AN ESSAY OF HEALTH AND LONG LIFE.
By GEORGE CHEYNE, M. D. F. R. S.
Hippoc.
At Imbecillis (quo in Numero magna Pars Urbanorum, omnesque pene Cupidi Literarum sunt) Observatio major necessaria est: ut quod vel corporis, vel Loci, vel Studii Ratio detrahit, Cura restituat.
Cels.
LONDON:
Printed for GEORGE STRAHAN, at the
Golden Ball
over-against the
Royal Exchange
in
Cornhill
; and J. LEAKE, Bookseller at
Bath.
1724.
TO THE Right Honourable Sir JOSEPH JEKYLL, Master of the
ROLLS.
This TREATISE is inscribed As a Testimony of Respect, and Gratitude, BY
His most obliged faithful humble Servant, GEORGE CHEYNE.
THE PREFACE.
T HIS being probably the last Time I may trespass on the Publick, I look upon myself in some Measure obliged to settle my Accounts with the World as an Author, before I make my
Exit,
by endeavouring to shew I have not always offended out of Presumption, Vanity, or Wantonness.
The first Time I adventured in Print, was on the Account of my great Master and generous Friend, Dr.
Pitcairn.
He thought himself ill-used by some of his Brethren of the profession who then were at intestine War on the Subject of Fevers; and fancied the handsomest Way to bring them down, was to exhibit a more specious Account of this Disease, than any of them had shewn. His Business then in the Practice of Physick was so great, as not to allow him sufficient Time for such a Work. Two others therefore, with myself, were joined to manage the Affair: In which he was to cut and carve, and to add the practical Part. My Province was the Theory. I was then very young in the Profession, and living in the Country. But in a few Days I brought in my Part finished, as it now appears, under the Title of
The New Theory of Fevers.
The others either suppress'd or forgot theirs, and mine, without the least Alteration, but in a few Words, was ordered for the Press. I could not resist the Commands of my Friend; but would not suffer my Name to be put to it, being conscious it was a raw and unexperienced Performance. There are tho', some Thing sin it which may be of Use to Beginners, both as to the Method of philosophising on the animal Oeconomy, and in the Account of the Manner of the Operation of the greater Medicines. The Foundations also and the Causes assigned for acute and slow Fevers, I still think solid and just, and more particular and limited than those of any other Theory yet published. But it wants so much filing and finishing, so many Alterations and Additions, as would cost me more Labour and Pains than the writing a new Treatise on the same Subject: So that out of mere Laziness and Inappetency, I have thrown it by as unripe Fruit, and suffered it to be as if it never had been.
My next Sally was in a Book of abstracted Geometry and Algebra, entitled,
Methodus Fluxionum Inversa,
brought forth in Ambition and bred up in Vanity. There are some Things in it tolerable for the Time, when the Methods of Quadratures, the Mensuration of Ratio's, and Transformation of Curves, into those of other Kinds, were not advanced to such Heights as they now are. But it is a long Time since I was forced to forgoe these barren and airy Studies for more substantial and commodious Speculations: Indulging and Rioting in these so exquisitely bewitching Contemplations, being only proper for publick Professors, and those born to Estates, and who are under no outward Necessities. Besides, to own a great but grievous Truth, tho' they may quicken and sharpen the Invention, strengthen and extend the Imagination, improve and refine the reasoning Faculty, and are of Use both in the necessary and the luxurious Refinement of mechanical Arts; yet having no Tendency to rectify the Will, sweeten the Temper, or mend the Heart, they often leave a Stiffness, Positiveness, and Sufficiency on weak Minds, much more pernicious to Society, and the Interests of the great End of our Being, than all the Advantages they bring them can recompence. They are indeed Edge-Tools, not to be trusted in the Hands of any, but those who have already acquired an humble Heart, a lowly Spirit, and a sober and teachable Temper For in others they are very apt to beget a secret and refined Pride, an over-weening and over-bearing Vanity (the most opposite Temper to the true GospelSpirit, which, without Offence, I may suppose to be the best Disposition of Mind) that tempts them to presume on a Kind of Omniscience, in Respect of their Fellow-Creatures, that have not risen to their Elevation; and to set up for an Infallibility, or at least a decisive Judgment, even in Matters which do not admit of a
more
or
less
(their proper Object) of which Kind whatever relates to the infinite Author of our Being most certainly is. Upon all which Accounts, conscious of my own Weakness, I have long since bid them an Adieu, farther than as they serve to amuse, or are useful in the absolute Necessities of Life.
The Defence of that Book against the learned and acute Mr.
Abr. de Moivre,
being written in a Spirit of Levity and Resentment, I most sincerely retract, and wish undone, so far as it is personal or peevish, and ask him and the World Pardon for it; as I do for the
Defence
of Dr.
Pitcairn's Dissertations,
and the
New Theory of Fevers,
against the late learned and ingenious Dr.
Oliphant.
I heartily condemn and detest all personal Reflexions, all malicious and unmannerly Turns, and all false and unjust Representations, as unbecoming Gentlemen, Scholars, and Christians; and disprove and undo both Performances, as far as in me lies, in every Thing that does not strictly and barely relate to the Argument.
The first Part of the
Philosophical Principles,
that of
Natural Religion,
consists merely of Discourses and Lectures of
Natural Philosophy,
and of its Consequences on
Religion,
occasionally read or discoursed to that most noble and great Person, the Duke of
Roxburgh,
who is now so great an Ornament to his Country, and his high Employments, to whom they were inscribed. I thought they might be of Use to other young Gentlemen, who, while they were learning the Elements of natural Philosophy, might have thereby the Principles of natural Religion insensibly instilled into them. And accordingly it has been and is still used for that Purpose at both Universities. Upon which Account, upon proper Occasions, I will not fail to improve it in all the new Discoveries in Experimental Philosophy, or in the final and natural Causes of Things as happen to be made, so as to leave it as little imperfect in its Kind as I possibly can.
The second Part of the
Philosophical Principles,
to wit, that of
Revealed Religion,
was added afterward, to shew, that all our Knowledge of Nature was by Analogy, or the Relations of Things only, and not their real Nature, Substance, or internal Principles: That from this Method of Analogy (the only Medium of humane Knowlege) we should be necessarily led, to conclude the Attributes or Qualities of the supreme and absolute Infinite, were indeed analogous to the Properties or Qualities of finite Beings, but only in such a Manner as the Difference between Infinite and Finite requires; and that therefore, not being able to know precisely these Differences, we ought implicitely to believe without reasoning what is revealed to us concerning the Nature of the infinite Being; or bring our Reason to submit to the Mysteries of Faith. How I have succeeded is not for me to determine. As the End was honest, I am secure the great Principles and the fundamental Propositions are true and just. They may want a little farther clearing up and Explication: But as yet I have met with no Reason to retract any Thing material; else I should most certainly do it.
The
Essay on the Gout and
Bath
Waters
was brought forth by mere Accident. The first Draught being, as I there mentioned, only a Paper of Directions for a Gentleman, my Friend and Patient, troubled with the Gout. It was enlarged upon different Occasions, and published to prevent its being pyrated; several Copies having been given out to others in the same Circumstances. I have the Satisfaction to know from many different Hands, that it has benefited great Numbers of infirm and afflicted Persons; and shall therefore go on to cultivate it as far as my poor Abilities will permit.
I am now come to this my last Production; whose Origin was as casual as that of my former. My good and worthy Friend, the present Master of the
Rolls,
having been last Autumn at
Bath
for a Confirmation of his Health, at his Departure desired of me to draw up some Instructions in writing to direct him in the Conduct of his Health for the future, and in the Manner of supporting his Spirits free and full, under the great Business he is engaged in. I was then in the Hurry of our Season, and could not so soon answer his Expectation, as his real Worth, and my sincere Esteem required. I thought myself therefore the more obliged assoon as I had Leisure, to exert myself to the uttermost in Obedience to his Commands. At first I drew up most of these Rules at the End of the several Chapters; but, upon Reflexion, thought it not Respect enough to his good Taste and Capacity to judge of the Reasons of Things, to prescribe him bare and dry Directions in Matters of so great Moment. I added therefore the philosophical Account and Reasons of these Rules, which make up the Bulk of the Chapters themselves. He, out of his Love to his Fellow-Citizens (which is one shining Part of his Character, and which I ought to suppose has in this Instance only imposed on his better Judgment) desired they might be made publick. Upon which Account several Things have been since added, to make the whole of more general Use. If therefore any Thing in this Treatise be tolerable, or if any Person receive Benefit by it, they owe it entirely to that excellent Person, upon whose Account solely it was undertaken, and at whose Request it is published.
I have indeed long and often observed, with great Pity and Regret, many very learned, ingenious, and even religious Persons, who being weak and tender (as such generally are) have suffered to the last Extremity for Want of a due Regimen of Diet, and other general Directions of Health, who had good Sense enough to understand the Force and Necessity of such Rules, valued Health sufficiently, and despised sensual Gratifications for the Pleasures of the Mind so far, as to be able and willing to abstain from every Thing hurtful, deny themselves any Thing their Appetites craved, and to conform to any Rules for a tolerable Degree of Health, Ease, and Freedom of Spirits; and yet being ignorant how to conduct themselves, from what to abstain and what to use, they have suffered even to mortal Agonies; who, had they been better directed and instructed, had pass'd their Lives in tolerable Ease and Quiet. It is for these, and these only, the following Treatise is designed. The Robust, the Luxurious, the Pot-Companions, the Loose, and the Abandoned, have here no Business; their Time is not yet come. But the Sickly and the Aged, the Studious and the Sedentary, Persons of weak Nerves, and the Gentlemen of the learned Professions, I hope, by the divine Blessing on the following Treatise, may be enabled to follow their Studies and Professions with greater Security and Application, and yet preserve their Health and Freedom of Spirits more entire and to a longer Date. I am morally certain, had I known and been as well satisfied of the Necessity of the Rules here laid down, thirty Years ago, as I am now, I had suffered less, and had had a greater Freedom of Spirits than I have enjoy'd. But every Thing is best as it has been, except the Errors and Failings of our free Wills.
I know no useful Means of Health and Long Life I have omitted, nor any pernicious Custom I have not noted; and have given the plainest and most familiar Reasons I could urge for the Rules I have here laid down. Most of my Arguments (as they needs must) have risen out of the animal Functions and Oeconomy: And I have used as little Subtilty and Refinement in my Explications of these, as the present State of Natural Philosophy could admit. I have been often contented with plain and obvious Facts to account for Appearances, and the Cautions thence deduced; when, according to the Humour of the present Age, I might have run into refined Speculations of Metaphysicks, or Mathematicks; being contented with the
Crasso Modo philosophari
; because we shall never be able to search out the Works of the Almighty to Perfection, so as to penetrate the internal Nature of Things.
I have consulted nothing but my own Experience and Observation on my own crazy Carcase and the Infirmities of others I have treated, in the following Rules, their Reasons and Philosophy, (so that if any Thing is borrowed, it has occurred to me as my own) but in so far as Authorities go to shorten philosophical Accounts. Not but that all systematick Writers in Physick, and many particular Authors, have treated the same Subject: But their Rules, besides that they are often inconsistent with Reason, or contrary to Experience, are so general, and express'd in so unlimited and undefined Terms, as leave little or no Certainty in them; when apply'd to particular Cases, they want the necessary Precision and Exactness, and so became useless or perplexing: and lastly, when they come, (which is rarely to be found among them) to give the Reasons and Philosophy of their Directions, they have not the Perspicuity and natural Way of convincing the ingenious, sickly, and tender Sufferers, so necessary to make them chearfully and readily undergo such severe Restraints; which I take to be by far the most difficult Part of such a Work, and which I have laboured with my utmost Power to supply.
I know not what may be the Fate and Success of this Performance; nor am I solicitous about it, being conscious the Design was honest, the Subject weighty, and the Execution the best my Time, my Abilities, and my Health would permit, which cannot bear the Labour of much Fileing and Finishing. Being careful not to incroach on the Province of the Physician, I have concealed nothing my Knowledge could suggest to direct the Sufferer, in the best Manner I could, to preserve his Health and lengthen out his Life: And I have held out no false or delusory Lights to lead him astray, or torment him unnecessarily.
If it were possible any Set of Men could be offended at my Performance, it might be my Brethren of the Profession, for endeavouring to lessen the
Materia Morbifica.
But as this would be the most malicious, unjust, and unworthy Reflexion could be thrown on Scholars and Gentlemen of a liberal Education; so I never entertain'd the most remote Vanity to think any Endeavour of mine would make so considerable a Change in the Nation; especially when the Devil, the World, and the Flesh were on the other Side of the Question, which have stood their Ground even against the Rules of Life and Immortality brought to Light by the
Gospel.
I cannot conclude this tedious Preface without begging Pardon of the Reader for troubling him with my private Matters. All I can say as an Apology is, that of whatsoever Indifference my Concerns as an Author may be to him, yet they were not so to me; this being the only Place and Time I may have to adjust them in, and it being the Heighth of my Ambition,
Nil conscire mihi, nullâ pallescere culpâ.
THE CONTENTS.
I NTRODUCTION.
§. 1. It is easier to preserve than recover Health, to prevent than to cure Diseases.
p.
2
The Considerations that induced the Author to publish this Treatise, and accommodate it to general Use.
ibid.
2. The Method he is to proceed in, and the Reasons for it. 3
3. The Folly of an over-scrupulous, and the Reasons for a moderate and proper Care of our Health. 4
A double Advantage of that Care. 5
CHAP. I. Of AIR.
§. 1. The Necessity of a careful Choice of the Air we are to live in.
p.
6
2. Proofs from Experience, of the Influence of the Air on the animal Oeconomy.
ib.
3. Rules to be observed in the Choice of the Situation of a House. 7
4. Easterly Winds most dangerous to Health in
England.
9
The Time they prevail most, and when the Westerly and Southerly Winds blow most constantly. 10
How to prevent and remedy the ill Effects of cold and moist Air.
ib.
5. What is to be done to avoid the unwholesome Influence of the Fog that commonly hangs over
London
in the Winter Time. 11
That tender Persons ought to be careful of the Healthiness of their Families, and all that are much about them; of Cleanliness; and to avoiding damp Rooms, Beds, Linnen,
&c. ib.
6. The Manner of catching Cold, or how Perspiration is obstructed.
p.
13
An Observation concerning the Effect of rich Food and generous Wines in the Time of a Plague. 14
Why People in Drink are not ready to catch Cold.
ib.
How the Obstruction of Perspiration contributes to the producing Vapours and all nervous and hysterick Disorders. 15
Rules for
Health
and
Long Life
with Respect to
Air.
17
CHAP. II. Of MEAT and DRINK.
§. 1. To preserve Health, the Quantity and Nature of our Food, both Meat and Drink, must be proportioned to the Strength of our Digestion. 19
The Sources of Chronical Diseases.
ib.
2. Three general Rules by which the Valetudinary and Infirm may judge of the several Kinds of vegetable and animal Food, and find which are most proper for them. 21
The Application of these Rules; where is shewed, that those Vegetables and Animals that come soonest to Maturity are more easily digested than those that ripen more leisurely;
p.
22
The smallest of each Kind than the largest; 23
The Food of any Animal than the Animal itself; the Animals that live on Vegetables than those that live on other Animals; those that live on Food of an easy Digestion than those that eat stronger Food. 24
Land-Animals than Fishes and amphibious Animals;
ib.
Vegetables and Animals of a dry, fleshy, fibrous Substance, than those whose Substance is oily, fat, and glutinous: 25
Those of a light and whitish, than those of a brown or reddish Colour:
ib.
Those of a mild and soft, than those of strong, poignant, aromatick, or hot Taste. 26
3. The proper Way of feeding Animals and raising Vegetables, so as they may become the most wholesome Food. 28
The Cookery fittest for that Purpose.
ib.
How the Appetite is to be preserved good and keen. 29
4. Of the Quantity of Meat, in general.
ib.
5. The great Advantage of spare and simple Diet, shewn in several Examples of Persons that have by that Means lived healthy to a great Age in warm Climates.
p.
30
6. Instances to the same purpose in cold Climates. 31
7. A particular Determination of the Weight of Meat properest for weak, tender and sedentary People. 33
8. The Mischiefs of Repletion, or living too fully. 35
How to supply the Place of Medicines by Diet.
ib.
9. Of the Use of Purgative Medicines when one has exceeded. 36
The Form of an excellent Medicine for this Purpose. 37
Sir
Charles Scarborough's
Advice to the Dutchess of
Portsmouth. ib.
10. How studious Persons may know when they have eat too much. 38
How the Appetite may become the right Measure of Eating.
ib.
11. How we may judge by our Eye of the just Quantity of Meat very nearly, without the continual Trouble of weighing it. 39
Of Pork and Fish: their Unfitness for weak and valetudinary People. 40
12. The great Advantage of drinking Water in preserving the Appetite, and strengthening and promoting the Digestion.
p.
42
The pernicious Effects of drinking Spirits for these Purposes. 43
There is no Manner of Danger in breaking off so pernicious a Custom all at once, as is pretended. 45
Sir
W. Temple's
Rule for Drinking after Dinner. 47
13. The ill Effects of drinking Wine plentifully to digest too full a Meal.
ib.
14. The bad Consequences of the common Use of strong-bodied Wines unmixed, and the Preference of light Wines of middling Strength, or strong Wines diluted with Water. 49
15. That Drinking, especially of spirituous Liquors, to raise the Spirits in Vapours and Melancholy, increases instead of curing the Disease. 51
Cordials are not effectual Medicines that strike at the Root of a Disease; but only present Reliefs to mitigate continual Suffering, and gain Time for a more effectual Course. 54
16. Of Punch, and the mischievous Consequences of drinking it. 55
Of the immoderate and indiscreet Use of acid Juices.
p.
56
The Cause of the Frequency of Bellyaches, Palsies, Cramps, Convulsions, and other nervous Distempers in the
West Indies
; and the Cure of them. 57
17. The Unfitness of Malt Liquors for weak Stomachs. 60
18. Of the Use and Abuse of Coffee, Tea, and Chocolate, and (by the by) of Tobacco and Snuff. 61
19. Of the due Proportion of watry Liquors to our Meat, and the best Time for drinking it. 67
This Quantity is to be different according as we eat mostly of boiled or of roasted Meat. 68
What Meats are fittest to boil and what to roast.
ib.
20. A Form of a Cordial, where such Medicines are fit to be used. 71
Of the proper Use of it.
ib.
Rules for
Health
and
Long Life
with Respect to Meat and
Drink.
72
CHAP. III. Of SLEEPING and WATCHING.
§. 1. Of the Use and Necessity of Rest and Sleep to Animals.
p.
77
Of the Care we ought to take to make it sound and refreshing. 78
The eating late or full Suppers frustrates the Ends of Sleep.
ib.
2. An Account of the very hurtful Effects of that Practice.
ib.
The Cause of unsound and disturbed Rest; Cramps, Suffocations, Startings in Sleep, and Night-Mares; Sickness at Stomach in the Morning, and Heaviness all the Day. 79
The effectual Means of preventing all these. 80
3. The proper Season for Sleep. 81
The
Topers
find it more hurtful to sit up late, though sober, than to go to Bed half-drunk but early. 82
4. The Strong and Robust may without Danger sometimes neglect the due Season of Sleeping; yet the Weak and Tender never can, with Safety.
ib.
5. Such People must go early to Bed, and rise early, by which Means their Sleep will be more refreshing, and need not be so long, as if they went later to Bed.
p.
83
6. The ill Effects of loitering a Bed in a Morning, and the Advantage of rising early. 84
7. A daily Regimen for the Studious. 85
A Caution about the Aged and Sickly. 86
Rules for
Health
and
Long Life,
with Regard to
Sleep
and
Watching.
87
CHAP. IV. Of EXERCISE and QUIET.
§. 1. Exercise as necessary to Health
now,
as Food itself, whatever may have been the Case in the State of Innocence. 89
The Effects of it in preserving the Blood and other Juices fluid, the Joints supple and pliant, and the Fibres in a due Tension. 90
2. Of the Time and Occasion of allowing Men the Use of animal Food and strong Liquors. 91
The Reason why they were allowed to them. 92
3. Of the several Sorts of Exercise in Use; and of the Choice of them. 94
The Reason why Children delight so much in running, jumping, climbing, and all Sorts of Exercise. 95
4. Several Instances of the Benefit of Exercise on the Limbs most employed in divers laborious Employments. 96
5. The Use of this Observation, in appropriating different Exercises to different Kinds of Weaknesses in the several Parts of the Body. 97
That there ought to be stated Times of Exercises: and which are the properest. 98
6. Three Conditions of Exercise that it may have its full Effect. 99
7. The Usefulness of Cold Bathing;
1. to keep the Perspiration free and open. 101
2. to promote a free Circulation of the Juices through the smallest Vessels.
ib.
3. to prevent catching of Cold, by strengthning the Fibres and straiting the perspiratory Ducts. 102
8. How oft, in what Cases, and in what Manner Cold Bathing should be used.
ib.
9. Of the Flesh-brush, and the great Usefulness of it. 104
An Observation of its considerable Effects on Horses.
ib.
That it ought (as well as Cold Bathing) to be used on the Animals whose Flesh we eat. 105
Rules for
Health
and
Long Life
relating to
Exercise.
106
CHAP. V. Of our EVACUATIONS and their Obstructions.
§. 1. That the Faeces in healthy People are of a moderate Consistence. 109
The Causes of costive and purging Stools, and how they discover the Goodness or Badness of the Regimen we use.
ib.
Of the Reason why Mercury purges instead of Salivating. 111
That the same Reason will make even Restringents and Opiates purgative.
ib.
2. A dangerous Mistake in those that would grow plump and fat.
ib.
Another in the rearing up of Children. 112
The right Method of begetting a proper Quantity of good and sound Flesh.
p.
113
3. Loose and purgative Stools discover intemperate Eating. 115
Of the present Relief the Hysterical and Low-spirited find in good Eating and Drinking, and the Mischief that follows on it.
ib.
The common Cause of Head-Aches, Stomach-Aches, and Colicks. 116
4. The right Method of bracing relaxed Nerves. 117
How oft healthy and temperate People go to Stool.
ib.
5. How long it is from the eating of a Meal till the discharging the Faeces of it. 118
That the bad Effects of an intemperate Meal are felt most the Day the Excrements of it are thrown out. 119
The Consequences of this Observation.
ib.
6. Some Aliments that sit not easy on the Stomach may afford good Nourishment. 120
7, 8. Of the several Sorts of Urine, and what they signify. 121
The Difference between hysterick Water and that made in a
Diabetes. p.
122
9. The Regimen proper for those that make pale high-coloured or turbid Water. 124
10. Of the Danger they are in that make dark brown or dirty red Water. 125
Of other Kinds of Water.
ib.
11. Of an uncommon Evacuation both by Siege and Urine, and the Causes of of it. 126
12. Obstructed Perspiration the Cause of most acute Diseases, and the Effect of chronical ones. 128
13. Catching of Cold what, and how dangerous. 129
A present and easy Remedy against it.
ib.
The Danger of delaying the Cure of it.
ib.
14. The Way to maintain free Perspiration. 130
The Consequences of its Obstruction.
ib.
An Observation concerning the Use and final Cause of convulsive Motions, Coughing, Sneezing, Laughing, Yawning, Stretching,
&c.
131
15. Of a critical Salivation happening to Persons of relaxed Fibres. 132
The Regard that ought to be had to the Eye in chronical Cases. 135
The Reason of the Appearance of Spots, Flies, Atoms,
&c.
before the Eyes of hysterical Persons, and of their Dimness and Confusion of Sight. 136
Whence hysterical People have the Sense of Choaking and Strangling.
ib.
Of the Usefulness of the forementioned Salivation. 137
Of the right Way of managing it. 138
Rules for
Health
and
Long Life
with Regard to Evacuations. 139
CHAP. VI. Of the PASSIONS.
§. 1. The Passions have a great Influence on Health. 144
Four fundamental Propositions of the Doctrine of the Passions.
ib.
Prop. I.
The Soul resides in a particular Manner in the Brain, where it perceives Motions excited by outward Objects, and according to their Impressions excites Motions in the Body.
ib.
Schol.
With Regard to the different Natures of outward Objects, or the Subject (Body or Mind) they immediately affect, the Passions are divided into spiritual and animal. 145
Prop. II.
Wherein the Union of the Soul and Body consists. 146
Schol.
Some Laws of that Union. 147
Prop. III.
In Spirits there is an active self-motive Principle.
ib.
Schol.
A Proof of this Principle from the Existence of Motion. 148
Prop. IV.
There is in Spirits a Principle analogous to Attraction. 149
Schol.
The Necessity of this Principle. 150
The Remains of it in our fallen State.
ib.
Corol. I.
The Nature of spiritual Good and Evil. 151
Corol. II.
A Division of the Passions into Pleasurable and Painful, viz. Love and Hatred, and the Dependents on them.
ib.
2. The Passions with Respect to their Effects on the Body may be divided into Acute and Chronical, as they produce this or that Kind of Diseases. 153
The Effects of acute Passions.
ib.
The Cause of a Sigh.
ib.
The Cause of a Blush. 154
The Pulse accelerated and the Breath short in Anxiety.
ib.
The Effects of Fear and Anger. 155
3. The Effects of chronical Passions.
ib.
Of fixing the Attention on one Thought or Idea. 156
Of Grief, Melancholy, unsuccessful Love, Pride.
ib.
The Effect of continued Action, in the
Indian
Faquiers. 157
Of Religious Melancholy.
ib.
4. The Tender and Valetudinary ought carefully to avoid all Excess of Passion; and why.
ib.
The Acute Passions more dangerous than the Chronical. 159
5. The different Effects of the Passions on different Constitutions.
ib.
1. on those of most elastick Fibres.
ib.
2. on those of stiff, rigid Fibres. 160
3. on those of sluggish, resty Fibres.
ib.
