royale," or all the Red and White Olympian Dew that was ever imported.

One of the most important precepts for the preservation of Health, is to take care of the Skin51.

In Winter, the surface of the Body, the Feet, &c. should be washed twice or thrice a Week, with water of the temperature of about 98, and wiped every Day with a wet towel;-a Tepid Bath of the like temperature once a fortnight will also conduce much to both health and comfort. Some advise that the surface of the Body be wiped every morning with a wet sponge, and rubbed dry after, with not too fine a cloth.

* * *

WINE.

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"Le Vin est l'un des produits de la nature les plus difficiles à juger et à bien choisir: et les plus habiles gourmets sont souvent mis en défaut."-Manuel du Sommelier, Paris, 1817, p. 1.

Wine, especially Port, is generally twice spoiled-before it is considered fit to be drank!!!

The Wine-Maker spoils it first, by over-loading it with Brandy to make it keep.-

The Wine-Drinker keeps it till time has not only dissipated the superabundant spirit,-but even until the acetous fermentation begins to be evident,-this, it is the taste now to call "Flavour,"-and Wine is not liked, till it has lost so much of its exhilarating power, that you may drink a Pint of it, before receiving that degree of excitement,-which the Wine-drinker requires to make him Happy. We mean a legal Pint containing 16 ounces.

The measure of a Bottle of Wine ought to be as definitive, as that of a Pot Of Porter:-is it not astonishing that the Legislature have not ordered a Standard and Stamped Quart, for the Wine-merchant-as they have a Pot for the Publican?

This would be equally as desirable to the respectable Wine-merchant,-as to the Public.

It would protect the former against the injurious competition of those who at present, by vending Wine in Bottles of inferior dimension, impose on the unwary purchaser under pretence of selling at a lower than the Market price.

The purchaser of a Dozen Bottles of Wine expects to receive Three Gallons of Wine.

Proportions of the Wine Gallon, according to the last London Pharmacop?ia:-

Gallon. Pints. Fluid Ounces. Drachms. Minims or Drops.

1 = 8 = 128 = 1024 = 61,440

There are 32 ounces in a legal wine quart.

Multiply by 12 quarts in three gallons.

–-

384 ounces in ditto.

Measure the number of ounces your bottle holds-divide 384 by it, and the quotient will give you the number of such bottles required to contain three gallons of wine.

Some Bottles do not contain more than 26 ounces.

26) 384 (14 Bottles, 1 Pint, and a Quarter.