6. That the Disorders or Weaknesses of the Nerves employed in the mental Operations may, in some Cases, be remedied by Physick.
ib.
7. What spiritual Love, or Charity, is. 161
Tho' at first it has the Appearance of a common Passion; yet in its Perfection it proves the Exercise of a particular Faculty in the Soul proper to itself.
p.
161
That all Objects being to be loved in proportion to their Beauty, God must be loved infinitely, and all Creatures, even ourselves, in Comparison to him not at all. 163
8. Yet there is an allowable and just Self-love. 165
The Measures of it.
ib.
The Love of God for his own Sake, and without Regard to our own Happiness, is notwithstanding inseparable in its Nature from our Happiness. 166
All Beauty consists in Harmony, and all Pleasure in the Perception of that Harmony. 167
9. The Advantages of spiritual Love with Regard to Health. 168
It removes all Anxiety and Solicitude. 169
It banishes all those Vices that most ruin Health.
ib.
It gives continunl Joy; which is inseparable from Health.
ib.
Rules of
Health
with Regard to the Management of the
Passions.
170
CHAP. VII. MISCELLANY OBSERVATIONS.
§. 1. Of the Difference between acute and chronical Diseases. 172
What may be expected from Medicine in either Case. 174
2. Why most Persons are seized with chronical Diseases about the Meridian of Life; and why some sooner. 175
3. The great Number of dangerous chronical Diseases proceeding from, and complicated with the Scurvy. 178
Why the Scurvy is so common in
Britain. ib.
The Manner how it is produced. 179
Why chronical Diseases are more common here than in the warmer Climates. 180
The Reason of the Frequency of SelfMurder in
England.
181
Why the Scurvy is seldom or never perfectly cured. 182
By what Means it might be cured throughly.
ib.
What is to be done to make Life tolerable under it, to those that will not undergo the Trouble of a perfect Cure. 183
Seeds and young Sprouts proper in this Disease, because they have no gross Salts in them.
ib.
Reflexion on the great Use of a Regimen of Diet and Exercise in the Cure of chronical Diseases. 185
4. Of the Nature of animal Fibres and their different Sorts.
ib.
Rules to know elastick or springy, robust and stiff, weak and relaxed Fibres. 187
5. The Causes and Occasions of frequent Miscarriages. 189
The Regimen and Medicines proper to prevent them. 192
6. A Regimen for the Tender, Studious,
&c.
with Regard to the different Seasons. 195
7. Rules about Cloaths as to the Difference of Seasons. 195
The Danger of keeping always warm, and wearing Flannel.
ib.
The Danger of customary Sweating. 196
The Difference between Sweating and plentiful Perspiration.
ib.
8. Of the Usefulness of frequent Shaving the Head and Face; and of Washing and Scraping the Feet. 198
The Advantage of a full and free Perspiration in the Soles of the Feet. 200
9. A Caution to studious People concerning the fittest Posture of the Body in Reading and Writing. 201
The Inconveniencies of a wrong one.
ib.
10. A very necessary Caution to fat and over-grown People. 203
11. Two important Advices to the Aged. 205
The Advantage of removing to a warmer Climate in old Age. 206
12. The Folly of expecting a quick Cure of chronical Diseases. 207
The Mischiefs this vain Expectation brings on the Valetudinary. 208
The Original, and only Method of Cure of most chronical Diseases. 209
The Necessity of submitting to this Method. 211
The Efficacy of it. 212
13. Of the great Usefulness of
Opium.
213
The Manner of its Operation.
ib.
Proofs that it operates in that Manner. 215
How it cures a
Diarrhaea.
217
In what Cases
Opium
is of greatest Use.
ib.
When
solid Opium,
when
liquid Laudanum
is to be used.
ib.
The proper Vehicles for it in different Cases. 218
The right Way of dosing it. 219
That
Opium
over-dosed kills not so readily as is commonly thought.
ib.
14. The great Secret of
Long Life.
220
Tho' the Solids must necessarily harden by old Age, so as to stop the Circulation; yet this may be retarded by keeping the Juices fluid by a meager and diluting Diet. 221
The Manner of doing it. 222
Of thin, and what is commonly, and what ought to be called, poor Blood.
ib.
What is the best Blood, and for what Reasons it is to be accounted so. 224
Of the great Advantages of Temperance. 226
Miscellany
Rules of
Health
and
Long Life.
227
Conclusion.
230
ERRATUM.
P.
2.
l.
15. precatiously
r.
precariously.
In Clarissimi Medici
GEO. CHEYNAEI Tentamen de Sanitate & Longaevitate,
doctum variumque Opus miratus, haec effudit * * Virtutum illius Viri Cultor impensissimus.
HUC ades, o! saevum Membris arcere Venenum
Qui cupis, & Morbi semina tetra gravis.
Sive tremens pavidusque vides instare minacem
Scorbutum (ut videas hic Liber, ecce! docet)
Sive parant atras Hypochondria turgida Nubes,
Quae Menti offusae tristia spectra darent;
Seu Monstri quodcunque imis Penetralibus haeret,
Principium Morbi, mox generanda Lues:
Ecce Opifer praesens,
CHEYNAEUS,
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AN ESSAY OF
Health
and
Long Life.
§. 1.
I T is a common Saying, That every Man past Forty is either a
Fool
or a
Physician:
It might have been as justly added, that he was a
Divine
too: For, as the World goes at present, there is not any Thing that the Generality of the better Sort of Mankind so lavishly and so unconcernedly throw away as
Health,
except
eternal Felicity.
Most Men know when they are ill, but very few when they are well. And yet it is most certain, that 'tis easier to
preserve
Health than to
recover
it, and to
prevent
Diseases than to
cure
them. Towards the first, the Means are mostly in our own Power: Little else is required than to
bear and forbear.
But towards the latter, the Means are perplexed and uncertain; and for the Knowledge of them the far greatest Part of Mankind must apply to others, of whose Skill and Honesty they are in a great measure ignorant, and the Benefit of whose Art they can but conditionally and precautiously obtain. A crazy Constitution, original weak Nerves, dearbought Experience in Things helpful and hurtful, and long Observation on the Complaints of others, who came for Relief to this universal Infirmary,
BATH,
have at last (in some measure) taught me some of the most effectual Means of preserving Health and prolonging Life in those who are
tender
and
sickly,
and labour under
chronical
Distempers. And I thought I could not spend my leisure Hours better than by putting together the most general Rules for that Purpose, and setting them in the clearest and strongest Light I could, for the Benefit of those who may want them, and yet have not had such favourable Opportunities to learn them.
§. 2.
And that I might write with some Order and Connexion, I have chosen to make some Observations and Reflections on the
Nonnaturals
(as they are called, possibly because that in their preternatural State they are eminently injurious to human
Constitutions
; or more
probably,
because tho' they be necessary to the Subsistence of
Man,
yet in respect of
him,
they may be considered as
external,
or different from the
internal
Causes that produce
Diseases
) to wit, 1. The
Air
we breathe in. 2. Our
Meat
and
Drink.
3. Our
Sleep
and
Watching.
4. Our
Exercise
and
Rest.
5. Our
Evacuations
and their Obstructions. 6. The
Passions
of our Minds: And
lastly,
to add some Observations that come not so naturally under any of these Heads. I shall not consider here how
philosophically
these
Distinctions
are made; they seem to me, the best general
Heads
for bringing in those
Observations
and
Reflections
I am to make in the following Pages.
§. 3.
The Reflection is not more common than just, That he who lives
physically
must live miserably. The Truth is, too great Nicety and Exactness about every minute Circumstance that may impair our Health, is such a Yoke and Slavery, as no Man of a generous free Spirit would submit to. 'Tis, as a
Poet
expresses it,
to die for fear of Dying.
And to forbear or give over a just, charitable, or even generous Office of Life, from a too scrupulous Regard to Health, is unworthy of a
Man,
much more of a
Christian.
But then, on the other Hand, to cut off our Days by
Intemperance, Indiscretion,
and guilty
Passions,
to live miserably for the sake of gratifying a
sweet Tooth,
or a brutal
Itch
; to die
Martyrs
to our
Luxury
and
Wantonness,
is equally beneath the Dignity of
human Nature,
and contrary to the
Homage
we owe to the
Author
of our Being. Without some Degree of
Health,
we can neither be agreeable to
ourselves,
nor useful to our
Friends
; we can neither relish the Blessings of
divine
Providence to us in
Life,
nor acquit ourselves of our
Duties
to our
Maker,
or our
Neighbour.
He that
wantonly
transgresseth the
self-evident
Rules of
Health,
is guilty of a Degree of
Self-Murder
; and an
habitual
Perseverance therein is direct
Self-Murder.
Suicide,
and consequently, the greatest Crime he can commit against the
Author
of his Being; as it is slighting and despising the noblest
Gift
he could bestow upon him,
viz.
the
Means
of making himself infinitely
happy
; and also as it is a
treacherous
forsaking the
Post,
wherein his
Wisdom
has placed him, and thereby rendering himself incapable of answering the Designs of his
Providence
over him. The infinitely wise
Author
of
Nature
has so contrived
Things,
that the most remarkable RULES of preserving LIFE and HEALTH are
moral Duties
commanded us, so truē it is, that
Godliness has the Promises of this Life, as well as that to come.
To avoid all useless Refinement, I will lay down only a few plain easily observed Rules, which a Man may readily follow, without any Trouble or Constraint.
CHAP. I. Of AIR.
§. 1.
AIR
being one of the most necessary Things towards the
Subsistence
and
Health
of all
Animals
; 'tis a Wonder to me, that here in
England,
where
Luxury
and all the Arts of
living well,
are cultivated even to a
Vice,
the Choice of Air should be so little considered.
§. 2.
From Observations on Bleeding in
Rheumatisms,
and after catching Cold, 'tis evident, that the
Air
with its different
Qualities,
can alter and quite vitiate the whole
Texture
of the Blood and
animal
Juices: From the
Palsies, Vertigoes, Vapours,
and other
nervous Affections,
caused by
Damps, Mines,
and working on some
Minerals,
(
Vide
Ramazini
of the Diseases of Tradesmen.
particularly
Mercury
and
Antimony
) 'tis plain
Air
so and so qualified, can relax and obstruct the whole nervous
System.
From the
Cholics, Fluxes, Coughs,
and
Consumptions,
produced by damp, moist and
nitrous Air,
'tis manifest, that it can obstruct and spoil the noble
Organs.
The
Air
is attracted and received into our
Habit,
and mixed with our
Fluids
every Instant of our
Lives
; so that any ill
Quality
in the
Air
so continually introduced, must in Time produce
fatal
Effects on the animal
OEconomy:
And therefore it will be of the utmost Consequence to every one, to take Care what kind of
Air
it is they sleep and watch, breath and live in, and are perpetually receiving into the most intimate
Union
with the
Principles
of Life. I shall only take Notice of three Conditions of
Air.
§. 3.
The
first
is, That when
Gentlemen
build
Seats,
they ought never to place them upon any high
Hill,
very near any great
Confluence
of Water, in the Neighbourhood of any great
Mines,
or Beds of
Minerals,
nor on any swamp, marshy, or mossy Foundation; but either in a
champaign
Country, or on the
Side
of a small Eminence, sheltered from the
North
and
East
Winds, or upon a light gravelly Soil. The Nature of the Soil will be well known from the
Plants
and
Herbs
that grow on it, or rather more securely from the Nature of the
Waters
that spring out of it, which ought always to be
sweet, clear, light, soft,
and
tastless.
All high
Mountains
are damp, as Dr.
Halley
observed at
St. Helena,
a mountainous Place, where
Damps
fell so perpetually in the Night time, that he was obliged to be every Moment wiping his
Glasses,
in making his
Astronomical
Observations. And where the
Mountains
are high, the Inhabitants of them are forced to send their
Furniture,
in Winter, to the
Valley,
lest it should rot. And 'tis common to have it rain or snow on Mountains, when the Valleys below are clear, screne and dry. All great
Hills
are Nests of
Minerals,
and Covers (made of the prominent Earth) for
Reservoirs
of
Rain-Water.
The Clouds are but great
Fleeces
of rarified Water sailing in the
Air,
sometimes not many Yards above the
champaign
Country; and these high
Hills
intercepting them, they are compressed into
Dew
and
Rain,
and are perpetually drilling down the
Crannies
of the Mountains into these
Basins.
Hence the
Origin
of
Rivers, and fresh Water Springs.
Besides that, these mountainous Places, are always expos'd to high, and almost perpetual
Winds.
Where any great
Concourse
of Water is, the
Air
must needs be perpetually damp, because the
Sun
is perpetually straining from these
Waters,
moist
Dews
and
Vapours
thro'
it.
All great Nests of
Minerals,
or large
Mines,
must necessarily impregnate the
Air,
with their respective Qualities. And
mossy
Blackness, is some Degree of
Putrefaction,
as
See his Treatise about Light and Colours.
Sir
Isaac Newton
observes.
§ 4.
Secondly,
the
Winds
that are most frequent, and most pernicious in
England,
are the
Easterly,
especially the
North East
Winds, which in the
Winter
are the most
piercing
cold, in
Summer
the most
parching
hot. In
Winter
they bring along with them, all the
Nitre
of the
Northern
and
Scythian
Snows,
Mountains of Ice,
and
frozen Seas
thro' which they come; and in
Summer,
blow with all the
fiery
Particles of the
perpetual Day
they pass thro'. From the end of
January,
till towards the end of
May,
the Wind blows almost perpetually, from the
Eastern
and
Northern
Points, if the
Spring
is dry; and from the
Southern
and
Western
Points, if the
Spring
is wet, (and generally from the setting in of the
Winds,
on a
NewMoon,
you may predict the Weather of the
Spring
) and our
Bodies
most certainly attracting, the circumambient
Air,
and the
Fumes
of those Bodies that are next to us, it will be very convenient for
valetudinary, studious,
and
contemplative
Persons, in a
dry
Spring, or in
Easterly Winds,
to change their Bedchambers into Rooms that have
Western
or
Southern
Lights, or to shut close up the
Eastern
and
Northern
Lights, or to have them but seldom opened; and in
wet
Seasons, to take the contrary Course. And if any
such
Person, has been much exposed, or long abroad, in a
Northerly
or
bleakish Easterly
Wind, it will be very proper for him to drink down, going to Bed, a large Draught of warm Water-gruel, or of warm small
Mountainwine
Whey, as an
Antidote
against the
nitrous Effluvia,
suck'd into the Body, and to open the
Obstructions
of the
Perspiration
made thereby.
§. 5.
Thirdly,
from the beginning of
November
till towards the beginning of
February, London
is cover'd over with one universal
nitrous
and
sulphurous
Smoak, from the Multitude of Coal Fires, the Absence of that
material Divinity
the
Sun,
and the Consequence thereof, the falling of the
Dews,
and Vapours of the
Night.
In such a
Season, weak
and
tender
People, and those that are subject to
nervous
or
pulmonick
Distempers, ought either to go into the
Country,
or to be at
home
soon after
Sun-set,
and to dispel the
Damps
with clear, warm Fires, and chearful Conversation, go early to Bed, and rise proportionally sooner in the Morning; for, as the
Sun's
Removal suffers the Vapours to fall and condense, in the
Evening,
so his Approach dispels and raises them in the
Morning.
I need not add, that it will be very fit, for those that are
valetudinary,
to have their Servants, Children, Bedfellows, and all those that approach them, with whom they live constantly and mix
Atmospheres,
to be as healthy, sound and sweet as possibly they can; and, for their
own sakes,
to have them remov'd till they are made so, if they are otherwise. Nor shall I add any pressing instances, to avoid
wet
Rooms,
damp
Beds, and
foul
Linnen, or to remove
Ordure
and
Nusances
; the Luxury of
England
having run all these rather into a
Vice.
§. 6.
The
Air
is a
Fluid,
wherein Parts of all Kinds of Bodies swim as in Water. But
Air
differs from
Water
in this, that the
first
is compressible into a lesser Compass, and smaller
Volume,
like a
Fleece
of
Wool,
either by its own
Weight,
or any other
Force,
which
Weight
or
Force
being removed, the
Air
immediately recovers its former Bulk and Dimensions again, whereas no
Force
whatever can bring
Water
into narrower Bounds; that is,
Air
is extreamly
elastick
and
springy,
but
Water
is not at all so. Yet the Parts of
Air
would seem to be
grosser
than the Parts of
Water:
For
Water
will get through a
Bladder,
and may be forced through the
Pores
of
Gold
; but
Air
will pass through neither. By this its
elastick Force,
the
Air
insinuates itself into the patent
Cavities
of all
animal
Bodies; and the
Infant,
which never breathed before, assoon as it is exposed to this
Element,
has the little
Bladders,
whereof the
Lungs
consist, blown up into a
perpendicular
Erection on the Branches of the
Wind-pipe
; whereby the Obstruction, from the Pressure of these
Vesicles
(arising from their being compressed together, and lying upon one another) being in some Measure taken off, the
muscular Action
of the right
Ventricle
of the
Heart
is able to force the Blood through the
Lungs
into the left
Ventricle.
But these little
Bladders,
being thus
inflated
by an
elastick Fluid,
still press so far upon, and grind the grosser
Particles
of the Blood into more
sizeable ones,
that they may become small enough to
circulate
through the other
capillary Vessels
of the Body. This
elastick Air,
pressing equally every Way round, by its
Weight
and
Spring,
shuts close the
Scales
of the
Scarf-skin
of healthy and strong Persons; so that it denies all
Entrance
to the
nitrous
and
watry
Mixture, contained in it, and thus becomes a Kind of
Cold Bath,
to them, and defends them from catching
Cold:
But in
sickly, studious,
and
sedentary
People, and those of weak
Nerves,
where the
Spring
of the
Coverlets
and
Scales,
that defend the Mouths of the
perspiratory Ducts
is weak, the
Perspiration
little or next to none at all, and the Blood
poor
and
sizey
; the
nitrous
and
watry Particles
of the
Air
get a ready and free
Entrance,
by these
Ducts
into the Blood, and by breaking the
Globules
thereof,
coagulating
and fixing its
Fluidity,
quite stop the
Perspiration,
and obstruct all the
capillary
Vessels, the
cutaneous Glands,
and those of the
Lungs
and
alimentary
Passages, when such Bodies are long exposed to such an
Air:
And thus begets all these Disorders in the Body, that
Air
thus and thus
poisoned,
was shewn capable to produce. So long as the
Perspiration
is
strong, brisk,
and
full,
'tis impossible any of these Disorders should happen; because the
Force
of the
perspiratory
Steams outward, is greater than the
Force
whereby these
noxious Mixtures
enter; unless the Body be indiscreetly too long exposed, or the Action of the
nitrous
and
watry Mixtures
be extremely violent. Hence it comes to pass, that those who are very
strong
and
healthy,
and those who have
drank strong Liquors
so plentifully, as to have thereby a brisk
Circulation
and full
Perspiration,
seldom or never catch
Cold.
And this is the Reason why
rich Foods
and
generous Wines,
moderately used, become so excellent an
Antidote
in
infectious
and
epidemick
Distempers; not only as they banish
Fear
and
Terror,
but as they make so full and free a Stream of
Perspiration,
and maintain so active and brisk an
Atmosphere,
as suffers no
noxious Steams
or
Mixtures
in the
Air
to come within it; but drives and beats off the Enemy to a Distance. But Persons of
viscous, heavy Fluids,
of
poor
and
sizey Juices,
of little or no
Perspiration,
such as generally all
studious, sedentary
and
sickly
Persons are, but especially those that are subject to
nervous
Disorders, must necessarily suffer under these
poisonous Mixtures
in the
Air,
if they do not cautiously and carefully fence against them, or take not a present Remedy and
Antidote,
when
tainted.
For besides the
Air
that gets through the
perspiratory Ducts
into the Blood, whenever we Eat, Drink, or Breath, we are taking into our Bodies, such
Air
as is about us. And when the
concoctive
Powers are
weak,
as in such
Persons,
and the
Quantity
of the
Food
is too great, or its
Quality
too strong for them, the
Chyle
is too gross, and the
perspiratory
Matter is stopped, because too large for these small
Ducts
; and this whole
Mass,
which in
common
Health is more than
double
of the gross
Evacuations, recoils
in upon the
Bowels,
and becomes, as it were,
Spears,
and
Darts,
and
Armour
to the
Air
received from without; which being thus
sharpened
with the
Salts
of the
unconcocted Food,
together with its own
elastick Force,
pierces the Sides of the
Vessels,
and gets into all the
Cavities
of the Body, and between the
Muscles
and their
Membranes,
and there, in Time, brings forth
hypochondriack, hysterick, nervous,
and
vapourish
Disorders, and all that
black Train
of
Evils
such Constitutions suffer under.
I shall now draw out the
Cautions
here inculcated into a few general Rules.
General Rules for Health and Long Life, drawn from the Head. Of AIR.
1. THE healthiest Situation for a
Seat
is in a
champaign
Country, or on the
Side
of a small Eminence, on a
gravelly
Soil, with a
Southern
or
Western
Exposition, sheltered from the
North
and
East
Winds, distant from any great
Concourse
of Waters, or any great
Mines
or Beds of
Minerals,
where the Water is
sweet, clear, light, soft,
and
tastless.
2.
Tender
People on the setting in of
Easterly
and
Northerly
Winds, ought to change their Bed-Rooms for others of
Westerly
and
Southerly
Lights, and the contrary in wet Seasons.
3. Those who have been much exposed to, or long abroad in
Easterly
or
Northerly
Winds, should drink some thin and warm Liquor going to Bed.
4. When the dark, dull, foggy Weather lasts at
London
in Winter, tender People, and those of weak
Nerves
and
Lungs,
ought either to go into the
Country,
or keep much at Home in warm Rooms, go early to Bed, and rise betimes.
5.
Valetudinary
People ought to have their Servants, Children, and Bedfellows, or those they continually approach and converse with, sound, sweet, and healthy, or ought to remove them 'till they are so, if they are otherwise.
6.
Every
one, in order to pteserve their Health, ought to observe all the Cleanness and Sweetness in their Houses, Cloaths, and Furniture, suitable to their Condition.
CHAP. II. Of MEAT and DRINK.
§. 1.
TO have our
Food,
that is, our Meat and Drink, as to
Quantity
and
Quality
duly regulated, and precisely adjusted to our
concoctive Powers,
would be of the utmost Consequence to
Health
and
Long Life.
Our Bodies require only a
determinate Quantity
thereof, to supply the
Expences
of living: and a just Proportion of that to these would very probably preserve us from
acute,
most certainly from
chronical
Distempers, and enable us to live, without much Sickness and Pain, so long as our Constitutions were originally made to
last.
The Sources of
chronical
Distempers are
first
Viscidity in the Juices, or the Overlargeness of their constituent
Particles,
which not being sufficiently broken by the
concoctive
Powers, stop or retard the
Circulation
; or,
secondly,
too great abundance of sharp and acrimonious
Salts,
whereby the Juices themselves are rendered so
corrosive,
as to burst or wear out the Solids; or,
thirdly,
a
Relaxation,
or Want of a due
Force
and Springiness, in the Solids themselves. An Excess in
Quantity
begets the
first,
the
ill Condition
of our Meat and Drink the
second,
and
both
together, with Want of due Labour, the
third.
§. 2.
The Meat of
England
is generally
animal
Substances. The
Animals
themselves, from
epidemick
Causes, bad Food, Age, or other Infirmities, have their Diseases as well as
human
Creatures: and these diseased
Animals
can never be proper or sound Food for Men. Adult
Animals
abound more in
urinous Salts
than young ones: Their Parts are more closely compacted, because more forcibly united; and so harder of Digestion. 'Tis true, the great Distinction of the
Fitness
or
Unfitness
of the several Sorts of
Animals
and
Vegetables
for human Food, depends upon their
original Make, Frame,
and
Nature
(and that can be found out only by Experience) as also upon the
special
Taste,
Complexion, Temperament,
and
Habits
of the Person that feeds on them. But by the Help of these
Three
Principles,
viz. First,
That the
Strength
or Weakness of Cohesion of the Particles of fluid Bodies, depends upon their
Bigness
or
Smallness
; that is, the
biggest
Particles cohere more firmly, than the
smaller,
because more Parts come into Contact in large Bodies than small, and so their
Union
is greater.
Secondly,
That the
greater
the Force [
Momentum
] is, with which two Bodies meet, the stronger is their Cohesion, and the more difficult their Separation.
Thirdly,
that
Salts,
being comprehended by plain
Surfaces,
being
hard,
and in all Changes recovering their Figure, unite the most firmly of any Bodies whatsoever: Their plain
Surfaces
bring many Points into
Contact
and
Union:
Their
Hardness
and constant
Figure
make them
durable
and
unalterable
; and thereby the
active Principles,
and the Origin of the Qualities of Bodies; and when they approach within the
Sphere
of one another's
Activity,
they firmly unite in
Clusters
; all which make the Separation of their original
Particles
the more difficult. I say, from these
three Principles,
we may in general compare the Easiness or Difficulty of digesting (that is, breaking into small Parts) the several Sorts of
Vegetables
and
Animals,
one with another; and so discover their
Fitness
or
Unfitness
for becoming Food for tender and
valetudinary
Persons.
1. All other Things being supposed equal, those
Vegetables
and
Animals,
that come to
Maturity
the soonest, are
lightest
of
Digestion.
Thus the Spring
Vegetables,
as
Asparagus, Straw-berries,
and some Sorts of
Sallading,
are more easily digested than
Pears, Apples, Peaches,
and
Nectarines
; because they have less of the
solar
Fire in them; their Parts are united by a weaker Heat; that is, with less
Velocity,
and abound less in, nay scarce have any strong and fixed
Salts.
Among the
Animals,
the common Poultry,
Hares, Sheep, Kids, Rabbets, &c.
who in the same, or a few Years come to their
Maturity
(that is, to propagate their
Species
) are much more tender and readily digested than
Cows,
Horses, or Asses, (were these last in use for Food, as they have been in
Famine
)
&c.
for the Reason already given, because their Parts cohere less firmly. And it is observable, of the
Vegetables,
which are longest a ripening, that is, whose
Juices
have most of the
solar
Rays in them, that their
fermented Juices
yield the strongest
vinous
Spirits; as Grapes, Elder-berries, and the like: and of the
Animals
that are longest in coming to
Maturity,
that their
Juices
yield the most rank and most
foetid
urinous
Salts.
2. Other Things supposed
equal,
the
larger
and
bigger
the
Vegetable
or
Animal
is, in its Kind, the
stronger
and the
harder
to digest is the Food made thereof. Thus a large
Onion, Apple,
or
Pear,
and large
Beef
and
Mutton
are
harder
to digest than the
lesser
ones, of the same Kind; not only, as their Vessels being stronger and more
elastick,
their Parts are brought together with a
greater
Force; but also, because the
Qualities
are proportionably more intense in great Bodies of the same Kind: Thus, other Things being equal, a
greater
Fire is proportionably more intensely hot, than a lesser one; and the Wine contained in a larger Vessel becomes stronger than that contained in a lesser; and consequently the Juices of larger
Animals
and
Vegetables
are more rank than the Juices of smaller ones of the same Kind.
3. Other Things being equal, The proper Food appointed for
Animals
by Nature, is easier digested than the
Animals
themselves; those
Animals
that live on
Vegetables,
than those that live on
Animals
; those that live on
Vegetables
or
Animals,
that soonest come to
Maturity,
than those that live on such as are longer a ripening. Thus
Milk
and
Eggs
are lighter of Digestion than the Flesh of
Beasts
or
Birds
;
Pullets
and
Turkies,
than
Ducks
and
Geese
; and
Partridge,
and
Pheasant
are
lighter
than
Woodcock
or
Snipe
; because these last, being
long-billed,
suck only
animal
Juices; and for the Reasons already given,
Grass Beef
and
Mutton
are lighter than
stall-fed Oxen
and
Sheep.
4. All Things else being alike,
Fish
and
Sea-Animals
are
harder
to digest than
Land-Animals
; because universally their Food is other
Animals,
and the
Salt Element
in which they live compacts their Parts more firmly;
Salts
having a stronger Power of
Cohesion
than other Bodies. And for the same Reason,
Salt Water Fish
is harder to digest than
fresh
Water. Thus the
Sea Tortoise
is harder to digest than the
Land Tortoise
; and
Sturgeon
and
Turbit,
than
Trout
or
Perch.
5. Other Things being equal,
Vegetables
and
Animals
that abound in an
oily, fat,
and
glutinous
Substance, are
harder
to digest, than those of a
dry, fleshy, fibrous
Substance; because
oily
and
fat
Substances clude the Force and Action of the
concoctive
Powers; and their Parts attract one another, and unite more strongly than other Substances do, (except Salts) as Sir
Isaac Newton
Vide Sir
Isaac Newton
's first
English
Edition of Light and Colours.
observes. Their
Softness
and
Humidity
relaxes and weakens the Force of the Stomach, and the Fat and Oil itself is shut up in little
Bladders,
that are with Difficulty broken. Thus
Nuts
of all kinds pass through the
Guts,
almost untouched:
Olives
are harder to digest than
Pease
;
fat
flesh Meat, than the
lean
of the same.
Carp, Tench, Salmon, Eel,
and
Turbit,
are much harder to digest than
Whiting, Perch, Trout,
or
Haddock.
6.
Vegetables
and
Animals,
all Things else being alike, whose Substance is
white,
or inclining to the
lighter
Colours, are
lighter
to digest, than those whose
Substance
is
redder, browner,
or inclining towards the more flaming Colours; not only because the Parts that reflect
white,
and the lighter Colours are lesser in Bulk than those that reflect the more flaming Colours
See the just quoted Author.
; but also because those of the more flaming Colours abound more with urinious Salts. Thus
Turnips, Parsnips,
and
Potatoes,
are lighter than
Carrots, Skirrets,
and
Beet-Raves. Pullet, Turkey, Pheasant,
and
Rabbet,
are lighter than
Duck, Geese, Woodcock,
and
Snipe. Whiting, Flounder, Perch,
and
Soal,
are lighter than
Salmon, Sturgeon, Herring,
and
Mackarel. Veal
and
Lamb
is lighter than
Red
or
Fallow
Deer.
7.
Lastly,
All other Things being equal,
Vegetables
and
Animals
of a
strong, poignant, aromatick
and hot Taste, are
harder
to digest than those of a
milder, softer,
and more
insipid
Taste. High Relish comes from abundance of Salts: Abundance of Salts supposes
adult Animals,
and such as are long a coming to
Maturity
; and where Salts abound, the Parts are more difficultly separated, and harder to be digested. Strong and
aromatick
Plants imbibe and retain most of the
solar
Rays, and become solid Spirits, or fixed
Flames.
And they that deal much in them swallow so much
liveCoals,
which will at last inflame the Fluids and burn up the Solids.
§. 3.
There is nothing more certain, than that the greater Superiority the
concoctive
Powers have, over the
Food,
or the stronger the
concoctive Powers
are, in regard of the Things to be
concocted
; the
finer
the
Chyle
will be, the
Circulation
the more free, and the
Spirits
more lightsome; that is, the better will the Health be. Now from these general Propositions, taking in their own particular
Complexion
and
Habits, valetudinary, studious,
or
contemplative
Persons may easily fix upon these particular
vegetable
or
animal
Foods, that are fittest for them. And if any Error should be committed, 'tis best to err on the safest Side, and rather chuse those Things that are under our
concoctive
Powers, than those that are above them. And in the Choice of
Animals
for our Food, we must not pass over the Manner of fattening and fitting them up for the Table. About
London
we can scarce have any, but cramm'd
Poultry,
or
stall-fed
Butchery Meat. It were sufficient to disgust the stoutest Stomach, to see the foul, gross, and nasty
Manner,
in which, and the
fetid,
putrid and unwholesome
Materials,
with which they are fed. Perpetual Foulness and Cramming, gross Food and Nastiness, we know, will putrify the
Juices
and mortify the
muscular
Substance of
human
Creatures; and sure they can do no less in Brute
Animals,
and thus make even our Food Poison. The same may be said of hot Beds, and forcing
Plants
and
Vegetables.
The only Way of having sound and healthful
animal
Food, is to leave them to their own
natural Liberty,
in the free Air, and their own proper
Element,
with Plenty of Food, and due Cleanness, and a Shelter from the Injuries of the Weather, when they have a Mind to retire to it. I add nothing about
Cookery:
Plain Roasting and Boiling is as high, as
valetudinary, tender, studious,
and
contemplative
Persons, or those who would preserve their Health, and lengthen out their Days, ought to presume on.
Made
Dishes,
rich
Soop, high Sauces, Baking, Smoaking, Salting,
and
Pickling,
are the Inventions of
Luxury,
to force an unnatural Appetite, and encrease the
Load,
which Nature, without Incentives from ill Habits, and a vicious Palate, will of itself make more than sufficient for
Health and long Life. Abstinence
and proper
Evacuations,
due
Labour
and
Exercise,
will always recover a decayed
Appetite,
so long as there is any Strength and
Fund
in Nature to go upon. And 'tis scarce allowble to provoke an Appetite, with medicinal Helps, but where the
digestive
Faculties have been spoiled and ruined by acute or tedious
chronical
Distempers. And as soon as 'tis recovered to any tolerable Degree,
Nature
is to be left to its own Work, without any Spurs from
Cookery
or
Physick.
§. 4.
The next Consideration is the
Quantity
of Food that is necessary to support Nature, without overloading it, in a due Plight: That is indeed various, according to the
Age, Sex, Nature, Strength,
and
Country
the Party is of, and the
Exercise
he uses. In these
Northern
Countries, the Coldness of the
Air,
the
Strength
and large Stature of People, demand larger Supplies than in the
Eastern
and warmer Countries. Young growing Persons, and those of great Strength and large Stature, require more than the Aged, Weak, and Slender. But Persons of all Sorts will live more healthy and longer by universal
Temperance,
than otherwise. And some general Observations on the Quantity Persons of different Nations and Conditions, have lived on, healthy, and to a great Age, may give some Assistance to
valetudinary
and
tender
Persons, to adjust the due
Quantity
necessary for them.
§ 5.
It is surprising, to what a great Age the
eastern Christians,
who retir'd from the Persecutions into the Desarts of
Egypt
and
Arabia,
lived healthful on a very little Food. We are inform'd by
Cassian,
that the common Measure in twenty four Hours, was about twelve Ounces or a Pound, (for the
eastern
Pound was but twelve Ounces) with mere Element for Drink. St.
Anthony
liv'd to 105 Years, on mere Bread and Water, adding only a few Herbs at last.
James
the
Hermit,
to 104.
Arsenius,
the Tutor of the Emperor
Arcadius,
to 120: 65 in the world, and 55 in the Desart. St.
Epiphanus,
to 115. St.
Jerome,
to about 100.
Simeon Stylites,
109. And
Romualdus,
120. And
Lewis Cornaro,
a
Venetian
Nobleman, after he had used all other Remedies in vain, so that his Life was despair'd of at 40, yet recover'd and liv'd, by the mere Force of his Temperance, near to 100 years.
§ 6.
Our Northern Climate, as I said from the Purity and Coldness of the Air, which bracing the Fibres, makes the
Appetite
keener, and the Action of Digestition stronger; and from the Labour and Strength of the People, which makes the Expences of living more, will necessarily require a greater Quantity of Food. Yet 'tis wonderful in what Sprightliness, Stength, Activity, and fredom of Spirits, a low Diet, even here, will preserve those that have habituated themselves to it.
Buchanan
informs us, of one
Laurence
who preserved himself to 140, by the mere Force of Temperance and Labour.
Spotswood
mentions one
Kentigern
(afterwards called St.
Mongah,
or
Mungo,
from whom the Famous Well in
Wales
is named) who lived to 185 Years, tho' after he came to the Years of Understanding, he never tasted Wine nor strong Drink; and slept on the cold Ground. My worthy Friend Mr.
Web,
is still alive. He by the Quickness of the Faculties of the Mind, and the Activity of the
Organs
of his Body, shews the great Benefit of a low Diet, living altogether on
vegetable
Food and pure
Element.
The History of the Milk
See an Essay on the
Gout
and
Bath
Waters.
Doctor of
Croydon,
who by living on Milk only, cured himself of an otherwise incurable Distemper,
viz.
the
Epilepsy,
and liv'd in perfect Health for sixteen Years after, till an
Accident
cut him off, I have already narrated in my Treatise of the Gout.
Henry Jenkins
a Fisherman, liv'd 169 Years, his Diet was
coarse
and
sower,
as his
Historian
informs us, that is, plain and cooling, and the Air where he lived sharp and clear,
viz. Allerton
upon
Swale
in
Yorkshire. Parr
died sixteen Years younger,
viz.
at the age of 152 Years, 9 Months; his Diet was old
Cheese, Milk, coarse Bread, small Beer,
and
Whey:
And his
Historian
tells us, he might have lived a good while longer, if he had not changed his Diet and Air, coming out of a clear, thin, free Air, into the thick Air of
London,
and after a constant, plain, and homely country Diet, being taken into a spendid Family, where he fed high, and drank plentifully of the best Wines, whereby the natural Functions of the Parts were overcharged, and the Habit of the whole Body quite disordered; upon which there could not but soon ensue a
Dissolution.
See Abr. of Philos. Transact. by
Lowth.
Dr.
Lister
mentions eight Persons in the
North
of
England,
the youngest of which was above 100 Years, and the eldest 140. He says, 'tis to be observed, that the Food of all this mountainous Country is exceedingly coarse. And certainly there is no Place in the World more likely to lengthen out Life than
England,
especially those Parts of it, that have a free open Air, and a gravelly and chalky Soil, if to due
Exercise, Abstemiousness,
and a plain simple
Diet
were added.
§. 7.
I have
See the Essay of the
Gout
and
Bath
Waters.
elsewhere offered to determine the
Quantity
of Food, sufficient to keep a Man of an Ordinary Stature, following no laborious Employment, in due
Plight, Health,
and Vigour; to wit, 8 Ounces of Flesh Meat, 12 of Bread, or vegetable Food, and about a Pint of Wine, or other generous Liquor in 24 Hours. But the
Valetudinary,
and those employed in
sedentary
Professions, or
intellectual
Studies, must lessen this
Quantity,
if they would preserve their Health, and the Freedom of their Spirits long.
Studious
and
sedentary
Men must of Necessity eat and drink a great deal less, than those very same Men might do, were they engaged in an
active
Life. For as they want that
Exercise
that is necessary towards
Concoction
and
Perspiration,
and that their
Nerves
are more worn out by
intellectual
Studies, than even bodily Labour would waste them; if, in any wise, they indulge
Freedom of Living,
their Juices must necessarily become viscid, and their
Stomachs
relaxed. He that would have a
clear
Head must have a
clean
Stomach. The Neglect of which is the Cause, why we see so many
hypochondriacal,
melancholy, and vapourish Gentlemen, among those of the
long Robe
; the only Remedy of which is
Labour
and
Abstinence.
§. 8.
Most of all the
chronical
Diseases, the
Infirmities
of old Age, and the
short
Periods of the Lives of
Englishmen,
are owing to
Repletion.
This is evident from hence; because
Evacuation
of one Kind or another is
nine
Parts of
ten
in their Remedy: For not only
Cupping, Bleeding, Blistering, Issues, Purging, Vomiting,
and
Sweating,
are manifest
Evacuations,
or Drains to draw out what has been superfluously taken down; but even
Abstinence, Exercise, Alteratives, Cordials, Bitters,
and
Alexipharmicks,
are but several means to dispose the gross Humours to be more readily evacuated by insensible
Perspiration
; that new and well concocted
Chyle,
and sweet comminuted Juices, may take their Place to restore the Habit. And therefore it were much more easy, as well as more safe and effectual, to prevent than incur the Necessity of such
Evacuations.
And any one may lose a
Pound
of Blood, take a
Purge,
or a
Sweat
; by dropping the great Meal, or abstaining from
animal
Food and
strong
Liquors, for four or five Days (in
chronical
Cases) as effectually as by opening a
Vein,
swallowing a Dose of
Pills,
or taking a sudorifick
Bolus.
§. 9.
I advise therefore all Gentlemen of a
sedentary Life,
and of
learned
Professions, to use as much
Abstinence
as possibly they can, consistent with the Preservation of their
Strength
and Freedom of
Spirits:
Which ought to be done as soon as they find any
Heaviness, Inquietudes,
restless Nights, or Aversion to Application; either by lessening one half of their usual Quantity of
animal
Food and
strong
Liqours, 'till such Time as they regain their wonted Freedom and Indolence; or by living a due Time wholly upon
vegetable
Diet, such as
Sago, Rice, Pudding,
and the like, and drinking only a little Wine and Water. And if they would preserve their
Health
and Constitution, and
lengthen
out their Days; they must either inviolably live low (or
maigre,
as the
French
call it) a Day or two in the Week; or once a Week, Fortnight, or Month at farthest, take some
domestick
Purge, which shall require neither
Diet,
nor keeping at
Home
; but may at once strengthen the Bowels, and discharge superfluous
Humours.
Of this Kind are a Dose (6 or 7) of the
Scotch
Pills; half a Dram of the
Pilulae Stomachicae cum Gummi,
with three or four Grains of
Diagryd,
mixt; half a Dram of the
Pilulae Ruffi
; two Ounces of
Hiera Piera,
with one Dram of the Syrup of
Buckthorn
; two or three Ounces of
Elixir Salutis
; or (what I prefer before all these) this Preparation of
Rhubarb:
Take the best
Rhubarb
in Powder two Ounces and a half; Salt of
Wormwood
a Dram;
Orange Peel
half an Ounce; grated
Nutmeg
two Scruples;
Cochineal,
half a Dram. Infusc 48 Hours by a warm Fire-side, in a Quart of true
Arrack.
Strain it off, and put it in a well corked Bottle for Use.
Of this two or three Spoonfuls may be taken, two or three Times a Week, or at Pleasure, with great Safety and Benefit, without Interruption of Business, or Studies, and continued even to mature old Age, if found necessary. So true is old
Verulam
's Aphorism:
Nothing contributes more to Health and Long Life, than frequent Family Purges.
Nihil magis conducit ad Sanitatem & Longaevitatem
quam crebrae & domesticae purgationes.
And the Gentlemen of the
long Robe,
those of
learned
Professions and
contemplative
Studies, must of Necessity at last take Sir
Charles Scarborough
's Advice, as 'tis said, to the Dutchess of
Portsmouth: You must eat less, or use more Exercise, or take Physick, or be sick.
§. 10.
Those who have written about
Health
have given many
Rules,
whereby to know when any Person has exceeded at a
Meal:
I think, there needs but this
short
one, which is; If any Man has eat or drank so much, as renders him unfit for the
Duties
and
Studies
of his Profession (after an Hour's sitting quiet to carry on the Digestion;) he has overdone. I mean only of those of
learned
Professions and
studious
Lives; for those of
mechanical
Employments must take the Body, the other Part of the
compound,
into Consideration. If
tender
People, and those of learned Professions would go by this
Rule,
there would be little Use for
Physick
or
Physicians
in
chronical
Cases. Or if they would but eat only one Part of
animal
Food, at the great Meal, and make the other two of
vegetable
Food; and drink only Water with a Spoonful of Wine, or clear small Beer; their Appetites would be a sufficient Rule to determine the Quantity of their Meat and Drink. But
Variety
of Dishes, the
luxurious
Artfulness of
Cookery,
and swallowing
rich Wine
after every Bit of Meat, so lengthen out the
Appetite
; the Fondness of Mothers, and the Cramming of Nurses have so stretched the Capacities of Receiving, that there is no Security from the
Appetite
among the better Sort. 'Tis amazing to think how Men of
Voluptuousness, Laziness,
and
poor Constitutions,
should imagine themselves able to carry off
Loads
of high-seasoned Foods, and inflammatory Liquors, without Injury or Pain; when Men of
mechanick
Employments, and
rubust Constitutions,
are scarcely able to live healthy and in Vigour to any great Age, on a simple, low, and almost
vegetable
Diet.
§. 11.
Since then our
Appetites
are deceitful, and
Weight
and
Measure
troublesome and singular; we must have Recourse to a
Rule
independent of our
Sensations,
and free from unnecessary Trouble and Pain. To answer which, I know nothing but Eating and Drinking by our
Eye.
that is, determining first of all either by
Weight
or
Measure,
or by particular Observation or
Experiment,
the Bulk, or Number of Mouthfuls of Flesh Meat, and the Number of Glasses of strong Liquors,
under
which we are best; and then by our
Eye
determining an equal Quantity at all Times for the future: Thus the two Wings of a middling
Pullet,
or one Wing and both Legs; three Ribs of a middling Neck of
Mutton,
two middling Slices of a Leg or Shoulder, throwing away the
Fat
and the
Skin
; somewhat less of
Beef,
may be sufficient for Flesh Meat, at the great Meal. For we are so wisely contrived, that our Food need not be adjusted to
mathematical
Points: A little over or under will make no Difference in our Health. As for
Pork,
and all Kinds of
Hog
's Flesh, I think they ought to be forbidden
valetudinary
and studious People, as they were the
Jews:
They feed the foulest of any Creature, and their Juices are the
rankest
; their Substance the most
surfeiting,
and they are the most subject to cutaneous Diseases and Putrefaction, of any Creature; insomuch, that in the Time of a
Plague,
or any
epidemical
Distemper, they are universally destroyed by all wise Nations, as the
Southern
People do mad Dogs in the hot Months. The same Censure I should pàss upon all
Fish.
Most
Fish
live in a
saltish
Element, and come only into
fresh Water
Rivers, for the Quietness and Conveniency of bringing forth their young ones. This makes their Parts more closely united and harder of Digestion. Besides, as I have before observed, they feed upon one another, and their
Juices
abound with a
Salt
that corrupts the
Blood,
and breeds
chronical
Diseases. And 'tis always observable, that those who live much on
Fish
are infected with the
Scurvy, cutaneous Eruptions,
and the other Diseases of a
foul
Blood. And every Body finds himself more thirsty and heavy than usual after a full Meal of
Fish,
let them be ever so fresh; and is generally forced to have Recourse to
Spirits
and distilled Liquors to carry them off: So that it is become a
Proverb,
among those that live much upon them, that
Brandy
is
Latin
for
Fish.
Besides, that after a full Meal of Fish, even at Noon, one never sleeps so sound the ensuing Night; as is certain from constant Observation. These few Hints may serve the
valetudinary
Person, in a gross Manner, to judge by the
Eye
the
Quantity
of solid Flesh Meat he takes or ought to take down: For I judge the mentioned Quantities to be rather a little under than over
eight Ounces.
As to
Broths, Soops,
and
Jellies,
if they be strong, I account them equal in
Nourishment
and harder to digest than the same Weight of solid Flesh Meat; and three or four common Spoonfuls, atmost, make an
Ounce
in Weight in Liquids; and about double the Number of Bits commonly swallowed at once make the same Weight in solid Flesh Meat; for Exactness is not here requisite.
§. 12.
Drink
is the other Part of our Food. The common
Drink
here in
England
is either Water, Malt-Liquor, or Wine, or Mixtures of these; for
Cyder
and
Perry
are drank but in few Places, and rather for Pleasure and Variety than common Use. Without all peradventure, Water was the primitive, original
Beverage,
as it is the only Simple
Fluid
(for there are but
three
more in Nature,
Mercury, Light,
and
Air,
none of which is fit for human
Drink
) fitted for
diluting, moistening
and
cooling
; the Ends of
Drink
appointed by
Nature.
And happy had it been for the
Race
of Mankind other
mixt
and
artificial
Liquors had never been invented. It has been an agreeable Appearance to me to observe, with what
Freshness
and
Vigour,
those who, tho' eating freely of
Flesh Meat,
yet drank nothing but this
Element,
have lived in
Health, Indolence,
and
Chearfulness,
to a great Age.
Water
alone is sufficient and effectual for all the Purposes of
human
Wants in
Drink.
Strong Liquors were never designed for common Use: They were formerly kept (here in
England
) as other Medicines are, in
Apothecaries Shops,
and prescribed by
Physicians,
as they do
Diascordium
and
Venice-Treacle
; to refresh the
Weary,
to strengthen the
Weak,
to give Courage to the
Faint-hearted,
and raise the
Lowspirited.
And it were as just and reasonable to see Men (and if they go on, it is not impossible I may hear of it, since
Laudanum
is already taken into
Feasts
and
Entertainments
) sit down to a Dish of
Venice-Treacle,
or Sir
Walter Rawleigh's Confection,
with a Bottle of
Hysterick Cordial,
as to a Dish of
Crawfish-Soop,
an
Ox-Cheek
or
VenisonPasty,
with a Bottle of
Hermitage,
or
Tockay,
or which some prefer to either of them, a Bowl of PUNCH.
Wine
is now become as common as
Water
; and the
better Sort
scarce ever dilute their Food with any other Liquor. And we see, by daily Experience, that (as natural Causes will always produce their proper Effects) their Blood becomes
inflammed
into
Gout, Stone,
and
Rheumamatism,
raging
Fevers, Pleurisies, Small Pox,
or
Measles
; their Passions are enraged into
Quarrels, Murder,
and
Blasphemy
; their Juices are dried up; and their Solids scorch'd and shrivel'd. Those whose Appetite and Digestion is good and entire, never want strong Liquors to supply
Spirits:
Such
Spirits
are too
volatile
and fugitive for any solid or useful Purposes in Life. Two Ounces of
Flesh Meat,
well digested, beget a greater Stock of more durable and useful
Spirits,
than ten Times as much
strong Liquors,
which nothing but
Luxury
and
Concupiscence
makes necessary. Happy those, whom their
Parents,
their natural Aversion to strong Liquors, or whom kind
Providence
among the
better Sort,
has brought to the Age of
Maturity
and
Discretion,
without dealing in or desiring any great
Quantity
of
strong Liquors:
Their
Passions
have been
calmer,
their
Sensations
more
exquisite,
their
Appetites
less
unruly,
and their
Health
more uninterrupted, than any other
natural Cause
could have produced. And thrice happy they, who continue this Course to their last Minutes. Nothing is more ridiculous than the common
Plea
for continuing in drinking on, large
Quantities
of
spirituous Liquors
;
viz.
Because they have been accustomed so to do, and they think it
dangerous
to leave it off, all of a sudden. It were as reasonable for him that is fallen into the
Fire
or
Water
to lie there, because of the Danger of removing him suddenly. For neither
Element
will destroy him more certainly, before his Time, than wallowing in
strong Liquors.
If the
Quantity
of strong Liquors they have been accustomed to, may be supposed prejudicial to their
Health,
or to introduce
noxious Humours
into the
Habit
; the sooner a Stop be put to it, the better. No Man is afraid to forbear
strong Liquors
in an
acute
Distemper, what
Quantity
soever he might have drank in his Health: And yet any sudden Change of the
Humours
would not only be more
dangerous
then, than at any other Time; but also would more readily happen and come to pass, in such critical Cases. For the whole
System
of the
Fluids,
being in a
Fermentation,
small Changes or Errors then, would not only be more fatal, but more plain and obvious. And if a Person be in Hazard by such a
sudden
Alteration, he cannot live long by taking down so much
Poison.
But the Matter of
Fact
is false and groundless. For I have known and observed constant good Effects from leaving off suddenly great Quantities of
Wine
and
Flesh Meats
too, by those long accustomed to both, am ready to name the Persons, and never observed any ill Consequence from it in any Case whatsoever. Those whose Constitutions have been
quite broken,
and running into
Dissolution,
have lived longer, and been less pained in Sickness by so doing: And those who have had a
Fund
in Nature to last longer, have grown better, and attained their
End
by it. I allow every Man, that has been accustomed to drink
Wine,
or
strong Liquors,
a Pint in 24 Hours: And I am well satisfied, that
Quantity
is sufficient for
Health,
let their Custom have been what it will. Their
Spirits
may indeed
flag
and
sink
a little at first, for Want of introduced
Quicklime
and
Fire.
But
Low-spiritedness,
in such a Case, I count no
Disease.
And bearing it for some Time, is bountifully recompenced by the
Health, Indolence,
and
Freedom of Spirits,
they afterwards enjoy: Not taking into Consideration their being rescued from the Tyranny of so
immoral
and mischievous a
Habit.
It may be sufficient for those who are tender, studious, or contemplative, to drink three Glasses of Water with a Spoonful of Wine at the
great Meal.
And as Sir
W. Temple
has it, One for your
self,
another for your
Friends,
a third for
good Humour,
and a fourth for
your Enemies,
are more than sufficient after it.
§. 13.
A great Mistake committed in this Affair is, that most People think the only
Remedy
for
Gluttony
is
Drunkenness,
or that the Cure of a
Surfeit
of
Meat
is a
Surfeit
of
Wine:
Than which nothing can be more false, or contrary to Nature; for,
'tis lighting,
as the Saying is,
the Candle at both Ends.
For, first of all,
Wine
and all other strong Liquors are as hard to digest, and require as much
Labour
of the
concoctive
Powers, as
strong Food
itself. This is not only evident with Respect to People of
weak Stomachs,
but also from hence, that healthy People who drink only
Water,
or weak
small Beer,
shall be able to eat and digest almost double of what they could, did they drink
strong Liquors
at their
Meals,
as every one that pleases may
experience. Water
is the only universal Dissolvent or
Menstruum,
and the most certain Diluter of all Bodies proper for Food; tho' there are a great many that
spirituous Liquors
not only will not dissolve, but will
harden,
and make more
undigestible
; especially the
Salts
of Bodies, wherein their
active Qualities,
that is, those which can do most
Harm
to
human Constitutions,
consist. And I have known Men of
weak
and
tender Constitutions,
who could neither eat nor digest upon drinking of
Wine,
who, by drinking at Meals common
Water
heated, have recovered their
Appetites
and
Digestion,
have thriven and grown plump. 'Tis true
strong Liquors,
by their
Heat
and
Stimulation
on the
Organs
of Concoction, by encreasing the
Velocity
of the Motion of the
Fluids,
and thereby quickening the other
animal Functions,
will carry off the Load that lies upon the
Stomach,
with more present Chearfulness: Yet, besides the future Damages of such a
Quantity
of
Wine,
to the
Stomach
and to the
Fluids,
by its Heat and
Inflammation,
the
Food
is hurried into the Habit,
unconcocted,
and lays a
Foundation
for a
Fever,
a Fit of the
Cholick,
or some
chronical
Disease.
§. 14.
Another
Mistake
I shall observe, is the extreme Fondness Persons of the
better Sort
here in
England,
have lately run into, for the strong and
high Country Wines.
I can think of no Reason for this, but the very honest one the
Vulgar
give for drinking
Brandy:
that they get sooner drunk on it. For surely the middling lighter Wines,
inflame
the
animal
Juices less, go more easily off the
Stomach,
and afford more Room for long
Conversation
and Chearfulness.
Excess
in them, gives less Pain, and is sooner remedied. But there are Degrees in this Matter.
No Body becomes extremely bad all at once.
Nemo repente fuit turpissimus.
They begin with the weaker Wines; these by
Use
and
Habit
will not do, they leave the
Stomach
sick and
mawkish,
they must fly to stronger Wine, and stronger still, and run the
Rise higher by Degrees.
Climax,
through
Brandy
to
Barbadoes Waters,
and double distill'd Spirits, 'till at last they can find nothing
hot enough for them. People who have any Regard for their
Health
or
Lives,
ought to tremble at the first
Cravings,
for such poysonous Liquors.
Strong Waters
should never be taken but by the
Direction
of a
Physician,
or in the
Agonies
of
Death.
For when Persons arrive at that State, that they become necessary to their
Ease
and
Freedom
of Spirits; they may be justly reckoned among the
Dead,
both as to the short Time they have to live, and the little Use they can be of either to themselves or Mankind. I speak not here of those who are under an actual
Fit
of the
Gout,
or
Cholick
in the
Stomach.
(
We must not die for fear of dying.
) Nor am I recommending
sour Verjuice
or
unripe Wines.
But I cannot help being well satisfied, both from
Reason
and
Experience,
that the
light Wines,
of a
moderate Strength,
due
Age
and full
Maturity,
are much preferable for
Chearfulness
and
Conversation,
much more wholsome for human
Constitutions,
and much more proper for
Digestion
than the hot and strong Wines. The rich, strong, and heavy Wines ought never to be tasted without a sufficient Dilution of Water; at least they should be used, like Brandy or Spirits, for a Cordial
i. e.
At most to take but three small Glasses of such.
.
Ad summum tria pocula sume.
Whatsoever is more cometh of
Sin,
and must be diluted with the Waters of
Repentance.
§. 15.
I have no Intention here to discourage the innocent Means of
enlivening
Conversation, promoting
Friendship,
comforting the
sorrowful
Heart, and raising the
drooping
Spirits, by the
cheerful Cup
and the
social Repast.
Perhaps I may like the harmless
Frolick,
the
warm Reception
of a Friend, and even the
Horat. i. e.
An agreeable Frolick or Extravagance.
Dulce Furere
itself, more than I ought: Persons sober in the main, will receive little Prejudice from such a
Fillip,
when the Occasions happen but seldom, and especially when they make it up, by a greater Degree of
Abstinence
afterwards. But a
Sot
is the lowest Character in Life. Did only the
Profligate,
the
Scoundrel,
the
Abandon'd,
run into these Excesses, it were in vain to endeavour to reclaim them, as it were, to stop a
Tempest,
or calm a
Storm.
But now that the
Vice
is become
Epidemical,
since it has got not only among
Mechanicks
and
Tradesmen,
but among Persons of the brightest
Genius,
the finest
Taste,
and the most accomplish'd
Parts
; and (oh that I could give my Conscience the
Lye,
in mentioning them!) even among the
first
and
least
fallen Part of the
Creation
itself, and those of them too, of the most elegant
Parts,
and the strictest
Virtue
otherwise; and which is still the most surprising of all, even those too, who are in all other Respects blameless. Since I say the Case is so, it will not be amiss to shew, to the Evidence of a
Demonstration,
the Folly as well as the Fruitlessness of such a Course. A Fit of the
Colick,
or of the
Vapours,
a
FamilyMisfortune,
a
casual Disappointment,
the
Death
of a
Child,
or of a
Friend,
with the Assistance of the
Nurse,
the
Midwife,
and the next
Neighbour,
often give
Rise
and become the weighty Causes of so fatal an Effect. A little
Lowness
requires
Drops,
which pass readily down under the Notion of
Physick
;
Drops
beget
Drams,
and
Drams
beget more
Drams,
'till they come to be without Weight and without Measure; so that at last the miserable Creature suffers a true.
Martyrdom,
between its natural
Modesty,
the great Necessity of concealing its Cravings, and the still greater one of getting them satisfied
some how.
Higher and more severe Fits of
Hystericks, Tremors,
and
Convulsions,
begot by these, bring forth farther
Necessity,
upon
Necessity,
of
Drops, Drams,
and
Gills,
'till at last a kind
Dropsy, nervous Convulsions,
a
nervous Atrophy,
or a
colloquative Diarrhaea,
if not a
Fever,
or a
Frenzy,
set the
poor Soul
free. It has very often raised in me the most melancholy
Reflexions,
to see even the
Virtuous,
and the
Sensible,
bound in such Chains and Fetters, as nothing less than
omnipotent Grace,
or the
unrelenting Grave
could release them: They were deaf to
Reason
and
Medicine,
to their own
Experience,
and even to the express Words of
Scripture,
that says, the
Drunkard shall not inherit the Kingdom of Heaven.
Did this bewitching
Poison
actually cure or relieve them, from Time to Time; something might be said to extenuate the
Folly
and
Frenzy
of such a Course. But, on the contrary, it heightens and enrages all their Symptoms and
Sufferings,
ever afterwards, excepting the few Moments immediately after taking it down; and every
Dram
begets the Necessity of two more, to cure the ill
Effects
of the
first
; and one Minutes Indolence they purchase with many Hours of greater
Pain
and
Misery
; besides the making the
Malady,
more incurable.
Low-spiritedness
in itself is no Disease; besides that there are
Remedies
in
Art
that will always relieve it, so long as there is any
Oil
remaining in the
Lamp
; and 'tis in vain to try to raise the
Dead. Exercise, Abstinence,
and proper
Evacuations,
with
Time
and
Patience,
will continually make it
tolerable,
very often they will persectly cure it. The running into
Drams
is giving up the whole at once; for neither
Laudanum
nor
Arsenick
will kill more certainly, although more quickly. The Pretence of its being
Physick,
or a present
Remedy,
is trifling.
Cordials
of any Kind, even out of the
Apothecaries
Shops, are but
Reprieves
for a Time, to gain a
Respite,
'till proper and extirpating
Remedies
can take Place; and are never to be used twice, the one immediately after the other, but in the last Necessity. And I can honestly say, I never failed of relieving, so as to make Life
tolerable, vapourish, hysterical,
or
hypochondriacal
Persons, who would be governed in their
Diet,
by the Use of other proper
Means,
if their was a
Fund
in
Life,
and no
incurable
Disease, complicated with
Lowness.
Thus much the
Weight
of the Subject forced from one: more than this, its
Disagreeableness
hinders me to say.
§. 16.
Next to
Drams,
no Liquor deserves more to be stigmatized and banished the Repasts of the
Tender, Valetudinary,
and
Studious,
than PUNCH. 'Tis a Composition of such Parts, as not one of them is
salutary,
or kindly to such
Constitutions,
except the pure Element in it. The principal
Ingredient
is
Rum, Arrack, Brandy,
or
Malt Spirits,
as they are called, all of them raised by the
Fire,
from the
fermented Juices
of Plants, brought from
Southern
Countries, or which have longest born the
Heat
of the
Sun
in our own
Climate:
And 'tis observable, that every Thing that has past the
Fire,
so that it has had due Time to divide and penetrate its Parts, as far as it possibly can, retains a
caustick, corrosive,
and burning
Quality
ever afterwards. This is evident from the
fiery
and
burning Touch
and
Taste
of new-drawn
Spirits,
as also from the
burning
of
Lime-stone,
which, tho' extinguish'd by Boiling Water, does ever after retain its heating and drying
Quality,
as appears from the great Use of
Lime-Water,
in drying up all
humid
Sores, when given inwardly by itself, or compounded with
sudorific
Woods and Roots, and from its
Success
in outward Applications for the same Purposes. And tho' Time may in some Measure get the better of this, in its sensible and obvious Operations; yet since
Water
is a grosser Body than
Fire,
or
Flame,
it never can penetrate it so far as quite to extinguish its inmost
Heat
; especially if we consider, that
Spirits
are but an
Accumulation
of fine
Salts
and light
Oil,
compacted together into the smallest
Volume
; the
first
whereof is so hard and solid, as naturally to retain their Heat the longest, into which
Water
cannot enter; the other,
to wit
the
Oyle,
is so inflamable, that it most readily receives
Heat
and
Fire,
and defends the
Salts
from the Power of the
Water
over them. And in the continued
Distillation
of Spirits, this Action of the
Fire
is so strong, as to reduce them to liquid
Flames
at last, which will of themselves evaporate in visible
Flames
and
Fumes.
The other principal Part of the
Composition
is the
Juice of Oranges
and
Lemons.
And if we consider, that a
Lemon
or
Orange
could never be transported
half Seas
over to us, without rotting or spoiling, if gathered when wholly
ripe,
we should have no great Opinion of their
Juices.
Every
Spanish
or
Portugal
Merchant can inform us, that they must be gathered
green,
or at least a
Month
before they are
ripe,
else they are not fit to be sent beyond the
Seas.
The
Sea-Air,
and their being shut up
close,
gives them that
golden yellow Colour,
we so much admire. The
Juice
of a
Crab Apple,
of
unripe Grapes,
or
Goose-berries,
or even
good Juice
of
Sorrel,
would come up at least to their Virtue of extinguishing the Heat of
Spirits,
if not to their
Flavour.
And how kindly a
Guest
such
Juices
would be to the
fine Fibres
of weak
Stomachs
and
Bowels,
I leave every one to judge. The Truth is, all
fermenting
Juices, such as these
eminently
are, must be highly injurious to
weak Constitutions
; for meeting with the
Crudities
in the
Bowels,
they must raise a new
Battle
and
Colluctation
there, and so must blow up the whole
Cavities
of the
human
Body, with acrid
Fumes
and
Vapours,
the great and sore Enemy of such Bowels. And in the
West Indies,
where from the Necessity of drinking much, because of the Violence of the
Heat,
and from the Want of proper
Liquors
there, they are forced to drink much
PUNCH,
tho'
Lemons
and
Oranges
be in their full Perfection, they are universally afflicted with
Nervous
and
Mortal dry-Belly-aches, Palsies,
Cramps,
and
Convulsions
; which cut them off in a few Days, entirely owing to this
poisonous
Mixture.
The
Bath-Water,
is the only
Remedy
in such Cases, whither they all hasten, if they can get thither
alive.
And here I have been inform'd of this
Fact,
by Men of the
Profession,
as well as their
Patients,
who universally ascrib'd them to their drinking of
PUNCH
and
Spirituous Liquors.
If
Acids
must be had, without all peradventure, the
Vinous
ones, are the best and safest. The
Romans,
tho' they had the vegetable
Acids
in perfection, made very little Use of them but in
Cookery,
where the
Quantity
of the
Poison
was so small, as not to do sufficient Harm, to forbid their using them for the Sake of the exquisite Relish they gave their
Sauces
; and the constant Drink of the lower
Souldiery,
was
Vinegar
and
Water,
which they found of excellent Use, both as it prevented
Fevers, Plagues
and
Putrefaction,
and also as it gave an
Energy
to the unactive
Element,
and hindered it from
lodging
in the Body. Hence also the great Use of
Oxymel
and
Oxycrate,
(that is, of
Vinegar
with
Honey
and with
Water
) among all the antient
Physicians.
And indeed, whenever they prescrib'd an
Acid,
they very prudently join'd a Corrective with it, both to promote its
good,
and to prevent it's
bad
Effects. The two remaining
Ingredients,
are
Sugar
and
Water
; and these I will give up to the
PunchDrinkers,
and allow them all the Benefit of them, they can bring to this
Composition:
Yet it will still have
Malignity
sufficient remaining, to be held in Detestation, (at least for any great
Use,
or in any great
Quantity,
for some
Poisons
are so only by their
Quantity
) by those
tender
and
valetudinary
Persons, who value
Health
and
Life.
The
Strong,
the
Voluptuous,
and the
Abandoned,
need no
Advice,
at least they will take none. I could never see any Temptation, for any one in their Senses, to indulge in this
Heathenish
Liquor, but that it makes it's Votaries the soonest, and all of a sudden the deepest
Drunk,
holds them longest in the Fit, and deprives them the most entirely of the Use of their
Intellectual Faculties, and Bodily Organs,
of any Liquor whatsoever. It is likest
Opium,
both in it's Nature, and in the Manner of its Operation, and nearest
Arsenick
in it's
deleterious
and
poisonous
Qualities: And so I leave it to them,
Who knowing this, will yet drink on and die.
§ 17.
As to Malt Liquors, they are not much in Use, excepting
small Beer,
with any but
Mechanicks
and
Fox-hunters.
The
French
very justly call them
Barley-Soop.
I am well satisfied, a
weak Stomach
can as readily and with less pain, digest
Pork,
and
Pease-Soop,
as
Yorkshire
or
Nottingham
Ale. They make excellent
Birdlime,
and when
simmer'd
some time over a gentle Fire, make the most sticking, and the best
Plaister,
for
old Strains
that can be contriv'd. Even the
small-Beer
that is commonly drank at
London,
if it be not
well Boiled,
very
Clear,
and of a
due Age,
must be hurtful to Persons of
weak Nerves,
and
slow Digestion.
For
fermenting
again in the
alimentary
Channels, it will fill the whole
Cavities
of the Body with Windy
Fumes
and
Vapours,
which will at Length play odd
Pranks
in a
crasy
Constitution. In Fine, the
Valetudinary, Studious,
and
Contemplative,
must be contented with a
Pint
of
middling, light
Wine a Day, one half with, and the other without Water.
§ 18.
Since the Time
foreign Luxury
has been brought to it's Perfection here, there are a kind of Liquors in Use among the better Sort, which some great
Doctors
have Condemn'd, by
Bell, Book,
and
Candle,
and others have as extravagantly commended: I mean,
Coffee, Tea,
and
Chocolate.
For my own Part, I take all their
Virtue
to consist in
Custom,
and all their
Harm
in
Excess.
As to
Coffee,
it is a meer
Calx,
or a Kind of burnt
Horse Bean,
but lighter on the Stomach, and of somewhat a better Flavour. The
Turks
use
it,
and
Opium
instead of
Brandy.
But the Plea that some make for running into Excess in it, from this
Mahometan
Custom, is altogether weak and groundless; for those that do so there, suffer by it, as we do here: And those that Debauch in it, turn
Stupid, Feeble,
and
Paralitick
by it, especially when they join
Opium
with it, as they frequently do, as those who wallow in these, do here, and are as much Despis'd and Expos'd by serious Persons, as our
Topers
and
Brandy-swillers
are here. A Dish or two of
Coffee,
with a little
Milk
to soften it, in raw or damp Weather, or on a
Waterish
and
Flegmatick
Stomach, is not only innocent, but a present
Relief.
But 'tis as ridiculous, and perhaps more hurtful, at least in thin and
dry
Habits, to dabble in it two or three Times every Day, as it would be for such to drink nothing but scalding
Lime-Water.
There are two Kinds of
Tea
in Use,
Green
and
Bohea.
Mr.
Cuningham,
who liv'd several Years in
China,
a very
learned
and
accurate
Person
Vide Phil. Collect.
informs us, that they are both gathered from the same Shrub, but at different Seasons of the Year; and that the
Bohea
is Gather'd in the Spring, and is dried in the
Sun,
the
Green
at the
Fire.
But I suspect, and not without Authority, that, besides these Differences in drying, some
Infusion
of another Plant or Earth (perhaps such a one as that of
Japan Earth,
or
Catechu
) must be poured on some sorts of
Bohea Tea,
to give it the
Softness, Flavour,
and
Heaviness
on the Stomach it has, whereby it becomes a meer
Drug,
and wants the natural
Simplicity
of
Green Tea,
which when light, and drank neither too Strong nor too Hot, I take to be a very proper
Diluent,
when soften'd with a little Milk, to cleanse the
alimentary
Passages, and wash off the
Scorbutick
and
Urinous Salts,
for a Breakfast, to those who live full and free; as also it, or
Tea
made of a slic'd
Orange
or
Lemon,
is one of the best promoters of
Digestion
after a full Meal, or when one is adry between Meals, and much more safe and effectual than
Drams
or strong
Cordials,
which are commonly used for that Purpose. Some Persons of weak tender
Nerves,
fall into
Lowness
and
Trembling
upon using either of these Liquors with any Freedom, from their too great
Quantity,
or their
Irritation
on the tender, and delicate
Fibres
of the Stomach. Such ought carefully to avoid and abstain from them, as from
Drams
and
Drops.
But I can never be of their Opinion who ascribe the Frequency of
Scurvy, Vapours, Lowspiritedness,
and
nervous
Distempers now, to what they were in the Days of our
Forefathers,
to the Custom of Drinking more frequently and freely of these
foreign Infusions.
The Cause is not
adequate
to the Effect; nor indeed has any
Analogy
to, or
Connexion
with it. We know that warm Water, will most of any Thing promote and assist
Digestion
in weak Stomachs and tender
Nerves.
And by this alone I have seen several such Persons recover to a Miracle, when
cold Mineral
Waters,
Bitters, Cordials
and
Drams,
have done rather Hurt than Good. And
Tea
is but an
Infusion
in Water of an
innocent
Plant:
Innocent,
I say, because we find by its Taste it has neither
poisonous, deleterious
nor
acrimonious
Qualities; and we are certain from it's Use in the Countries it comes from, (which are larger than most of
Europe
) that they receive no Damage from it, but on the contrary, that it promotes both
Digestion
and
Perspiration.
The Argument from its
relaxing
the Coats of the Stomach and Bowels by its
Heat,
is of no force. For unless it be drunk much hotter than the Blood itself, it can do no hurt that way: And we see the
Bath
Guides, who dabble in Water almost as
hot
as
Tea
is ever drunk, a great Part of the Day, and for one half of the Year at least, are no ways injured by it; except when they drink
strong Liquors,
too freely to quench the Thirst it raises. However, I should advise those who drink
Tea
plentifully, not to drink it much
hotter
than
bloodwarm
; whereby they will receive all its
Benefit,
and be secure against all the Harm it can possibly do. As to
Chocolate,
I am of opinion, it is too hot and heavy, for
valetudinary
Persons; and those of weak
Nerves.
I have before observed, that
Nuts
pass through the
alimentary
Passages untouched; and tho' they may part with some of their more
volatile
Particles, yet, I doubt if they can afford much nourishment to Persons of
weak Digestions.
Some say,
Chocolate
gives them an Appetite; the meaning of which may be, that when they have a good Appetite for their
Breakfast
; it is not unlikely it may continue all the Day: But I am of opinion, 'tis a
false
and
hysterical Appetite,
such as sharp Wines, and sharp Humours in the Stomach give. For
fat
and
oily
Things, such as all Nuts are, are hard to digest, and lie long in the Stomach, for reasons I have already explain'd: It may lubricate and sheath against the
Irritation
of
salt
and
sharp Humours
in the Bowels, and therefore may be good in the
Colicks
and
Gravel
of those of strong and stout Digestion; but can never be good Food for those of
weak Nerves
and
poor Constitutions.
Nothing is so light and easy to the Stomach, most certainly, as the
Farinaceous
or mealy
Vegetables
; such as
Pease, Beans, Millet, Oats, Barly, Rye, Wheat, Sago, Rice, Potatoes,
and the like; of some of which on
Milk
or
Water,
I should ever advise the
Valetudinary,
and those of
weak Nerves,
to make their two
lesser
or
secondary
Meals.
Tobacco
is another
foreign Weed,
much in use here in
Britain
; though not among the
best,
yet among the
middle
and inferiour Ranks of the People: For those of gross and
Phlegmatick
Constitutions, who abound in
serous
and watry Humours, who are subject to
Coughs, Catarrhs,
and
asthmatick
Indispositions; who labour under violent
Tooth-achs,
or are troubled with
Rheums
in their
Eyes
; who have cold and
waterish
Stomachs, and live fully and freely, both
Smoaking
and
Chewing
is a very beneficial Evacuation, drawing off
superfluous
Humours,
Crudities,
and cold
Phlegm,
provided they carefully avoid swallowing the
Smoak,
or the
Juice
; and drink nothing, but rinse their Mouths with some watry Liquor after it, and spit it out. But to
thin, meagre,
and
hectick
Constitutions, it is highly pernicious, and destructive; heating their Blood, drying their Solids, and defrauding the Food of that
Saliva,
which is so absolutely necessary towards
Concoction. Snuffing
the Leaves, or the grosser
Cut
in a Morning, will readily promote a
Flux
of
Rheum
by the Glands of the Nose; and will be of good use, to clear the
Head
and the
Eyes.
But the ridiculous Custom, of perpetually sucking in
sophisticated
Powders, and other Foreign
Drugs
sold for
Snuff,
cannot but be prejudicial both to the
Eyes,
and even to the
Stomach
; at least, if we believe the Reports of those who say they have brought it up from thence.
§. 19.
I have endeavour'd to assist the
Reader,
with some
Observations
and
Reflexions,
to enable him towards determining the
Quantity
and
Quality
of his
solid Food,
necessary either to prevent or cure
chronical
Distempers. It may not be amiss, here to make some Reflexions also on the fit Proportion of
Drink
proper for that purpose: As the
Food
is, so must
that
be, various and uncertain, with regard to the
Age, Size, Labour,
and
Constitution
of the Person, and the
Season
of the Year. I have offer'd to limit the
Quantity
of strong Liquors, fittest to preserve Health and lengthen out Life in general, to a
Pound
or
Pint,
and that of the
middling
Kind. But the
Sickly,
the
Aged,
and those who would cure a
chronical
Distemper, must even abate of
this
Quantity. The only remaining Question, is about the Quantity of
Water,
or watry Liquors, proper to be mix'd with this
strong
Liquor, or drunk by itself: For in this also, though in itself harmless and innocent, yet there is a
Choice
and Preference; because, too much Water will only serve to
distend
and
swell
up the Vessels, and wash off some of the finer and more nutritious parts of the
Chyle
; and too little, will not be sufficient to dilute the
solid Food,
or to make the Chyle
thin
and
fluid
enough, to circulate through the
fine
and
small
Vessels. I will suppose my
Patient
to deal in no other
Cookery,
but
Roasting
and
Boiling
; and that he eats only
fresh
Meat.
Boiling animal
Food, draws more of the
rank, strong,
Juices from it, and leaves it less
nutritive,
more
diluted, lighter
and
easier
of Digestion.
Roasting
on the other hand, leaves it fuller of the
strong
nutritive Juices,
harder
to digest, and wanting more
Dilution:
Those therefore, who must have full grown and
adult animal
Food, ought to eat it boiled, and
well
boiled too; if their Digestion be but weak. They who can live on
young
animal Food, (which is best for weak Stomachs,) ought to eat it
roasted,
but must lessen the Quantity, in respect of the same Food
boiled
; but they must dilute it more: For as
roast
Meat has a better Flavour, and more Nourishment, so it lies less
flabby
on the Stomach, and does not so readily
slip
from, or disappoint the
Action
of
Grinding,
which has some share in
Digestions,
both
primary
and
subsequent:
But it will want more
Dilution,
with a watry
Menstruum,
to soften its more
rigid
and
crisp
Fibres. If therefore, the whole Weight of the solid Food, in twenty four Hours, be supposed a
Pound
and a
Half,
then
three Pounds
of Liquor, that is, one of strong Liquor, and two of some aqueous Fluid, will in a Medium, be sufficient to dilute it abundantly. For thus there will be two Particles of a Fluid, to one solid Particle; which abating the solid Parts thrown off by
Siege,
will suffice to make the
Chyle
abundantly thin, to circulate through all the
fine
Channels, whose
Diameters
are
larger
than
that
of the solid Particle, the principal End of its
Thinness
and
Fluidity.
More than this, would but
distend
the Vessels, and carry off the
finer
Parts of the
Chyle
by
Water
or
Perspiration
; for we constantly find
both these
encreased by an
overdose
of Fluids: And less would not sufficiently dilute their Food. I should advise those therefore, who have
weak
Stomachs, or
relaxed Nerves,
to mix their Wine with the above-named quantity of boiled Water, with a burnt Crust, at least
Blood-warm,
and to drink it after their Meal is over, if they can do it with ease, rather than in the Time of Eating: For the more
spirituous
and most nourishing Parts of the Food, will readily run off, without much
Dilution
; and it will be the
grosser
and
harder
remaining Part, that will want it most. And if some time after their great Meal, they find their Stomach
loaded,
the Food rising,
hard Belching,
Heart-burning,
or much
Yawning,
to swill down and dilute it with milk-warm, light
Green Tea,
or warm Water, rather than to run to
Drams
and
Cordials,
the usual, but most pernicious
Antidote
in such Cases. And upon great and heavy
Oppression,
much trouble and great struggle in the Digestion, to have recourse to
Carduus
or
Camomile-Flower Tea,
to bring it up, rather than to trespass in these
poisonous
and
caustick
Liquors; which, though they may at present lessen the suffering, and hurry on the
firstConcoction
; yet make them dearly pay for it, when the
unconcocted
load of
Crudities
comes to pass by
Siege
or
Perspiration,
either in
Colicks, Gripes, Vapours,
and
Oppression
of Spirits; or by a general
Disability
and
Rheumatick
Stitches and Pains.
§. 20.
Upon the Head of
Cordials
mentioned in one of the foregoing
Articles,
I cannot forbear setting down
one,
whose Virtues and Efficacy I have long tried, and have never found it fail, when any thing would succeed: And I recommend it (to be kept by them) to all
those,
who are liable to
low Spirits, Faintings, Oppressions, Sickness
at the Stomach,
Head-achs,
and
Vapours
; and also to those who wanting to exert themselves in any business of consequence, need a
Flow of Spirits
for some short time, for that purpose; or indeed upon any sudden accident arising of its own accord, out of the Habit itself; I think it a kind of an
universal Remedy,
but never to be used, but upon such occasions; because, Use may weaken it, if not extinguish its Vertue. 'Tis thus,
Take of simple
Chamomile-Flower Water,
six Ounces;
Compound Gentian,
and
Wormwood Waters,
each an Ounce and a Half; Compound Spirit of
Lavender, sal Volatile, Tincture of Castor,
and
Gum Ammoniack
dissolved in some simple Water, each two Drams; Tincture of
Snakeweed,
and Tincture of the
Species Diambrae,
each a Dram; the
Chymical Oils
of
Lavender, Juniper,
and
Nutmeg,
each ten Drops, mixed with a Bit of the Yolk of an Egg, to make the whole uniform;
Assafetida
and
Camphire
in a Rag, each half a Dram: But these may be left out by those to whom they are disagreeable.
Two, three or four Spoonfuls of this is a present Help in such Cases. It will keep six Months good.
General Rules for Health and Long Life, drawn from the Head of MEAT and DRINK.
1. THE great
Rule
of Eating and Drinking for
Health,
is to adjust the
Quality
and
Quantity
of our Food to our
digestive
Powers. The
Quality
may be judged by the following
Rules.
2. Those
Substances
that consist of the
grossest
Parts are hardest of
Digestion
; the constituent
Particles
coming into more
Contacts,
and consequently adhering more firmly.
3. These
Substances
whose Parts are brought together with the greatest
Force,
cohere proportionably closer, than those that come together with a smaller
i. e.
Force.
Momentum.
4.
Salts
are very hard to be separated, because united by plain
Surfaces,
under which they are always comprehended. And in the last Stages of the
Circulation,
where it is slower,
shoot
readily into larger
Clusters,
and so are harder to be driven out of the
Habit.
From these we may easily infer, that (1.) Those
Vegetables
and
Animals
that come soonest to their full
Growth
are easier of Digestion, than those that are longer of attaining the State of
Maturity.
(2.) Those that are the
smallest
of their Kind, than the
biggest.
(3.) Those of a
dry, fleshy
and
fibrous Substance,
than the
oily, fat,
and
glutinous.
(4.) Those of a
white
Substance, than those of a more
flaming
Colour. (5.) Those of a
mild, soft,
and
sweet,
than those of a
strong, poignant, aromatical,
or
hot
Taste. (6.)
Land-Animals,
than
Sea-Animals.
(7.) Those
Animals
that live on
Vegetables,
or other
light
Food, than those that live on other
Animals,
or hard and
heavy
Food. (8.) The Nourishment Nature has appointed for young
Animals,
is lighter than the Flesh of these
Animals
themselves.
5. All
cramm'd
Poultry and
stall-fed
Cattle, and even
Vegetables
forced by hot Beds, tend more to
Putrefaction,
and consequently are more unfit for
human
Food, than those brought up in the natural Manner.
6.
Plain-dressed
Food is easier of Digestion, than what is
pickled, salted, baked, smoaked,
or any Way
high-seasoned.
7.
Strong
Men, those of
large
Stature, and much
Labour,
and the Inhabitants of a
cold
and clear Air, require
more
Food than
Women, Children,
the
Weak,
the
Sedentary,
and the
Aged,
and those that live in a
warmer
Climate, or
grosser Air.
8. Nothing conduces more to
Health
and
Long Life,
than
Abstinence
and
plain
Food, with due
Labour.
9. Where
Exercise
is wanting (as in
studious
Persons) there is the greater Need of
Abstinence
; for these, 8
Ounces
of
animal,
and 12 of
vegetable
Food, in 24 Hours, is sufficient.
10. Most
chronical
Diseases proceed from
Repletion
; as appears from their being cured by
Evacuation.
11.
Tender
Persons ought to use as much
Abstinence,
as they possibly can: And, if they neglect it, their only Relief is from frequent
stomachick
and
Family-Purges.
12. A
plain
Rule for judging of the
Quantity
is, not to eat so much as indisposes for
Business.
13. A more
sensible
and
readier
one is, first by
Experience
to find out how much fits one, so as to be
lightsome
and
healthy
under it, and ever after to judge the
Quantity
by the
Eye
;
Nature
requiring therein no
mathematical
Exactness.
14.
Pork
and
Fish
are not fit Food for the
Studious
and the
Tender.
15.
Water
is the most natural and wholesome of all
Drinks,
quickens the Appetite, and strengthens the
Digestion
most.
16.
Strong
and
spirituous
Liquors freely indulged, become a certain tho' a slow
Poison.
17. There is no Danger in leaving them off all at
once
; the
Plea
for continuing them being false and groundless.
18. The best
strong Liquor
for
weak
and
studious
People is
Wine
; the best
Quantity,
a
Pint
in 24 Hours; and the best Way of drinking it is, three Glasses
with,
and three
without Water.
19. The
middling, light
Wines,
fully ripe,
and of a
due Age,
are preferable to the
strong Wines.
20. Strong Liquors do not prevent the Mischiefs of a
Surfeit,
nor carry it off, so safely as
Water,
tho' they seem to give present
Relief.
21. The frequent
Use
of
Spirits
in
Drams
and
Cordials,
is so far from curing
Low-spiritedness,
that it increases it, and brings on more
fatal
Disorders.
22. And even when they are diluted with Water, in PUNCH, the Quantity taken down at once, and the Addition of a corroding
Acid,
produce equally
pernicious
Effects in human Constitutions.
23.
Malt Liquors
(excepting clear small Beer, of a due Age) are extremely hurtful to
tender
and
studious
Persons.
24.
Coffee
is only an
Infusion
of a kind of
Calx,
and has the Effects of an
absorbent
Medicine; and so may be of some Service to
watry Stomachs,
if
moderately
used.
25.
Green Tea
is a good
Diluter
of the Food, as it is an agreeable,
warm, small
Liquor: But
Bohea
is too
heavy
for the
Stomach.
26.
Chocolate
(as all Nuts else) is so
heavy
and
hard
of
Digestion,
that it can
never be fit
for the Stomachs of
weak
and
tender
People.
27.
Smoaking Tobacco,
without
drinking
after it,
Chewing
or
Snuffing
the gross cut
Leaf
in a Morning, are useful to
flegmatick
Constitutions; but to
dry
and
lean
Habits they are
pernicious. Snuff
is just
good for nothing
at all.
28. The proper
Quantity
of
watry Liquors
in 24 Hours, to those that live regularly, is
two Pints,
(as that of
strong
Liquor is
one
Pint) which is best drank
warm,
and rather
after
than in the Time of
Eating.
29. The Form of a
Cordial
fit to be kept in private Families, as a present and certian Relief, for sudden
Qualms, Faintness, Sickness,
or
low Spirits
; but never to be taken but in Case of Necessity.
CHAP. III. Of SLEEPING and WATCHING.
§. 1.
THE next general
Head
in order, is our
Sleeping
and
Watching.
All Bodies by their Actions upon one another, and by the Action of the circumambient Bodies, are liable to be impaired and wasted: And all
animal
Bodies, from an
active
and self-moving
Principle
within them, as well as from the
Rubs
of Bodies without them, are constantly throwing off some of their superfluous and decayed Parts; so that animal Bodies, are in a perpetual
Flux.
To restore this
Decay
and
Wasting
of
animal
Bodies,
Nature
has wisely made alternate
Periods
of
Labour
and
Rest, Sleeping
and
Watching, necessary
to our Being; the one for the
active
Employments of Life, to provide for and take in the
Materials
of our
Nourishment
; the other, to apply those
Materials
to the proper wasted Parts, and to supply the
Expences
of Living. And it seems as improper in the
Order of Nature,
to disturb the
animal Functions
in the time of
Sleep,
by any other Employment, than that of the
secondary Concoctions
(as they are called;)
i. e.
the applying the Nourishment to the decayed Parts, to
recruit
the Blood,
perfect
the
Secretions,
and to lay up plenty of
Spirits,
or (to speak more
Philosophically,
) to restore the weakned
Tone
of
nervous Fibres
; that is in short, to restore the
Decays
of
Watching
and
Action:
This I say, is as improper, as it would be (were it possible,) to
eat
or
drink,
or make provision for the Necessities of Life, in the time of
Sleeping.
From hence is evident, the
Absurdity
of
heavy, various
and
luxurious
Suppers, or of going to Rest till
many
Hours after such a Meal; which must otherwise break in upon the
Order
of
Nature
and the due and appointed Times of
Sleeping
and
Watching.
Wherefore, I advise the
Valetudinary,
the
Studious,
and the
Contemplative,
either to make no Suppers, or only of
vegetable
Food; and to take a due Time for
Watching
after them.
§. 2.
There is nothing more certain, than that (abstracting from
acute
Cases) our
Sleep
is
sound, sweet
and
refreshing,
according as the alimentary
Organs,
are easy, quiet and clean. If any one not suffering under any disease, is disturbed in his Sleep, 'tis certain his Stomach is filled with
Food,
or
Crudities
; or his
Guts
filled with
Wind, Choler,
or
superfluous Chyle:
And those restless Nights, and the difficulty of going to Sleep, which are generally ascribed to
Vapours,
are entirely owing to these Causes; though they be not so
strong,
as to become sensible; for then
Pain
is added to
Watching
and they are felt. And upon complaints of such restless Nights, I never once failed, upon enquiry of finding the true Cause in the
Diet,
of the preceding Day, or of some few Days before; and constantly have discovered that some error in
Eating
and
Drinking,
either in
Quantity
or
Quality
has produced them. I have been astonished to see
hypochondriacal
and
hysterical
People, restless all Night, tossing and tumbling till towards Morning, then
dropping
asleep till late Hours, awake
heavy, oppressed,
and
unrefreshed,
complain of being
hag-ridden, tired
and
wearied,
as if they had been
whip'd, spurr'd, lashed,
and
beaten
thro' all the
Watches
of the Night; rise with
foul Mouths,
and white Tongue, Belchings, Yawnings, Coughing, Spitting, or Reaching and Heaving, without
Appetite, Spirits
or
Life,
all the Day-time; begin to live and breath, become
cheerful
and hungry, about ten, eleven, or twelve a clock at Night; eat a
hearty, various,
and
luxurious
Supper; drink a
cheeruping
Cup of the best, become as merry as
Crickets,
and long to sit up later; at last, tumble to Bed, and repeat the same
Farce
over again. The Reason of all this Complaint, is the Load on the Stomach, that will not suffer them to rest, till 'tis got off. The sharp and crude Humours,
twitching
and
twinging
the
nervous Fibres,
and Coats of the
Bowels,
become like so many
Needles
and
Pins,
constantly running through them; though not always with sensible pain: The
unconcocted
Chyle stopping or circulating
slowly, first
in the Bowels,
then
in the smallest
Vessels,
begets these
Convulsions, Flatus, Night-Mares,
and
Oppressions
of
Spirits.
So that the secondary Digestions are not over till next Evening, (hence their want of
Appetite:
) And when these are finished their
Stomachs
come, and their
Spirits
flow; and thus the perpetual
Round
is carried on. Did they but follow the
Dictates of Nature,
go to Bed for some days with a
light Vegetable,
or no
Supper
at all, and bear the Inconveniences thence arising; their
Appetites
would come in due season, and they would quickly find the Truth of the Aphorism of the
Schola Salernitana.
i. e.
That your Sleep may be sweet, let your Supper be light.
Somnus ut sit levis, sit tibi Canoe brevis.
§. 3.
The Seasons for
Sleeping
and
Watching,
which Nature seems to point out to us, at least in these our
Climates
near the
Tropick,
are the
Vicissitudes
of
Day
and
Night.
Those
Damps, Vapours,
and
Exhalations,
that are drawn up into the
higher Regions,
and are so rarified by the Heat and Action of the
Sun,
as to become
innocent
or very weak in the Day-time; are
condensed, sink
low, near the
Surface
of the Earth, and are perpetually dropping down in the Night Season; and consequently must be
injurious
to those
tender
Persons, that
unnaturally
watch in that Season; and must necessarily obstruct the
Perspiration,
which the
Activity of Watching,
and the
Motion
of
Labour
promotes. I have already shewn, that our Bodies
suck
and
draw
into them, the good or bad qualities of the
circumambient Air,
through the Mouths of all the
perspiratory Ducts
of the Skin. And if we were to view an
animal
Body with a proper Glass, it would appear with an
Atmosphere
quite round it, like the
Steam
of a boiling Pot. Now we may easily conceive, what injury a
Constitution
may receive, not only by stopping such a perpetual
Discharge
of
Superfluities,
but also by forceing into the
Habit,
by the
Air
's
Weight
and
Pressure,
those
noxious Fumes
and
Vapours,
that are perpetually falling near the
Surface
of the Earth, in the Nighttime. Your true
Topers
are so sensible of this, that by Observation they have gathered it to be more safe for their
Health,
and better for prolonging their
Lives,
to get
drunk
betimes and go to Bed, than to sit up and be
sober.
§. 4.
On the contrary, the
Heat
of the
Sun
in the Day-time, by its
Action
on human Bodies, the very
Light,
and free
Air,
and the
Motions
of things about us, disturbing the Quiet of the Air, must necessarily disorder the
equable
Course of the
Perspiration,
the
Tenour
of the
secondary Concoctions,
and the
Tranquillity
of the
Spirits
so necessary to
Rest
and
Quiet.
So that nothing seems more directly pointed out to us by
Nature,
than the
Day
for
Labour,
and the
Night
for
Rest:
And this without taking in the Consideration of the Necessity of the
Sun
's Light for the ends of
Labour,
and providing the Necessaries of Life. Some
Animals
that are exceeding tender, are directed by
Nature
to alternate
Periods
of
Watching
and
Rest,
not twice in 24 Hours, but twice in the Year,
viz. Summer
and
Winter
; such as
Swallows, Bats,
and many sorts of
Insects,
who sleep all the
Winter,
and watch all the
Summer.
So consistent is
Nature,
in appointing the
brightest
and most
enlightened
Parts of our Lives for
Action,
and the
darkest
and most
inclement
for
Rest.
Not but that
robust Constitutions
(as well as
Animals
fitted by Nature for different ways of living) may by Custom, get the better of these
natural Appointments:
But I write for the
Valetudinary,
the
Studious,
and the
Contemplative.
§. 5.
I advise all such, if they would preserve their
Health
and
lengthen
out their Days, to avoid as much as is possible
evening Dews, nocturnal Studies,
and
unseasonable Watching
; in
Summer
to go to Bed with the
Sun,
and in
Winter
to rise at least by
Break of Day.
Those who live
temperately,
will necessarily
Sleep
but
little:
But to recompence that, their
Sleep
will be much more
sound, refreshing,
and fruitful of Cheerfulness and
free Spirits,
than that of those who live more
freely.
For as I have before said, the
Quantity of Sleep
will always be in proportion to the
Quantity
of
Eating
and
Drinking. Valetudinary, Studious,
and
Contemplative
People, ought to go to Bed by
eight, nine,
or
ten
at farthest, and rise by
four, five,
or
six,
by which they will have
eight Hours
a Bed; and that is sufficient for any Person, not under an
acute,
or the sharp Fits of à
Chronical
Distemper.
§. 6.
Nothing can be more prejudicial to
tender
Constitutions,
studious
and
contemplative
Persons, than lying long a Bed, or
lolling
and
soaking
in
Sheets,
any time after one is distinctly awake, or has slept a due and reasonable Time: It necessarily
thickens
the Juices,
enervates
the Solids, and
weakens
the Constitution. A free open
Air
is a kind of a
cold Bath,
especially after rising out of a warm Bed; and consequently makes the
Circulation
brisker and more compleat, and
braces
up the Solids, which lying a Bed
dissolves
and
soaks
in
Moisture.
The
erect Posture,
and the
Activity
of Watching, make the
Perspiration
more plentiful, and the gross
Evacuations
more readily thrown off. This is evident from the
Appetite
and
Hunger,
those that rise
early
feel, beyond that which they get by lying
long
a Bed. Add to all these the Influence of the
fresh, benign,
Morning
Air,
the retreating of all the
noxious
Damps and
Vapours
of the Night, together with the Clouds and Heaviness, that are thrown upon the
Brain
from Sleep; and lastly, that
Cheerfulness
and
Alacrity
that is felt by the Approach or Presence, of that
glorious Luminary
the
Sun,
which adds a new Force to the
Heart,
and a
Spur
to the Spirits.
§. 7.
All
Nations
and
Ages
have agreed that the
morning Season
is the proper Time for
speculative
Studies, and those Employments that most require the
Faculties
of the
Mind.
For then the
Stock
of the Spirits is undiminished, and in its greatest Plenty, the
Head
is clear and serene, the
Passions
are quieted and forgot; the
Anxiety
and Inquietude that the
Digestions
beget in the
nervous System,
in most tender Constitutions and the
Hurry
the Spirits are under after the great Meal, are settled and
wrought off.
I should advise therefore those who are of a weak relaxed State of
Nerves,
who are subject to
hypochondraical
or
hysterical
Disorders, whose Professions lead them to much Use of their
intellectual Faculties,
or who would indulge
speculative
Studies, to go early to Bed, and to rise betimes; to employ their morning Hours in these
Exercises
till eleven a Clock, then to take some agreeable
Breakfast
of
vegetable
Food; to go on with their
Studies
and
Professions
till
three, four,
or
five,
as their Spirits will hold out, and then to take their
great Meal
of
animal
Food; all the rest of the Day to throw off all
Study
and
Thought,
divert themselves agreeably in some innocent
Amusement,
with some gentle bodily
Exercise
; and as soon as the
Digestion
is over, to retire and provide for going to Bed, without any farther supplies, except it be a Glass of fair Water, or warm Sack-Whey. But the
Aged
and
Sickly
must go sooner to Bed and lye longer, because
Age
and
Sickness
break rest, and the stiffen'd and hardened Limbs of the Antient become more
pliant
and
relaxed
by much Sleep, a
supine
Posture, and the
Warmth
of the Bed.
Rules for Health and Long Life, drawn from the Head of SLEEP and WATCHING.
1. THE
Valetudinary,
the
Sedentary,
and the
Studious
should eat very light, or no
Supper
; if any, it ought to be
vegetable
Food; neither ought they to go soon to
Bed,
after any
Supper
whatsoever.
2. Going to
Bed
on a
full Stomach,
and
Wind
and
Crudities
somewhere in the in the
alimentary
Passages, is the Cause of the want of due
Rest,
which is
sound
and
refreshing,
always in
Proportion
to the
Emptiness
and
Cleanness
of these
Passages,
and their
Vacation
from their proper Office of
Digestion:
And this is the Cause of the Want of
kindly and refreshing Rest,
in
hypochondriacal
and
hysterical
People.
3.
Watching
by Night and
Sleeping
by Day, is of the most pernicious Consequence to
Health
and
Long Life
; and plainly contrary to the Indications of
Nature
and the
Constitutions
of our Bodies.
4. The
Valetudinary, Sedentary,
and
Studious,
ought carefully to avoid evening
Dews,
nocturnal
Studies,
and unseasonable
Watching
; go to Bed by
eight,
nine,
or
ten,
and rise proportionably by
four, five,
or
six
; unless actually under a
Fit
of Sickness.
5. Nothing is more prejudicial to
tender
Constitutions, than lying
long
a Bed, indulging a
lethargical
and drowsy Sleep, or
lolling
or
loitering
awake; as appears by their
Heaviness,
and want of
Appetite,
upon doing so; and their good
Stomachs, Cheerfullness,
and
Freedom
of
Spirits,
when they rise
early.
6. The most advantagious manner for the
Tender, Sedentary,
and
Studious,
to bestow their Time, on account both of their
Health
and
Studies,
is to go
early
to Bed, rise
betimes,
go about their Studies till
eleven,
taking a light
vegetable
Breakfast; prosecute them till about
four
in the Afternoon, then to take their great Meal of
animal
Food, and after that to employ the rest of their Time in some
innocent Amusement,
or gentle bodily
Exercise
; to retire betimes, to prepare for going to Bed, taking no farther Nourishment, except a Draught of Water or warm
SackWhey,
which will be particularly useful to those who labour under
Stone
and
Gravel.
CHAP. IV. Of EXERCISE and QUIET.
§. 1.
WE proceed; in the next Place, to the Consideration of
Exercise
and
Quiet,
the due
Regulation
of which, is almost as necessary to
Health
and
Long Life,
as
Food
itself. Whether we were so made before the
Fall,
as to live in
intire
Health, in a rigidly
sedentary
and
contemplative
Life, is a
Speculation
of no great
Consequence,
nor easily determined in our present
Situation
; for there is no certain
Analogy
between Things as they now are, and as they might have been then. As there happen'd an intire
Revolution
in the
Complexion
and
Qualities
of the
Minds
of the
First Pair
; so, to me, there appear, to be evident
Indications
of a designed Change and
Alteration
of the
material World,
and the Nature of the
Animals
and
Vegetables
which subsist on this
Globe,
from what they were when GOD pronounced every Thing
Good
that he had made. Nor seem the
Coelestial
Bodies to have escaped, so far as they regard us. Whatever be in this, the Passage where God tells
Adam,
Gen.
chap. iii.
v.
19.
That in the Sweat of his Brow he shall eat Bread,
seems to be the Injunction of a
salutary
Penance; that is, Not merely a
Punishment,
but also a
Remedy
against the Disorders his Body would be liable to in this
new
State of the Creation, and against the poisonous Effects of the
Forbidden Tree
he had eaten the Fruit of. I am the more confirmed in this Belief, that I observe, the
absolute
Necessity of
Labour
and
Exercise,
to preserve the Body any Time in due plight, to maintain
Health,
and lengthen out
Life.
For let whatsoever
Diet
be pursued, however adjusted both in
Quantity
and
Quality,
let whatever
Evacuations
be used to lessen the
Malady,
or any
i. e.
Equivalent.
Succedaneum
be proposed, to prevent the ill Effects, our Bodies are so made, and the
Animal Oeconomy
now so contrived, that without due
Labour
and
Exercise,
the
Juices
will thicken, the
Joints
will stiffen, the
Nerves
will relax, and on these Disorders,
Chronical Distempers,
and a crazy old
Age
must ensue. Nor is this necessary only in the
colder
Climates, and where the Food is
gross,
but even in the
warmest
Climates, and where the Food is
lightest.
For though the
Warmth
of the Air may keep the
Perspiration
free and open, or rather, where it is very great, promote
Sweating
; yet, at the same time, and by Consequence, it will
thicken
the Fluids, and
relax
the Fibres; to prevent both which,
Exercise
is absolutely necessary: but in such a Climate it ought to be gone about in the Cool of the Day. And tho'
light Food
may,
in a great measure,
prevent the
Thickening
of the Fluids, yet it cannot do it
sufficiently
without Exercise; nor can it
at all
keep the Fibres in due
Tension
; for to that purpose Exercise is absolutely necessary. Nay, the
joint
Power of
warm
Air and
light
Food cannot supply the Place of Exercise in keeping the
Joints pliant
and
moveable,
and preserving them from growing
resty
and
stiff.
§. 2.
I have sometimes also, indulg'd a Conjecture, that
Animal
Food, and
Made
or
Artificial
Liquors, in the
Original
Frame of our Nature, and Design of our
Creation,
were not intended for
Human Creatures.
They seem to me, neither to have these strong and fit
Organs
for digesting them (at least such as
Birds
and
Beasts
of
Prey
have, who live on
Flesh
); nor, naturally, to have those
voracious
and
brutish.
Appetites, that require
Animal
Food, and strong Liquors, to satisfy them; nor those
cruel
and
hard
Hearts, or those
diabolical
Passions, which could easily suffer them to tear and destroy their
Fellow
Creatures; at least, not in the
first
and
early
Ages, before
every Man had corrupted his Way,
and God was forced to exterminate the whole Race, by an universal Deluge, and was also obliged (that the
Globe
of the
Earth
might not, from the long Lives of its Inhabitants, become a
Hell,
and a
Habitation
for incarnate
Devils
) to shorten their Lives from 900 or 1000 Years, to 70. He wisely foresaw, that
Animal Food,
and
Artificial Liquors,
would naturally contribute towards this
End
; and indulg'd, or permitted, the
Generation
that was to plant the
Earth
again after the
Flood,
the Use of these for
Food,
knowing that tho' it would shorten the
Lives,
and
plate
a
Scourge
of
Thorns
for the Backs of the
Lazy
and
Voluptuous,
it would be cautiously avoided by those who knew it was their
Duty
and
Happiness
to keep their Passions
low,
and their
Appetites
in Subjection. And this very
Aera
of the
Flood,
is that mentioned in
Holy Writ,
for the Indulgence of
Animal Food
and
Artificial Liquors,
after the
Trial
had been made, how insufficient alone, a
Vegetable Diet
(which was the first
Food
appointed for
Human kind,
immediately after their
Creation
) was, in the
long Lives
of
Men,
to restrain their
Wickedness
and
Malice
; and after finding, that nothing but
shortning
their
Duration
could possibly prevent the
Evil.
'Tis true, there is scarce a Possibility of preventing the destroying of
Animal
Life, as Things are now constituted, since
Insects breed
and
nestle
in the very
Vegetables
themselves, and we scarce ever devour a
Plant
or
Root,
wherein we do not destroy innumerable
Animalcules.
But besides what I have said, of
Nature
's being quite altered and changed from what was
originally
intended, there is a great
Difference
between
destroying
and
extinguishing
an
Animal
Life (which otherwise might subsist many Years) by
Choice
and
Election,
to gratify our
Appetites,
and indulge
Concupiscence
; and the
Casual
and
Unavoidable
crushing of those, who perhaps, otherwise, would die within the
Day,
or at most the
Year,
and obtain but an inferior kind of
Existence
and
Life
at best. Whatever be in this
Conjecture,
'tis evident to those who understand the
Animal Oeconomy,
and the
Frame
of
Human
Bodies, together with the
History,
both of those who have lived
Abstemiously,
and of those who have lived
Freely,
that
indulging
in flesh
Meats,
and strong
Liquors, inflames
the
Passions,
and
shortens
Life, begets
Chronical
Distempers, and a
Decrepit
Age, as the
History
of the Life of
Cornaro
manifests to a Demonstration.
§. 3.
Of all the
Exercises
that are or may be used for Health (such as
Walking, Riding
a Horseback or in a Coach,
Fencing, Dancing,
playing at
Billiards, Bowls
or
Tennis, Digging,
Working at a
Pump, Ringing
a dumb Bell,
&c.
)
Walking
is the most
natural,
as it would be also the most
useful,
if it did not spend too much of the
Spirits
of the
Weakly. Riding
is certainly the most
Manly,
the most
Healthy,
and the least
laborious,
and
expensive
of
Spirits,
of any; shaking the whole
Machine,
promoting an universal
Perspiration
and
Secretion
of all the
Fluids
(to which may be added, the various Changes of the
Air,
thro' which they so quickly pass, every
Alteration
of which, becomes, as it were, a new
Bath
) and thereby, variously
twitching
the
Nervous Fibres,
to brace and contract them, as the
new Scenes
amuse the
Mind.
Those who cannot
ride,
must be carried in a
Coach
or
Litter,
which is the best
Exercise
for the
Lame
and
Crazy,
and the only one proper for
Old
and
Decrepit
Persons, as well as
those
that are so
Young,
that they are not able to manage their own
Exercise.
The Home
Exercises,
such as
playing
at
Tennis
and
Billiards, Dancing, Fencing,
and the like, ought to be follow'd only when the
Season
forbids being
Abroad
; for being in the
Air,
contributes much towards the Benefit of
Exercise.
'Tis beautiful to observe that earnest
Desire
planted by
Nature,
in
Young
Persons, to
romp, jump, wrestle
and
run,
and constantly to be pursuing
Exercises
and Bodily
Diversions,
that require
Labour,
even till they are ready to drop down; especially the healthier Sort of them: So that sitting or being
confined,
seems to be the greatest
Punishment
they can suffer, and
imprisoning
them for some time, will much more readily correct them than
Whipping.
This is a wise Contrivance of Nature; for thereby, their
Joints
are render'd
pliable
and
strong
; their
Blood
continues sweet, and proper for a full
Circulation
; their
Perspiration
is free, and their
Organs stretched
out, by due Degrees, to their proper
Extension.
§. 4.
It is also very agreeable to
observe,
how the several different
Organs
of
Labouring
Men are strengthen'd, and render'd
Brawny
and
Nervous,
as they happen to be most employ'd in their several
Vocations,
let them be otherwise ever so
small
or
weakly.
The
Legs, Thighs
and
Feet
of
Chairmen
; the
Arms
and
Hands
of
Watermen
; the
Backs
and
Shoulders
of
Porters,
grow
thick, strong
and
brawny
by Time. 'Tis certain, that speaking
strong
and
loud,
without
overstraining,
will
strengthen
the
Voice,
and give Force to the
Lungs.
Our
Nails
and
Hair,
the more they are
cut
and
shaved,
the more they
grow.
And we may promote any one
Evacuation
so far, as to weaken and starve all the rest. Using any
Organ
frequently and forcibly, brings
Blood
and
Spirits
into it, and so makes it grow
Plump
and
Brawny.
And if due Pains were taken by the
Labour
proper to them, the
Organs
of all the
Functions
of the
Animal Oeconomy
might be strengthen'd and kept in due plight.
§. 5.
Therefore, to the
Asthmatick,
and those of weak
Lungs,
I should recommend
Talking much
and
loud,
even by themselves, walking up an easy
Ascent,
and when any degree of
Weariness
warns them, to sit and rest, till they are easy, and then to return to their
walking
again, and so to increase it every Day, till they are able to walk a
reasonable
Distance, in a
reasonable
Time. To those who have weak
Nerves
and
Digestion,
and to those who are much troubled with
Head-aches
(most of all which arise from the ill State of the
Stomach
and
Bowels
) I should recommend riding on
Horseback
as much as possibly they could, in the clearest and driest
Air,
and to change the
Air
daily, if possible. To those who are troubled with the
Stone
or
Gravel,
to ride much over rough
Causeways
in a
Coach.
To those that have
Rheumatick
Pains, to play at
Billiards, Tennis
or
Cricket,
till they
sweat
plentifully, and then go immediately into a warm Bed, and drink liberally of some warm thin Liquor, with Ten Drops of Spirit of
Sal Armoniac
or
Harts horn
in each Draught, to encourage the
Sweating.
To those who have weak
Arms
or
Hams,
playing two or three Hours at
Tennis,
or at
Foot-Ball
every Day. To those who have weak
Backs
or
Breasts,
ringing a
Bell,
or working at a
Pump.
Walking thro' rough Roads, even to Lassitude, will soonest recover the Use of their
Limbs
to the
Gouty
; tho'
Riding
on Horseback or in a Coach will best prevent the
Distemper.
But the
Studious
and the
Contemplative,
the
Valetudinary,
and those of weak
Nerves,
if they aim at
Health
and
Long Life,
must make
Exercise
a Part of their
Religion,
as it is among some of the
Eastern
Nations, with whom
Pilgrimages,
at stated Times, are an indispensible Duty, and where
Mechanical
Trades are learned and practised by Men of all Ranks. Those who have their Time in their own Hands, ought to have stated
Seasons
for
Riding
or
Walking
in a good
Air,
as indispensable, as those for going to
Dinner,
to
Bed,
or to
Church. Three
Hours for
Riding,
or
Two
for
Walking,
the one hals before the great
Meal,
and the other before going to
Bed,
is the least that can be dispensed with: As the first Part begets an
Appetite,
the second helps on the
Digestion.
Those who are not Masters of their own Time, must take it when they can; but to be sure they ought to let no Opportunity of taking it slip.
§. 6.
There are Three Conditions of
Exercise
to make it the most Beneficial that may be.
First,
That it be upon an
empty
Stomach (as, indeed, that is the proper Time for all
Medicinal
Evacuations) for thereby, the now
concocted
Cocta non cruda sunt evacuanda,
Hippocrat.
Crudities,
or those
Superstuities
Nature would be rid of, and has fitted, by going through the proper
Secretions,
for being
ejected,
but cannot throw off without foreign
Assistance,
will be readiest discharged. For, on a full Stomach
Exercise
would be too tumultuous,
precipitate
the
Secretions,
and throw off the sound Juices with the corrupted Humours.
Secondly,
That it be not continued to down-right
Lassitude,
Depression
of Spirits, or a
melting
Sweat. The
First
will wear out the
Organs,
the
Second
spend the
Strength,
and the
Third
will only do
violence
to the Natural
Functions. Thirdly,
Due Care is to be had after
Exercise,
to retreat to a
warm Room
and proper Shelter from the
Injuries
of the Weather, lest sucking into the wasted Body the
nitrous
Particles of the circumambient
Air,
they should
inflame
the Blood, and produce a
Rheumatism, Fever
or
Cold.
I might add a
Fourth Condition,
Joining
Temperance
to
Exercise,
otherwise the
Evil
will be as
broad
one Way, as 'tis
long
the other. For since
Exercise
will create a greater
Appetite,
if it is indulg'd to the
full,
the
concoctive
Powers will be as
unequal
to the
Load,
as they were before. But I pass that over, having sufficiently treated this Subject already.
§. 7.
Under this Head of
Exercise,
I cannot forbear recommending
Coldbathing
; and I cannot sufficiently admire, how it should ever have come into such
Disuse,
especially among
Christians,
when commanded by the greatest
Lawgiver
that ever was, under the Direction of
God's Holy Spirit,
to his
Chosen
People, and
perpetuated
to us in the
Immersion
at
Baptism
by the same
Spirit,
who, with
infinite
Wisdom in this, as in every Thing else that regards the
Temporal
and
Eternal
Felicity of his
Creatures,
combines their
Duty
with their
eternal
Happiness.
First,
The Necessity of a free
Perspiration
to the
Preservation
of
Health
is now known to every Body, and frequent
washing
the Body in
Water,
cleanses the Mouths of the
Perspiratory Ducts
from that
Glutinous
Foulness that is continually falling upon them, from their own condensed
dewy Atmosphere,
whereby the
Perspiration
would be soon
obstructed,
and the
Party
languish.
Secondly,
The having the
Circulation, full, free
and
open,
thro' all the
Capillary Arteries,
is of great Benefit towards
Health
and
Long Life.
Now nothing promotes that so much as Cold-bathing; for by the violent and sudden Shock it gives to the whole
System
of the
Fluids,
from the
Circumference
inward towards the
Centre,
and the
Fluids
(because
Reaction
is always
equal
and
contrary
to
Action
) springing back again from the
Centre
to the
Circumference,
a
Force
is raised almost ever sufficient to break thro' all the
Dams
and
Obstructions
of the
smallest
Vessels, where they mostly happen, and to carry the
Circulation
quite round.
Thirdly,
Nothing is so injurious, and so much prevents the Benefit of
Exercise
to
weak
and
tender
Constitutions, as
sucking
into their Bodies the
Nitrous
and
Humid Particles
of the
Air,
that is,
Catching of Cold.
Now nothing so effectually
prevents
this, as
Coldbathing
; as the
Nature
of the Thing shews, and
Experience
confirms: For if
Exercise,
to attenuate the
Juices
and strengthen the
Solids,
be added to
Coldbathing,
a new
Spring
and
Force
will be given to the
Blood,
both to drive out these
foreign
and noxious
Mixtures,
and to unite the
Cuticular Scales,
which form the
Scarf-Skin,
so as to strengthen it for the future against such violent
Entries.
§. 8.
I should advise therefore, every one who can afford it, as regularly to have a
Cold Bath
at their House to wash their Bodies in, as a
Bason
to wash their Hands; and, constantly,
two
or
three
Times a Week,
Summer
and
Winter,
to go into it. And those that cannot afford such
Conveniency,
as often as they can, to go into a
River
or
Living Pond,
to wash their Bodies. But this ought never to be done under the actual
Fits
of a
Chronical
Distemper, with a
quick Pulse, Head-ach, weak Lungs,
or a
foul Stomach
; nor ought they to stay in till they are
over-chill'd.
And in
Winter,
they ought to pursue their
Exercises
immediately after they come out; and those of tender
Nerves,
ought to pour
Basons
of Cold Water on their Head, or wash it well with a
dripping Spunge
before they go in. I cannot approve the
precipitant
Way of
jumping
in, or throwing the Head foremost into a
Cold Bath
; it gives too violent a Shock to Nature, and risques too much the
Bursting
some of the smaller Vessels. The Natural Way is, holding by the
Rope,
to walk down the Steps as fast as one can, and when got to the
Bottom,
bending their
Hams
(as Women do when they Curt'sy low) to
shorten
their Length, so as to bring their Heads a good Way under
Water,
and then
popping
up again to take Breath; and thus alternately for two or three Times, and out again,
rubbing
and
currying
well before they are dress'd. And this brings me to say something of another kind of
Exercise.
§. 9.
The
Flesh Brush
is an
Exercise
most useful for promoting a full and free
Perspiration
and
Circulation
; Almost every Body knows, what well
Currying
will do to
Horses,
in making them
sleek
and
gay, lively
and
active
; even so much, as to be worth half the
Feeding.
This it can no otherwise
effectuate,
than by assisting
Nature
to throw off by
Perspiration,
the
i. e.
The grosser Parts.
Recrements
of the Juices which stop the full and free
Circulation,
and by constant
Friction, Irritation
and
Stimulation,
to
allicite Blood
and
Spirits,
to the Parts most distant from the Seat of
Heat
and
Motion,
and so to
plump
up the
superficial Muscles.
The same Effect it would produce in other
Animals,
even
Human
Creatures themselves, if they were managed in the same Manner, with the same Care and Regularity. I should think it therefore, well worth the Pains of Persons of weak
Nerves
and
Sedentary
Lives, especially those threatned with
Paralytick Disorders,
to supply the Want of
Exercise
of other Kinds, with spending half an
Hour,
Morning and Night, in
Currying
and
Rubbing
their whole Body, more especially their
Limbs,
with a
Flesh Brush.
And 'tis a Wonder to me, that
Luxury
has not brought
Cold-bathing
and
Currying
in Use, upon the
Animals
(especially those of them upon whom they can be so readily made Use of, such as
Oxen, Pigs, Veal, Lamb,
and all
Poultry,
which naturally delight in
Cold-bathing
) which are brought to the
Table.
For certain it is, that
Cleanness
and due
Exercise
(of which
Currying
is one Part) would much contribute, to make all
Animals
whatsoever, without Exception, healthier in themselves, fuller of
Juice
and
Spirits,
and, consequently, better Food for
Human
Creatures.
As to
Quiet,
the Conditions of
Exercise
being determined, there needs nothing to be said of it.
RULES for
Health
and
Long Life,
drawn from the
Head
Of EXERCISE and QUIET.
1. WHATEVER was the
Original
Constitution of
Man,
in our present State, a due Degree of
Exercise
is indispensably necessary towards
Health
and
Long Life.
2.
Animal
Food and
Strong Liquors,
seem not to have been designed for
Man
in his Original
Make
and
Frame
; but rather indulged, to shorten the
Antidiluvian Length
of
Life,
in order to prevent the
excessive
Growth of
Wickedness.
3.
Walking
is the most Natural and effectual
Exercise,
did it not spend the
Spirits
of the tender too much.
Riding
a Horseback is less laborious, and more effectual for such. Riding in a
Coach
is only for the
Infirm,
and
Young
Children.
House
Exercises are never to be allow'd, but when the
Weather
or some Bodily
Infirmity
will not permit going abroad; for
Air
contributes mightily to the Benefit of
Exercise. Children
naturally love all kinds of
Exercise,
which wonderfully promotes their
Health,
increases their Strength, and stretches out their
Organs.
4. The
Organs
of the Body that are most used, always become
strongest,
and therefore we may strengthen any weak
Organ
by
Exercise.
5. The
Lungs
are fortified by
loud
Talking, and
walking
up an easy
Ascent.
The
Digestion
and the
Nerves
are strengthened, and most
Head-aches
cured, by
Riding
; the
Stone
and
Gravel
eased by riding in a
Coach
over rough Ground;
Rheumatick
Pains by playing at
Tennis, Billiards,
&c. till one
sweat,
and then going to a warm Bed, to promote the
Sweating
; Feeble
Arms
by playing at
Shittlecock
or
Tennis
; Weak
Hams
by
Foot-ball,
and weak
Backs
by
Ringing
or
Pumping.
The
Gouty
best recover the Use of their
Limbs
by Walking in
rough
Roads; but prevent the
Fits
best, by
Riding
a Horseback, or in a
Coach.
The
Valetudinary,
and the
Studious,
ought to have stated Times for
Exercise,
at least Two or Three Hours a Day, the one Half
before
Dinner, the other
before
going to Bed.
6.
Exercise,
1. should always be gone about with an
empty Stomach:
2. Should never be continued to
Weariness:
3. After it, one must take Care not to catch
Cold.
And it should always be accompanied with
Temperance,
else, instead of a
Remedy,
it will become an
Evil.
7.
Cold-bathing
is of great Advantage to Health; but should not be used under a
Fit
of a
chronical
Distemper, with a quick Pulse, or with a
Head-ach,
or by those that have weak
Lungs.
It promotes Perspiration, inlarges the
Circulation,
and prevents the Danger of catching
Cold.
Those of tender
Nerves,
should pour Water on their
Heads
before they go in, and none ought to jump in suddenly, and with their
Heads
foremost.
8. The
Flesh-Brush
is a most useful
Exercise,
as appears by its Advantage to
Horses,
and ought not only to be used on Human Bodies, but also on such of the
Animals
we design for our Food, as it can be applied to.
CHAP. V. Of our
Evacuations,
and their
Obstructions.
§ 1.
THE Three Principal
Evacuations
are, By
Siege,
by
Water,
and by
Perspiration.
All these must be duly
regulated,
and in the Order of
Nature,
towards the Preservation of
Health,
and the prolonging of
Life.
The
First
ought to be of a due
Consistence
between both
Extremes.
i. e.
The Gross Evacuations ought to be of such a Consistence in the Healthy, as to take the Impression of the Guts.
Oportet Sanorum Sedes esse figuratas.
Those who are
costive,
have either
over-heated
their Bodies with
strong Liquors
; have eaten too sparingly; have too slow a
Digestion,
or the
Peristaltick
Motion of their Guts are too weak, whereby the Food staying too long a Time before the Mouths of the
Lacteals,
is over-drained of its
Moisture.
Those who have
purging Stools,
have eat
too much,
or of Things
too strong
for their
concoctive
Powers. For
superfluous
Nourishment leaves too much
Chyle
in the
i. e.
The Food, after it is drain'd of its Nutritious Parts.
Faeces,
which fermenting in the
Guts, stimulates
them so as to become a
Purge.
I have often observed, That a
full
Meal of
strong
Meat, as
Fish, Beef, Pork, Baked Meat,
or
made
Dishes, in tender Persons, goes off with the
Hurry
and
Irritation
of a
Purge,
leaving the Bowels
inflated, colicked,
or
griped,
and the Spirits
sunk
to the last Degree. The
Food,
by its various
Mixture, Weight,
and
Fermentation, stimulating
all along from the
Stomach
to the
Rectum,
and being scarce ever drained of its
Chyle,
without affording any Nourishment to the Body, runs off thus crudely, and becomes equal to a total
Abstinence
from Food for a long Time. And hence we have a most infallible
Rule,
i. e.
After the Tryal has been made.
à posteriori,
to judge if we have governed ourselves in our
Diet
in Proportion to the Necessities of
Nature,
and the
Forces
of our
concoctive
Powers. This is the very Reason why the
Bark
over-dosed, and given to Persons of weak Digestion, so constantly
purges
them; and why
Mercury,
given either inwardly, or by
Friction,
runs off in violent
purging,
and cannot be raised into a
Salivation
; to wit, the not adjusting the
Doses
to the Strength of the
Stomach
and
nervous Fibres.
For the
Bark
naturally binds, and
Mercury
naturally rises to the most pervious
Glands.
And in this Sense, I myself have frequently observed in weak and
scrofulous
Bowels, even
Diascordium,
and
Venice Treacle
to purge: Whereas, had the Doses been duly proportioned, or had they begun by Underdosing, and taken a little longer Time, their End might have been effectually answered; as I have often experienced without ever failing.
§. 2.
And here it may not be amiss to take Notice of a
fatal
Mistake those run into, who, being
weakly, thin,
and
slender,
aim, by all Means, and at any Price, to become
plump
and
round,
and in order to attain this, are perpetually devouring huge Quantities of
high, strong
Food, and swallowing proportionable Measures of
generous
Liquors, not knowing, that by this very Method, they promote and confirm the
Disease
they would remedy; For in such Persons and Cases, the
globular
Part of the Blood is constantly of a
small
Quantity, and very
glewy,
and the
serous
Part, thin and watry (that is, The Blood is
poor
and
weak
) and the
Solids
or
Nerves
are
loose
and
relaxed.
And the concoctive Powers being in
Proportion
to these
Two,
of Consequence, the
Digestions
must be weak and imperfect, and their Force unable to dissolve and break any Quantity of such
strong
Meat or
spirituous
Liquors into a proper Chyle for Nourishment. And this great
Load
must either be hurried off intirely through the
alimentary Ducts
in supernumerary Discharges, or the small Portion of
Chyle
drawn out of it, being too gross to unite and make a
similar
Fluid with the Mass of the Blood, must be
precipitated
through the other
Drains
of the Body; and thus the poor thin Creature must starve in
Luxury,
and waste amidst
Superfluity.
The Case is the same with
Nurses
and
Parents
in rearing up
Young
Children. The perpetual
Gripes, Colicks, Loosenesses, hard Bellies, Choakings, Wind,
and
Convulsive Fits,
which torment half the Children of
England,
are intirely owing to the too great
Quantities
of too strong
Food,
and too rank Milk, thrust down their Throats by their over-laying
Mothers
and
Nurses.
For what else do their
slimy,
their
gray
or
chylous,
their
blackish
and
cholerick
Discharges, the
Noise
and
Motion
in their Bowels, their
Wind
and
Choakings,
imply, but
Crudities
from superfluous Nourishment? This is so certain, that they are universally, and infallibly cured by
testaceous
Powders, which only
absorb
sharp
Crudities,
by
Rhubarb
Purges, which at once
evacuate
and
strengthen
the Bowels, and by Milk-
Clysters, Issues,
and
Blisters,
which are still upon the Foot of Evacuation: by
obstinately
persisting in these, and the like (intended to
evacuate
and
strengthen
the
alimentary
Passages) and a thin, spare, and nutritive
Diet.
Nothing nourishes but Food duly
concocted
; and in the Course of Nature, we must first
plump
up and extend, and then
harden
and strengthen. This is the Way of Nature in
Vegetation.
And thus the
Animal
Creation, devoid of Reason, rear up their Young: And thus even the skilful
Groom
treats his wasted and decayed
Horse:
And (which is wonderful) you shall find a sagacious
HorseDoctor
plump up and fatten a
rotten, lean, broken-winded
Jade, and make him look
sleek, gay,
and
lively,
so as to cheat not only the
Esquire,
but his
BrotherDoctor,
in fewer Weeks, than all the
Man-Doctors
in
England
could rear up their
Fellow-Creature,
in Years. 'Tis true, The
Juices
of
Men
are more variously, and more throughly corrupted, and their
Solids
intirely broken, which never happens to the
Brute-Creation.
But the greatest Mistake lies in the Neglect of
duly
observing, and
religiously
prosecuting a proper Regimen. This must principally consist in a
Diet
of
soft, light, tender, cool,
and
mucilaginous
Foods, or such as are already become
Chyle,
either by
Nature
or
Art,
such are
Milk,
and
Milk-Meats. Rice, Sago, Barley, Wheat, Eggs, Broths, light Soops, Jellies, white, young, tender,
and
well-fed Poultry,
or
Butchery
Meat, eaten little at a Time, and often, never without an
Appetite,
nor to
Satiety
; joining to these, the other Helps and Assistances mentioned in this
Treatise.
When
Flesh
is once come, 'tis easy to make it
strong
and
hardy,
by due
Exercise,
and a gradual adventuring upon
higher
Foods, and more
generous
Liquors.
§. 3.
I have often heard
valetudinary,
and
tender
Persons, and those of
sedentary
Lives and
Learned
Professions, complain of
Head-aches, Sicknesses
at the Stomach,
Colicks
and
Gripes, Lowness
of
Spirits, Wind
and
Vapours,
and yet pretend they were very moderate and
abstemious
in their Eating and Drinking; But, upon Enquiry, I constantly found these very Persons pursued with
purging
Stools, which was an evident
Proof,
to me, that they had taken down more than they wanted, or could digest. For 'tis
universally
certain, That those that do not exceed, must have either
Costive,
or, at least, Stools of a middle
Consistence.
There is nothing more
ridiculous,
than to see tender,
hysterical
and
vapourish
People, perpetually
complaining,
and yet perpetually
cramming
; crying out, They are ready to
sink
into the Ground, and faint away, and yet
gobbling
down the
richest
and
strongest
Food, and highest
Cordials,
to oppress and overlay them quite.
Fresh
and
generous
Food, mixing with the
sharp
Humours of the
Stomach
and
Bowels,
may, for some short Time, qualify and abate their
Irritation,
and may give a
Fillip
to the sluggish
Circulation,
and become, as it were, a
Cork
to stop the perpetual Fuming up of these
noxious
Steams upon the
Head
and
Brain:
But this is (pardon the Similitude) as if one should go to quench the
pestilential
Steams of a
Common-Shore,
by throwing in greater Heaps of
Ordure
and
Nuisance
into it. The proper
Remedy
in this Case, is, First, To cleanse the
fetid Abyss,
and then to preserve it clean by cutting off all the
Inlets
of
Putrefaction.
This will require a little
Courage, Labour,
and
Pain
; but the future
Ease
and
Sweetness,
will more than abundantly recompense them; for there is nothing more certain, than that of those born
sound
here in
England,
the
Headaches, Stomach-aches, Colicks,
and
nervous
Pains and Disorders,
universally
proceed from
Idleness and Fulness of Bread.
§. 4.
Those who eat but one moderate
Flesh
Meal a Day, will have regularly once a Day a
Discharge
of the Remains of their Food. And, generally speaking, those that go oftner, have exceeded some how. Those who pretend to cure themselves of
nervous
Disorders, or any other
chronical
Diseases, or preserve themselves from them, or lengthen out their Days, must
underdose
themselves (and therefore can go but
once
in
two
Days) even though they should undergo the Pain of
Costiveness.
For 'tis impossible the
Nerves
of those who have
slippery
Bowels, should ever be
braced
or
wound up
; for there the
Cure
must begin, where the
Evil
began; and must be communicated thence to the rest of the
System,
as a
Ropemaker
begins the
Twist
at one End of the
Rope,
and communicates it to all the other Parts. Our
Access
to the
Nerves
of the
Stomach
and
Bowels,
is obvious and open: To the
rest,
the Way is difficult, and far about. And since a
Relaxation, Weakness,
and
want of Spring
in the
Fibres,
is the
Origin
of all
nervous
Distempers, no Medicines, but such as
contract, stiffen, wind up,
and
shorten
them, can remedy this
Evil
; and they must necessarily
contract
and
bind
up the
Fibres
of the
Stomach
and
Guts,
as the Parts they first approach and exert their Virtue upon. And he, who without
firm
Bowels, thinks to cure a
nervous
Distemper, labours as much in vain as he who would keep a
Fiddle-string
soaking in
Oil
and
Water,
to make it
vibrate
or play off a fine Composition of
Musick.
§. 5.
By
Experience
and
Observation
I have found, That in those who have one regular Discharge in Twenty-four Hours, the
Time
of the Progress of the
Food
from the
Stomach,
till its
Remains
are thrown off, is
Three
Natural Days. And in those who go but
once
in
Two
Days, the Time is
Six
Natural Days. The Curious may be satisfied in this, by swallowing an
Almond
or any other
Nut,
which passes without being broken or making any Irritation. The Reason is this, That a smaller
Quantity
of Food is retained
longer,
by their
Suction,
at the Mouths of the
Lacteals,
to drain it intirely of its
Chyle,
and its Weight being less, the
Concoctive
Powers have the greater
Force
upon it, and so it is retained till it is perfectly
Digested,
and drain'd of all its
Humidity
; whereby such People become
Costive:
Whereas in People that
exceed,
the contrary Causes precipitate the Course of the
Aliment,
and so leave the Bowels always
slippery.
And nothing can more
demonstratively
shew an
Excess,
than the
Lubricity
of the Discharge; and I have often, observed in tender Persons, and those of weak
Nerves,
when a Meal (I mean only of those who eat
Flesh
Meat only
once
a Day) has been a little too hard for the
Stomach,
tho' the
Spirits
have been full and free, and the
Health
equal and good, by duly
proportioned Meals
for two preceding Days; the Third Day, when the gross
Meal
came off, they have been full of
Wind
and
Vapours,
their
Eyes
dim, and their
Heads
heavy, with flying
Rheumatick
Pains over the Body, and
Colick-Gripes.
From whence we may draw these three
Corollaries.
Coroll.
1. It requires the same Time for the
unconcocted Chyle
of a gross
Meal
to run the
Circle
of the Habit, and the
feculent
Remains to pass thro' the
Guts
; the First by
Perspiration,
and the Last by
Siege.
Coroll.
2. We may likewise gather from thence, a
Confirmation
of that
Aphorism
of the
Physicians
; That the
Errors
of the
first Concoction,
are never mended in the
subsequent,
unless the Case to be mentioned in the next Paragraph be an
Exception
to it. For the gross
Meal
gave rather more
Uneasiness,
when it came to be thrown off by
Perspiration.
Coroll.
3. From hence we may also see, the Ridiculousness of the
Vulgar
Opinion, ascribing universally the
Pain
they suffer, or the
Relief
they find, to the
last Meal
or
Medicine.
§. 6.
There are some sorts of
Food
which may
oppress
and
load
the
Stomach,
and
Alimentary Ducts
in the
first Concoction,
which may be very safe and benign in the
subsequent
ones. For instance,
Cheese, Eggs, Milk-Meats,
and
Vegetable Food,
tho' duly prepared, and justly proportioned in
Quantity,
may chance to lie
heavy
on the
Stomach,
or beget
Wind
in the
Alimentary
Passages of some Persons (and yet drinking of
Water
will always remedy this
Inconveniency
): But these neither having their Parts
strongly
united, nor abounding in sharp
Urinous Salts,
when they become sufficiently diluted with a
watry Menstruum,
or dissolved into their
Component
Parts, and their Parts being still
smaller
than the
smallest
Vessels, and their
Union
constantly less, than the
Force
of the
Concoctive
Powers, in Persons who have any remaining
Fund
of Life in them; will thereby yield a sweet, thin, and easily
Circulating Chyle,
in the after
Concoctions
become
benign
and
salutary,
and afford no
Materials
for
Chronical
Distempers. And the
Wind
thence generated, not being
pointed
and
armed
with such sharp
Salts,
as those of
Flesh
Meats, or the
Corrosive
Juices of
Spirituous
Liquors, will be as innocent and safe, as the
Element
we breathe in.
§. 7.
The Second
Evacuation
is by
Water,
whose Circumstances and Condition, tho' -little adverted to, may be of great Service to discover both the State of our
Constitution,
and the
Proportion
of our
Diet.
Some People are frightned when they find their
Water turbid, broken,
and full of
Brick-dust Sediment
; whereas that is the best
Symptom
it can have. For tho' it supposes the
Blood
loaded with
Urinous Salts
and
Cradities
; yet 'tis still better they should pass off than continue in the
Habit.
On the contrary, when those that live
freely,
have
Quantities
of
pale, limpid
and
sweet
Water, 'tis a certain Sign that the
Perspiration
is stopp'd; that neither the
First
nor the
Secondary Concoctions
have been duly perform'd; that the
Chyle
has not been sufficiently
broken,
nor the finer
Secretions
duly made by the lesser
Drains
; and that the Urinous
Salts
are still retained in the
Habit.
Upon which must needs ensue
Oppression
of
Spirits, Chills
upon the
Extremities, flying Rheumatick
Pains over the Body,
Head-aches, Cholicks
and
Gripes.
And here it may not be amiss, to take Notice of the Difference of the pale Water of
Hypochondriacal
and
Hysterical
Persons, from that of those who labour under a true
Diabetes,
the Apprehension of which terrifies so often the
Low
and
Dispirited
Persons of the
First
Class. The
Water
of both has the same
Appearance,
both in
Quality
and
Quantity,
at least, in the first Instance, they are both attended with the same
Sinking
and
Dispiritedness.
But in a true
Diabetes,
there is a constant
Thirst,
a
low
but
quick Pulse,
the Water is much
sweeter,
and continues longer to come off in
profuse Quantities,
insomuch, that sometimes it is so violent as to run down the
Party
in a few Days. In
Hypochondriacal
and
Hysterical
Persons, there is little or no
Thirst,
never a
quick
Pulse, but rather too
low
and
slow
a one, the
Flux
soon stops of itself, or by any little
Diaphoretick
Medicine, and they are cold upon the
Extremities,
which the others are not.
§. 8.
That
bluish
and
variegated Film,
which sometimes looks like
Oil
and
Fat
swimming on the Water of
Scorbutick
and
Cachectick
Persons, is nothing but the
congregated Salts
which are
crowded
so thick together, that they are ready to shoot into
Clusters,
much like the
Film
of a
i. e.
A Lye.
Lixivium,
when standing for the
Crystallization
of fixed
Salts.
The
Water
which has a
light Cloud
hanging almost from the
Top
to the
Bottom,
is of a
bright Amber
Colour, and about
three Quarters
of the Liquor taken down, is best, and a certain Sign of a
due Concoction,
a just Proportion of Food, and a total Absence of
Repletion
and
Crudity.
And those who live
Temperately,
use
due Exercise,
and enjoy a perfect State of
Health,
always make such
Water.
§. 9.
Those who are subject to great
Quantities
of
limpid
and
pale
Water, ought to conclude, that their Food has been too
heavy
in
Quality,
or too much in
Quantity
for their
Concoctive Powers,
or their
Labour too
little; and that therefore, they ought to proportion both, for the future, with more
Caution
and
Exactness,
by living
low
for some Time, or using more
Exercise.
And to stop their
Flux
of
pale Water,
they ought to take a little
Gascoign's Powder, Confection
of
Alkermes,
or Sir
Walter Raleigh's Cordial
at Night, and drink liberally of
small warm Sack Whey,
with a few
Drops
of
Spirit
of
Hartshorn,
to set the
Perspiration
in order again. Those, on the other Hand, who make
high-colour'd, foul,
and very
turbid Water
in smaller
Quantities,
have either inflamed their Blood
too
much, with
Spirituous Liquors,
or loaded it with
too
great a
Quantity
of
Animal Salts.
To prevent therefore
Disorders
and
Diseases,
they must lessen the
Quantity
of their
Flesh
Meat, and
temper
the Heat of their
Wine
with Water. Else they will lay the Foundation of some
Acute Inflammatory,
or dangerous
Chronical
Distemper.
§. 10.
The worst kind of Water of all, is that of a
dark Brown
or
dirty Red,
in a small
Quantity,
and without any
Sediment.
This kind of
Water,
in
Acute
Diseases, always indicates insuperable
Crudity, high Inflammation
tending towards
Mortification,
and a dying
Languor
in Nature. And in Persons labouring under no
visible
Distemper at the Time, an almost total
Debility
of the
Concoctive
Powers, an inseparable
Union
of the
Constituent
Parts of the Blood, the highest Degree of
Crudity,
and a
Deadness
in all the
Animal Functions.
And, if preceded by long continued
Excesses,
requires the Advice of a
Physician.
I shall say nothing of
Coffee-colour'd, Bloody, Wheyish,
or
Purulent
Water, or that with white
Gravel, Films, Rags,
or
Bits
of broken
Membranes.
They are well known to be
Nephritick,
or
Symptoms
of an
Ulcer
somewhere in the
Urinary
Passages.
§. 11.
There happens also an
Evacuation
both by
Siege
and
Urine,
to some weak Persons of
relaxed Nerves,
that extremely alarms the
Patient,
and is not so readily accounted for in common
That Part of Physick which teaches the Causes of Diseases.
Aetiology.
It is when either a
white transparent, viscid
Substance, like
Gelly,
is constantly voided by the
Bowels,
more or less; or when a
white, milk, glewy
Substance, like
Cream
or laudable
Matter,
settles in the
Water:
Both these
Appearances
are commonly ascribed to an
Ulcer
in the
Guts,
or in the
Kidneys,
the very Apprehension of which is almost sufficient, in some low Persons, to bring on the Distemper feared: And yet I am very certain there is neither
Ulcer
nor true
Matter
in either Case, as I propose them. For where there is violent and acute Pain, or
Matter
of different Colours or Mixtures, there, very possibly, may be, nay, certainly there is, an
Ulcer.
But in the
Case
I here intend, there is very little or no Pain, no
Hectical Paroxysms,
which always attend an inward
Ulcer
; no bloody or
sanious
Mixtures, which always betray the inward Sore; no
fetid
Smell to imply Corruption. For the
Cases
I put at present, happen to Persons the least capable of
Inflammation
or
Imposthumation, viz.
to
paralytick
Persons, or those of a Natural Tendency that Way, to
cold, vapourish
Persons of low
Spirits
and weak
Nerves,
whose Pulse is low and slow, and their natural
Functions
weak and languid; all which evidently shew, that these Discharges cannot come from an
Ulcer.
The first
Case
I take to be either an Obstruction of some of the
Lacteals,
whereby the
Chyle
cannot be carried off in any sufficient Quantity, but passing through the
Guts,
and its more Watry Part being
evaporated,
it becomes thick and
gelatinous,
and is thrown off at last with the Remains of the Food. Else it must be an Obstruction of those
Glands
of the
Guts,
by which a viscid
Matter
for lubricating of them, is commonly secerned; by the Imprisonment and
Evaporation
of which Matter, it thickens and turns like a
Gelly
(as it does by Cold, or Overfeeding, in the
Glands
of the
Mouth, Throat
and
Windpipe
) and at last, by the Squeezing of the
Guts,
is thrown off. And in the same Manner, I take that
Milky
Substance subsiding in the
Water,
in such a
Case
as I have mentioned, to arise from a
Relaxation
of the
Glands
of the
Kidneys
and
Bladder,
and other
Urinary
Passages; and that both are to be cured the same Way other
Nervous
Distempers are cured,
viz.
by a proper
Regimen
of
Diet,
and a Course of contracting, strengthening, and volatile Medicines.
§. 12.
The insensible
Perspiration
is the
Third Evacuation
to be considered. The
Statical Chair
invented by
Sanctorius,
for examining the
Quantity
of the
Perspiration,
however
ingenious
and
delightful
in
Speculation,
is too
cumbersome
and
laborious
to be of any great Use in
Common
Life. 'Tis certain, however, that the free and full flowing of this
Evacuation,
is as necessary to
Health
as any of the grosser, since in
Quantity
it is at least equal to both the forementioned; and an
Obstruction
thereof, is generally the Source of all
acute
Diseases, as it is a
Consequence
of all
Chronical
ones. And therefore, I have advised those who are much abroad in
Easterly
and
Northerly
Winds (which most of any obstruct
Perspiration
) and have
Fluxes
of
white
and
pale Water,
to a ready
Antidote
to prevent the Beginnings of these
Obstructions.
§. 13.
Dr.
His Statica Britannica.
JAMES KEILL has made it out, beyond all possibility of doubting, that
catching
of
Cold
is nothing but
sucking
in, by the Passages of
Perspiration,
large
Quantities
of moist
Air
and
nitrous Salts,
which by
thickening
the Blood and Juices (as is evident from Bleeding after catching
Cold
) and thereby
obstructing,
not only the
Perspiration,
but also all the other finer
Secretions,
raises immediately a small
Fever
and a
Tumult
in the whole
Animal Oeconomy
; and, neglected, lays a Foundation for
Consumptions, Obstructions
of the great
Viscera,
and universal
Cachexies.
The
Tender
therefore, and
Valetudinary
ought cautiously to avoid all Occasions of catching
Cold,
and if they have been so unfortunate as to get
one,
to set about its Cure immediately, before it has taken too deep
Root
in the
Habit.
From the
Nature
of the Disorder thus described, the
Remedy
is obvious; To wit,
Lying
much abed,
Drinking
plentifully of small warm
Sack Whey,
with a few
Drops
of
Spirit
of
Hartshorn, Posset-Drink, Water-Gruel,
or any other
warm small
Liquors, a Scruple of
Gascoign
's Powder Morning and Night, Living
low
upon
Spoon-Meats, Pudding
and
Chicken,
and
drinking
every thing
warm:
In a Word, treating it at first as a small
Fever,
with gentle
Diaphoreticks
; and afterward, if any Cough or Spitting should remain (which this Method generally prevents) by
softening
the
Breast
with a little
Sugar-Candy,
and
Oil of Sweet Almonds,
or a Solution of
Gum Ammoniac,
an Ounce to a Quart of
Barley
Water, to make the
Expectoration
easy; and going
cautiously
and well
cloathed
into the
Air
afterwards. This is a much more
natural, easy
and
effectual
Method, than the Practice by
Balsams, Linctus
's,
Pectorals,
and the like
Trumpery
in common Use, which serve only to
spoil
the Stomach,
oppress
the Spirits, and
hurt
the Constitution.
§. 14.
The surest Way of maintaining and promoting a due
Perspiration,
is, To take down no more Food than what the
Concoctive Powers
are sufficient to reduce into a due
Fluidity,
and the Expences of Living require, to prosecute necessary
Exercise,
and use the other
Assistances
advised in the foregoing
Chapters.
Want of due
Rest
and the
Refreshment
that follows upon it,
starting,
tossing,
and
tumbling
abed, are certain Signs that the
Perspiration
is not duly carried on in the
Night Season.
And therefore, in order to remedy this, a greater Proportion of
Exercise,
a greater Degree of
Abstinence,
or some gentle domestick
Purge,
must be had recourse to the next Day.
Colical
Pains,
Gripes
and
Purging,
much
Eructation
and
Belching
of Wind,
Low Spiritedness, Yawning
and
Stretching,
are infallible
Signs
that the
Perspiration
flows not freely and plentifully then. And therefore the same
Remedies
ought to be prosecuted, as soon as an Opportunity offers; else the Party will suffer at last.
Wind,
as
Sanctorius observes
and
demonstrates,
is nothing but
obstructed Perspiration:
And
Yawning
and
Stretching,
are but
Convulsions
of the proper
Muscles
and
Organs
appointed by Nature, the one for
Pumping
up
Wind
from the
Bowels,
the other for pressing upon the
Excretory Ducts
in the
Skin,
to force out the sluggish
perspirable
Matter. And 'tis beautiful to observe, how wisely
Nature
has contrived the
Sposms, Cramps
and
Convulsions
of the proper
Organs,
to expel every
noxious
and
extraneous
Body out of the
Habit.
Thus
Coughing
is a
Convulsion
of the
Diaphragm
and
Muscles
of the
Breast,
to throw out viscid
Phlegm
;
Vomiting,
of the
Stomach,
(assisted by the
Diaphragm
and
Muscles
of the
Abdomen
) to throw up its
Crudities,
and those of the
Bowels
; or to
expel Sand
or
Stones
from the
Kidneys.
The Throws of
Labouring
Women, are to bring off the
Burden. Sneezing
is an
Effort
of the proper
Muscles,
to eject some noxious Particles from the
Organs
of
Smelling. Shivering
and
Stretching
to assist
Perspiration
; and
Yawning
to pump up
noxious Wind.
And even
Laughing
itself, is an Effort of the
Muscles
of the whole
Trunk,
to throw off something that its
delicate
Membranes cannot bear. And, Lastly,
Hysterical Fits
and
Convulsions,
both in
Infants
and Persons come to
Maturity,
are but violent
Efforts, Struggles, Workings, Cramps
and
Spasms
of all the
Muscles
of the whole Body together, to expel, squeeze, and press out the sharp
Acrimonious Wind. Fumes
and
Vapours
from the Cavities of the whole
Machine.
§. 15.
There is an
Evacuation
incident to Persons of weak Nerves, which could not conveniently come in under the general
Division,
because it happens too seldom to make a new Member of it. It is a
Discharge
of thin
Rheum
from the
Glands
of the Mouth, Throat and Stomach, and is called by some, A
Nervous
or
Scorbutick
Spitting. It rises sometimes to the Heighth of a
petit Flux de Bouche,
as the
French
call it, and threatens some tender Persons, as they apprehend, with a
Consumption,
though it imply nothing less. We may observe some, who are struck with a deep
Palsey,
to flow at the Mouth, and
drivel
down their Breasts; insomuch, that the Afflicted of this
Sort,
who are advanced in Years, can scarce speak intelligibly for the
Flux,
till they have first emptied and cleaned their Mouths. And this arises to so great a Heighth, in some much broken
paralytick
Persons, that upon the slightest Occasions, either of
Joy
or
Grief,
they are apt to run into a
Profusion
of Tears, Sighs and Sobbings. And some sorts of
Ideots,
and those
Hysterically mop'd,
and most of those who suffer from
relaxed
and weak
Nerves,
are more or less subject to these
Salival
Discharges, especially after
Excesses
in
Diet.
Hence the
first
Sort receive the Appellation of
Snivellers
or
Drivellers.
And the Difficulty of the Cure of all the Diseases of weak
Nerves,
depends much on the Quantity and Constitution of this
Flux.
For much and long Spitting and Running off of this
Rheum,
implies a total
Relaxation
of the whole
Nervous System,
and shews neither the first nor second
Concoctions
have been duly performed. I have frequently had Occasion to shew, how
Excesses
in the
Quantity
or
Quality
of the Food, in Persons of
relaxed
and weak
Nerves,
begot a viscid and gross
Chyle,
of which
that Part,
which could not get through the
Lacteals,
lay fermenting and putrifying in the
Alimentary
Passages, begot
Wind, Gripes
and
Colicks,
and at last wrought itself off like a
Purge
; and that
that Part,
which got through the
Lacteals,
and was received within the Limits of the
Circulation,
being too gross and glewy to be mixed with the old
Mass
of the
Fluids,
to circulate through the smallest Vessels, and to enter the fine
Perspiratory Glands,
would necessarily be thrown into the wider, more spongy and loose
Salivary Glands,
which are appointed by Nature to secern the more
Glutinous
Parts of the Fluids. And from thence this
Salivary
Inundation proceeds. The
Fact
is, When those of weak
Nerves,
commit habitual Excesses in their
Diet,
the
Glands
and small Vessels of all the Body are
tumified, swelled
and
obstructed
thereby, as they needs must be. And 'tis from the Pressure of these
inlarged Glands,
and the obstructed
capillary
Vessels on the
Nerves,
and patent
Blood Vessels,
that most of the
Evils
they suffer under proceed. But more especially, are the
Glands
appointed to draw off the more viscid serous Part of the Blood,
obstructed
and
tumified
thereby. Upon which Account, as
Baglivi
advises to enquire well into the State of the
Tongue
and
Mouth,
in order to discover the Condition of the
Stomach, Guts
and
Bowels
; so I think 'tis highly reasonable in a
Chronical
Case, to have great regard to the Condition of the
Eyes
; and if a dead, cold
Languor
be observed in the
Hue
or
Water
of them (as
Jewellers
speak of
Diamonds
) and more especially if the
lachrymal Gland
in the Corner next the Nose, which I always narrowly inspect; if, I say, this
Gland
be found harder, or larger than ordinary,
swelled
and
tumified,
it must certainly be concluded, whatever else be in the Case, there must be a relaxed State of
Nerves,
much
Vapours,
weak natural
Functions,
and a mismanaged
Regimen.
And it is from the Obstruction and Swelling of this and the other
Glands,
in and about the
Eyes,
and their Pressure upon the
Optical Nerves,
and fine Blood Vessels, that those
Spots, Flies, Atoms, Dimness, Darkness,
and
Confusion
of Sight, in
Vapourish
and
Hysterical
People proceed. For this
Gland
shews, that the whole
serous Glands
in the upper Regions of the Body are, in Proportion, tumified and swelled with
viscid
Humours through
Excess
of Diet; unless the Person have suffered there by Accident, or labours under some natural Disorders of the
Eyes.
From the Obstruction and Swelling of the
Salivary Glands
in the Mouth, Throat and Gullet, proceed also those
Choakings, Gulping
and
Strangling,
that
Hysterick
Persons so often complain of. The
Wind
and
Crudities
lodged in their Stomach and Guts, and the rest of the Cavities of the Body pressing to get
vent
upwards, are resisted and stopp'd in their Passage by the
Diaphragm,
whereby the Inspiration is streightned, and by the Bulk of these
Glands
throughout the Gullet, the Way is intirely stopp'd; which raises such a
Tumult
and
Struggle,
as produces the mentioned
Symptoms
; which I have not Leisure to detail here more minutely. Now this
Salivation
or Discharge of the thinner
Rheum,
and that
Coughing
and
Hawking
of more viscid
Flegm,
commonly called a
nervous Cough,
as also the
Chincough
of Children, and all such Discharges of sharp
Serum
in Persons of weak and relaxed Nerves, is an
Effort of Nature
to relieve them. And, if discreetly managed, and duly heeded, would prove a
Crise
to their Disorders, and quite free them from their present
The sharpest Part of the suffering Fit of a Disease.
Paroxysms,
and set the
Circulation
and
Perspiration,
and consequently the
Spirits,
at Freedom and Liberty again. Some Persons most distractedly run to
Drams
and
Cordials
to remedy this
Evil,
to stop the Violence of this
Deluge,
and to raise their drooping Spirits. But it serves only to thicken the
Flegm,
shut up the Mouths of the
Salivary
Glands closer, and so to perpetuate the
Evil
they mean to cure. Others devour large Quantities of
high
and
generous Foods,
because they find a little Relief to their Spirits, from the first
Run
of the sweet, thin, and
spirituous Chyle:
But this is only adding
Fewel
to the
Fire,
and running on in a perpetual Round of
Lowness
and
Slavering.
Whereas, would they suffer Nature to act her own Way, to carry on this
critical Discharge
as far as it will go, without offering in the least either to check or promote it; but by thin, light Food, and cool Liquors, in moderate, or rather under dosed Quantities, support her in the manner the
Concoctive
Powers are sufficient for; after she had discharged all the
Crudities
from the Mass of the
Fluids,
by these
Emunctory Glands,
and thereby given a free Passage to the
Wind
to escape the Way it tends, the
Salivation
would lessen gradually, and at last stop of itself. And if then towards the
Decline,
a gentle
Vomit,
to pump up the slow and viscid Remains of the
Wind
and
Flegm
in the Upper Part of the
Alimentary
Passages, and afterwards a gentle
Stomachick
warm
Purge,
to scour the Lower Part of these
Tubes,
were carefully administred; the
Patient
would soon find a
clear Head, lightsome Spirits,
Ease and Freedom from Pain and Oppression; the
Circulation
and
Perspiration
would be soon brought to their natural and sound State, and
Health
and
Cheerfulness
restored together; unless a mortal or habitual
Spitting.
Ptyalism
was the Case, which I have sometimes observed, as fatal and incurable as a true
Dropsy,
or inveterate
Diabetes
; all which owe their Being to a deep
Scurvy,
whereby the Globular Part of the Blood is intirely
broken,
and the
Serum
made a meer
Lixivium
or Lye.
RULES for
Health
and
Long Life,
drawn from the Head Of EVACUATION.
1.
COSTIVE Stools
are Signs of over-heated Blood, too spare Feeding, Slowness of Digestion, or Weakness of the Guts.
2.
Purging Stools
shew intemperate Feeding. Too
full
a
Meal
has the Effects of a
Purge,
fills the Guts with Wind, and gives Gripes.
Mercury,
and even the
Bark, Diascordium
and
Treacle,
if
over-dosed, purge.
3.
Head-aches, sick
Stomachs,
Vapours, low
Spirits,
Gripes
and
Colicks,
proceed from
Cramming
; and are ever accompanied with
loose Stools.
4. Those that live
temperately,
have
one
regular
Stool a Day.
Those who have
more, exceed.
5. The
Cure
of all
Relaxations
of the Nerves (the Source of Chronical Diseases) must necessarily
begin
at the
Stomach
and Guts.
6. The
Time
from
eating
a Meal, till its
Discharge,
is
three
Days, in those that have
one
Stool
a Day: Six
in those that have but
one
in
two
Days.
7. A
gross Meal
produces more
Disorders,
the Day the Excrements of it
go off,
than the Day it is
eaten.
8. A
Meal
takes the
same Time
to get through the Habit by
Perspiration,
that its
Remains
do to pass through the
Guts.
9. The
Errors
of the first Concoctions cannot be
mended
afterwards.
10.
Pain
or
Relief,
is not always the
Effect
of the
last Meal
or
Medicine,
that was taken down.
11. Though
Cheese, Eggs, Milk
and
Vegetable Foods,
may be
hard
to digest, without drinking of
Water,
to some Stomachs; yet their
Chyle
is
good,
and produces no bad Effects.
12.
Turbid Water
with
Brick-dust
Sediment, proceeds from the
critical Discharge
of what was preternaturally retained in the Habit.
13.
Pale sweet
Water, from the
Urinous Salts
being yet
retained.
14. There is great Difference between
Hysterick pale Water,
and that which proceeds from a
Diabetes.
15. That Appearance of
Fat
on the Urine of some People, is nothing but a
thin Film
of
Salts.
16.
Bright Amber-coloured
Water, with a
light
Sediment rising toward the Top, amounting to
three Quarters
of what is drank, is a Sign of
good Digestion.
17. Great Quantities of
pale
Water proceed from
Excess
in the
Quantity
of Food, and
want
of
Exercise.
The Cure of it is performed by
eating less,
using
more Exercise,
and taking some
Diaphoreticks,
to set the
Perspiration
right.
18.
High-colour'd turbid
Water in
small
Quantity, shews abundance of
Animal Salts
in the Habit, or the immoderate Use of
Spirituous Liquors:
And must be cured by
vegetable Food,
and
Water,
or other
small Drink.
19.
Dark brown
Water, or of a
dirty red,
is extremely
dangerous,
both in
acute
Cases, and in those that seem at present to
ail nothing.
20.
Bloody purulent
Water, and full of
Films,
is a Sign of
Nephritick Ailments, Stone
and
Gravel.
21. The viscid
Matter
like
Gelly
in the
Stools,
and the viscid
milky Substance
somewhat like Matter in the
Urine
of some People of
weak Nerves,
proceed from a Corruption of the Liquor of the
Mucous Glands
of the
Intestines,
and of the
Bladder,
and other Urinary Passages.
22.
Obstruction
of
Perspiration
is one Source of
acute
Diseases, and a Consequence of
chronical
ones.
23. Catching of
Cold
is an
Obstruction
of
Perspiration,
by the
humid
and
nitrous
Particles of the Air. It should be cured by gentle
Diaphoreticks,
and not by
Balsamick
Pectorals, which do no good but in the End of the Cure, to promote
Expectoration
from the Lungs, if there be any Occasion for it.
24. Persons of weak Nerves, have often a
critical Flux
of
Rheum
from the
Glands
of the
Mouth
and
Throat,
to a very
large
Quantity, which, if not
tampered
with, brings them great
Relief.
CHAP. VI. Of the PASSIONS.
§. 1.
I Come now, in the Order of my first proposed
Method,
to treat of the
Passions
; which have a greater Influence on
Health
and
Long Life,
than most People are aware of. And that I may propose my
Scheme
with the greatest Clearness I can, I will lay down some
Propositions
or
Axioms,
as the Ground-work on which it is founded.
Prop.
I. The
Soul
resides eminently in the
Brain,
where all the
Nervous
Fibres terminate inwardly, like a
Musician
by a well-tuned
Instrument,
which has
Keys
within, on which
it
may play, and without, on which
other Persons
and
Bodies
may also play. By the
inward Keys,
I understand those Means by which the
Thoughts
of the
Mind
affect the
Body
; and by the
outward,
those whereby the
Actions
or
Sensations
of the
Body
affect the Mind. Both these
Affections
may be called
Passions
in a general View, as either Part of the Compound is acted upon.
Scholium.
As a
Man
is compounded of two different
Principles, Soul
and
Body
; and as there are two different kinds of outward
Objects,
by which these two different
Principles
may be acted upon; to wit.
Matter
and
Spirit
; the
Passions
in these two different
Views
may be divided into
Spiritual
and
Animal.
As to the
first
Branch of this Division, since
Spirits
(if I may be allow'd there are any such Beings) may be supposed to act upon
one another,
without the
Mediation
of
Organical
Bodies (such perhaps was St.
Paul's Extasy,
when he was rapt up into the
Third Heavens
; such was
Moses
's Commerce with his
Maker,
when he spoke to
God Face to Face
; such must the Influence of the
Divine Grace
be supposed; and all who allow of
Revelation,
admit, that the
Soul
may be Serene and Tranquil while the
Body
is in Distress and Pain; and even all the
Stoick Philosophy
is grounded on this
Distinction
) it must have a real Existence in
Nature.
And the
other
Branch must also be allow'd by all those, who cannot think
Brute Animals
mere
Machines,
and who observe, that we have
Impressions
made on our Bodily Organs, which affect us, sometimes very deeply, even in our
Sleep.
However these Things be, 'tis sufficient for my Purpose, that
Man
is allowed to be a compounded Being, on which outward Objects may act, to abstract the Consideration of the
Impressions
made on the
Spirit,
from those made on the
Body.
Prop.
II. The
Union
of these two
Principles
in the Compound,
Man,
seems to consist in
Laws
prae-establish'd by the
Author
of
Nature,
in the
Communications
between
Bodies
and
Spirits,
as there are, no doubt,
Laws
establish'd for
Spirits,
in their Commerce and Actions upon
one another.
For every one knows there are
Laws
of Nature, establish'd by its
Author,
for the Actions of
Bodies
upon
one another.
Scholium.
These
Laws
of the Actions of the
Soul
on the
Body,
and of the
Body
upon the
Soul,
are never to be known to us, but by their
Effects
; as the
Laws
of Nature in the Actions of
Bodies
upon
one another,
were first discovered by
Experiment,
and afterward reduced into general
Propositions.
One
Law
of the Action of the
Soul
on the
Body, & vice versâ,
seems to be, That upon
such
and
such
Motions produced in the Musical Instrument of the
Body, such
and
such
Sensations should arise in the
Mind
; and on such and such Actions of the
Soul,
such and such
Motions
in the
Body
should ensue; much like a
Signal
agreed to between two
Generals,
the one within, the other without a
Citadel,
which should signify to one another, what they have before agreed to, and established between them; or like the
Key
of a
Cypher,
which readily explains the otherwise
unintelligible
Writing. Besides these
Passions
and
Affections,
which are
involuntary,
Prop.
III. As
Bodies
are purely
passive,
and are acted upon by other
Bodies,
conformable to the settled
Laws
of
Nature
; in
Spiritual
Beings, on the contrary, there is an
active, self motive, self-determining Principle,
by which it directs and manages itself with regard not only to its
own self,
and its own
Sentiments
; but also to its
Actions
and
Influence
on other Beings without it, and their Actions and Influences on it. And this is the Foundation of
Liberty,
or
Freewill,
in
Rational
and
Intelligent
Beings.
Scholium.
That this
Faculty
or
Principle
really exists, and is essential to
Spiritual
Beings, is as certain, as that there is
Motion
in the
Universe,
or that
Body
and
Spirit
are
essentially
different. For, that
Motion
is not essential to
Bodies,
is as certain as that Bodies are
impenetrable
; and that the
Quantity
of
Motion
in the
Universe,
may be, and is daily increased, is as much
Demonstration
as any
Proposition
in
Euclid.
And if
Motion
be, is, or may be increased, it must arise from
Spiritual
Beings. And he who can deny this, only shews himself ignorant of the
Principles
of all true and just
Philosophy,
and of the first
Elements
of the
System
of material and spiritual Beings. For further Conviction of this, and clearing up all possible Objections and Difficulties, I refer the Reader to the
Learned
and
Ingenious
Dr.
Clarke,
in his Answer to the Enquiry into
Liberty,
and his Letters to Mr.
Leibnitz,
where he has treated this Matter with the greatest Perspicuity and Justness. Besides these now mentioned
Principles,
Prop.
IV. As in
Bodies
there is a
Principle
of
Gravity
or
Attraction,
whereby,
in Vacuo,
they tend to one another, and would
unite,
according to certain
Laws
and
Limitations
established by the
Author
of
Nature:
So there is an
Analogous Principle
in
Spirits,
whereby they would as certainly, in their proper
Vacuity,
be
attracted
by,
tend
to, and
unite
with one another, and their first
Author, Centre,
and
the Rock out of which they were hewn
(to use a Scripture Phrase) as the
Planets
would to one another, and to the
Sun.
And this is nothing else but what in Scripture is called CHARITY.
Scholium.
This
Proposition
is as certain as the Rules of
Analogy
are, which, in my Opinion, are the Foundation of all the Knowledge we can have of
Nature,
while we can see only a few
Links
of the Universal
Chain,
and but a few disjointed
Parts
of the grand
System
of the
Universe.
The
Author
of
Nature,
who could create
intelligent
Beings only in order to make them
Happy,
could not leave them to so many different
Attractions,
without
implanting
into their
Essence
and
Substance,
as an
Antidote
to such Variety of
Distractions,
an
infinite Tendency, Bent
and
Biass
towards Beings of the same Nature, and towards
Himself,
who was the
Cause
and
Object
of their Felicity. And even in this our
lapsed
and forlorn Estate, there remain evident Footsteps of this
Principle
yet un-effaced. Such are the
Checks
of
Conscience, natural Affection
and the universal
Desire
of
Immortality,
and Dread of
Annihilation
; what the World calls the
Seeds of Honour
and
Renown
; all that Concern and Regard paid mere
Romantick Heroes
; and the
Worship
bestow'd by all Nations, who are not sunk into mere
Brutality,
on some
Superior and Invisible Powers.
These are
Remains
of this
Principle,
and its Workings, sufficient to shew its Reality
à posteriori
; as the Laws of
Analogy,
and the
Nature
and
Attributes
of the
first Being,
shew it
à priori.
Those who admit of
Revelation,
cannot doubt of it for a Moment; for
Deut. xxx. 14.
Moses
calls it,
A Law engraven on the Heart of Man,
and
1 Cor. xiii. ult.
St.
Paul,
The
greatest Perfection of Human Nature.
Coroll.
1. Hence the true Nature of Supreme
Spiritual Good
and
Evil
may be discovered. For if there be impressed on
Spiritual
Beings, an
infinite Tendency, Bent
and
Biass,
to be
reunited
with their
Divine Original,
and the Place in the
Divine Substance
out of which they were formed (if I may speak so in a
Figurative Sense
) then their being
finally united
with this their
Divine Original,
is the
Supreme Spiritual Good,
and the several
Approaches
toward this Union, are
inferior Spiritual Goods
; as the being
finally separated
from it, is the
supreme Spiritual Evil,
and the several Steps toward this
Separation, inferior Spiritual Evils.
And the
Means
of this
Union
and
Separation,
are
Moral Good
and
Evil.
Coroll.
2. By
Schol.
of
Prop.
1. the most general Division of the
Passions,
was into
Spiritual
and
Animal.
As, in the
first
Sense,
Passion
may be defined, The
Sentiments
produced on the
Soul
by
external Objects,
either
Spiritual
ones immediately, or
Material
ones, by the
Mediation
of the
Organs
of the
Body:
So, in the
second
Sense,
Passion
may be defined. The Effect produced by
Spirits
or
Bodies,
immediately on the
Body.
And since outward
Objects
may be considered as
Goods
or
Evils,
the most natural Division of the
Passions
(whether
Spiritual
or
Animal
) as they regard these
Objects,
is into the
Pleasurable
and the
Painful
; which exhausts their whole Extent. And in this Sense all the
Passions
may be reduced to
Love
and
Hatred,
of which
Joy
and
Sorrow, Hope
and
Fear,
&c. are but different
Modifications
or
Complexions,
as they may be called. I do not descend to a more particular Account, not intending an accurate Treatise on the
Passions,
but only to lay a Foundation for some general
Observations
on them, as they regard and influence
Health
and
Long Life.
§. 2.
In relation to the
Organical
Instruments of the
Body,
and the Effects wrought on them, or the Disorders brought upon them, the
Passions
may be divided into
Acute
and
Chronical,
after the same Manner, and for the same Reason, as
Diseases
are. The
acute Passions,
whether
pleasurable
or
painful,
have much the same
Effect,
and work much after the same
Manner
as
Acute Diseases
do. They effect a brisk and lively
Circulation
of the
Fluids, crisp
up and
constrict
the Solids for some short Time. Thus sudden
Gusts
of
Joy
or
Grief, Pleasure
or
Pain,
stimulate and spur the
Nervous
Fibres, and the
Coats
of the
Animal Tubes,
and thereby give a
Celerity
and brisker Motion to their included Fluids, for the same Time. And the
Functions
of the
Heart
and
Lungs
being
involuntary,
they have their more immediate Effects upon them. Thus both sudden
Joy
and
Grief,
make us
breath
short and quick, and make our
Pulse
small and frequent. The retaining our
Breath
for some Time (for so far our
Breathing
is
voluntary
) to reflect more
intensely
upon the painful Object, forces at last a strong
Exspiration,
which becomes a
Sigh.
Thus a sudden painful
Idea,
makes a quicker
Circulation
of the Blood, and thereby throwing a greater Quantity thereof upwards, through the
proportionally
larger Branch of the
Aorta,
makes it appear in the superficial Vessels of the
Face, Neck
and
Breast,
and so produces a
Blush
; which, when longer continued, and being very strong, is dispersed over the whole Surface of the Body. Hence the Observation of
Blushing at the Back of one's Hand
; and the Reasons why we
sigh
upon some Occasions, and
blush
upon others, depend upon the different Structure of the
Organs
of
Pulsation
and
Respiration.
A quick surprizing Pain of Mind acts upon the
Heart,
because the Motion of the Heart is altogether
involuntary:
So that a sudden
Constriction
takes place there immediately to increase the
Pulse.
Whereas we have some Power over the
Breathing
; we can stop or suspend it for a Time; and when we are thinking
intensely,
our Attention partly makes us hold our
Breath,
and hence ensues
Sighing
rather than
Blushing.
For the Pain being
slow,
quickens the
Pulse
more gradually: But if it continues long,
both
Actions of
both
Organs are respectively produced; and hence it comes to pass, that upon
Anxiety, Concern
and
earnest Expectation,
the
Pulse
is found quick and small, and the
Breath
thick and difficult, as Experience shews. The same Principles will account for the Effects of
Fear
and
Anger,
which make us change Colour, and look
red
or
pale,
as the Blood is accelerated or retarded in its Course. The sudden
Gusts
of these Passions being thus accounted for, when they become extreme, they drive about the
Blood
with such a Hurricane, that Nature is overset, like a
Mill
by a
Flood:
So that what drove it only quicker round before, now intirely stops it, and renders the Countenance
pale
and
ghastly.
Sudden and great
Fear
or
Grief,
do so convulse the Nervous
System,
that sometimes they alter the Position of the Parts, and fix them in a new one. Thus the Hair stands on end in a
Fright,
and the whole
System
of the Nerves becomes so
rigid
and
stiff,
as to lose their
Elasticity
; whereby the
Animal
Functions are stopp'd at once; and
Fainting,
and sometimes
Death,
ensues.
§. 3.
The
Chronical Passions,
like
Chronical Diseases,
wear out, waste and destroy the
Nervous System
gradually. Those
Nerves
which are necessary for
considering, brooding
over, and
fixing
such a Set of
Ideas
on the
Imagination,
being constantly employ'd, are worn out, broken and impaired. The
rest
by Disuse, become resty and unactive, lifeless and destitute of a sufficient
Flux
of warm Blood and due Nourishment. And thus the whole
System
languishes and runs into Decay. Thus slow and long
Grief, dark Melancholy, hopeless natural Love,
and overweening Pride, (which is an outragious Degree of
Selflove
) impair the Habit, by making the proper Seasons of necessary Food and due Labour be neglected, and thereby depriving the natural
Functions
of their wonted Supplies, overworking some Part of the
Nervous System,
and leaving the other to
rust,
and become
resty
for want of Use. Some of these Passions, as
Love, Grief
and
Pride,
when very intense and long indulg'd, terminate even in
Madness.
The Reason is, as I have been saying, because long and constant Habits, of
fixing
one Thing on the
Imagination,
begets a ready Disposition in the
Nerves
to produce again the same
Image,
till the Thought of it become
spontaneous
and natural, like breathing, or the Motion of the
Heart,
which the
Machine
performs without the Consent of the
Will
; and also a Disability or
Immobility.
Tetanus
ensues on the other Parts, just as the
Faquiers
in
India,
fix one or both Hands by long holding them up, so as that they cannot bring them down again. There is a kind of
Melancholy,
which is called
Religious,
because 'tis conversant about Matters of
Religion
; although, often the Persons so distempered, have little
solid Piety.
And this is merely a
Bodily Disease,
produced by an ill
Habit
or
Constitution,
wherein the
Nervous System
is broken and disordered, and the
Juices
are become
viscid
and
glewy.
This Melancholy arises generally from a
Disgust
or
Disrelish
of worldly
Amusements
and
Creature-Comforts,
whereupon the Mind turns to
Religion
for
Consolation
and
Peace.
But as the Person is in a very imperfect and unmortified State, not duly instructed and disciplined, and ignorant how to govern himself, there ensues
Fluctuation
and
Indocility, Scrupulosity, Horror
and
Despair.
§. 4.
Since the
Mind
resides, as has been said, in the common
Sensory,
like a skilful Musician by a
well-tuned Instrument
; if the
Organ
be sound, duly tempered, and exactly adjusted, answering and corresponding with the Actions of the
Musician,
the
Musick
will be
distinct, agreeable
and
harmonious.
But if the
Organ
be spoiled and broken, neither duly
tuned,
nor justly fitted up, it will not answer the Intention of the
Musician,
nor yield any distinct Sound, or true
Harmony.
Those therefore who are
tender
and
valetudinary,
lead
sedentary
Lives, or indulge
contemplative
Studies, ought to avoid Excesses of the
Passions,
as they would Excesses in
high
Food, or
Spirituous
Liquors, if they have any Regard to Health, to the Preservation or Integrity of their
Intellectual
Faculties, or the bodily
Organs
of them. As the
Passions,
when
slow
and
continued, relax, unbend,
and
dissolve
the
Nervous
Fibres; so the sudden and violent ones
screw up, stretch
and
bend
them, whereby the Blood and Juices are hurried about with a violent
Impetuosity,
and all the
Secretions
are either stopp'd by the Constrictions, Cramps and Convulsions begot by them, or are precipitated, crude and unconcocted, and so beget, or at least dispose toward
Inflammations, Fevers
or
Mortifications. Hatred,
for Example,
Anger
and
Malice,
are but Degrees of a
Frenzy,
and a
Frenzy
is one kind of a raging
Fever.
From all which 'tis plain, the
violent
and
sudden Passions,
are more dangerous to
Health,
than the
slow
and continued, as
acute
Diseases are more destructive than
chronical.
§. 5.
To shew yet farther, the Influence of the
Passions
on the
Animal Oeconomy,
let us consider the different Constitutions of Men. Those who have very
springy, lively,
and
elastick
Fibres, have the
quickest Sensations,
a weaker
Impulse
producing a stronger
Sensation
in them. These generally excel in the
Animal
Faculty of Imagination. Hence the Poet,
—
Poets are soon provok'd.
Genus irritabile Vatum.
And therefore, your Men of
Imagination
are generally given to
sensual
Pleasure, because the Objects of
Sense
yield
them
a more delicate
Touch,
and a livelier
Sensation,
than they do
others.
But if they happen to live so long (which is hardly possible) in the
Decline
of Life they pay dearly for the greater bodily Pleasures they enjoyed in the Youthful Days of their
Vanity.
Those of
rigid, stiff
and
unyielding
Fibres, have
less vivid Sensations,
because it requires a greater Degree of
Force
to overcome a greater
Resistance.
Those excel most in the
Labours
of the
Understanding,
or the
Intellectual
Faculties, retain their
Impressions
longest, and pursue them farthest; and are most susceptible of the slow and lasting
Passions,
which secretly consume them as
chronical
Diseases do. And
Lastly,
Those whose
Organs
of
Sensation
are (if I may speak so)
un-elastick,
or intirely
callous, resty
for want of Exercise, or any way
obstructed,
or naturally
ill-formed,
as they have scarce any
Passions
at all, or any lively Sensations, and are incapable of lasting
Impressions
; so they enjoy the
firmest
Health, and are subject to the fewest
Diseases:
such are
Ideots, Peasants
and
Mechanicks,
and all those we call Indolent People.
§. 6.
We have before shewn, that weak
Limbs,
and all the bodily
Organs,
may be strengthened and repaired by proper
Exercise.
And there is no doubt to be made, but the
Organs
of
Sensation,
and those the Mind uses in its
intellectual Operations,
may be likewise
improved, strengthened
and
perfected
by constant Use, and proper
Application.
And if by Excesses, an original bad
Conformation,
or any Accident, these
Organs
come to be spoiled, or by the bad State of the Juices, they be weakned in their
Functions
; then the
Medicinal
and
Chirurgical
Arts may take place, and come in play. But if the Passions be
raging
and
tumultuous,
and constantly fuelled, nothing less than
He,
who has the
Hearts of Men in His Hands,
and
forms them as a Potter does his Clay, who stills the Raging of the Seas, and calms the Tempests of the Air,
can settle and quiet such tumultuous, overbearing
Hurricanes
in the Mind, and
Animal Oeconomy.
Without such a
Miracle,
since the
Soul
and
Body
act mutually upon one another, and the Tabernacle of Clay is the weakest Part of the
Compound,
it must at last be overborn and thrown down.
§. 7.
In such a wretched Case I know no Remedy, but to drown all other Passions in that Spiritual one of the Love of God. The Reasonableness and Justness of which Proceeding, and (what may seem a
Paradox
) the Usefulness of it to Health, and its benign Influence on the
Animal Oeconomy,
I shall endeavour to
demonstrate. Spiritual Love
is that Principle
analogous
to
Attraction,
spoken of in
Prop.
IV. 'Tis the
Tendency, Byass
or
Impulse
of the Minds of Men and other Spirits, toward the most
amiable
Objects, communicated by their
Creator
in their
original Formation,
by virtue of which, they constantly
tend, press
and
urge
to unite (and, if Obstacles were removed, would unite) with one another, and be all united with their
Origin.
This
Principle
indeed, in this
lapsed Estate
of Man (where 'tis overlaid and buried under
Rubbish,
involved in so many other
Attractions,
and stifled with such
Letts
and
Contrarieties,
that its Action is felt but just enough to know that it is, and wants to be a waked with Labour, and excited with
Violence,
as the Scripture mentions, the
taking the Kingdom of Heaven by Force
) on its first
Developement
and
Expansion,
and in its first Exercises, may be called a Spiritual
Passion,
as 'tis the first Motions, Endeavours and
Velleities
toward the
Love
of God
or
Charity.
But in its Advances, and
final Perfection
and
Consummation,
it discovers itself to be a
Faculty, Quality,
or inherent
Power
in the
Soul,
whereby it will act without
Solicitation, Motive
or
Direction.
As a
Stone
in a
Wall,
fastened with
Mortar,
compressed by surrounding
Stones,
and involved in a
Million
of other
Attractions,
cannot fall to the
Earth,
nor sensibly exert its natural
Gravity,
no, not so much as to discover there is such a Principle in it; just so, the
intelligent Soul,
in this her
lapsed
Estate, being
drowned
in Sense,
chained
and
fettered
by Ignorance and Perverseness, drawn and hurried away by the
Devil,
the
World
and the
Flesh,
is disabled from exerting this inherent and innate Principle of
Re-union,
and wants sufficient
Light
on the
Understanding,
and a right
Turn
of the
Will,
to be put in a Capacity of exercising it. But in its proper
Vacuity,
and being freed from these
Letts
and
Impediments,
it would mount towards its
Original,
like an
Eagle
toward the
Sun. Amiability, Pulchritude
or
Beauty,
is as much the peculiar and proper Object of this Affection of the
Mind,
as
Light
or a
luminous
Body is of
Vision
; for
Deformity,
as such, can never be loved. And
Beauty
or
Perfection,
is, in Reality and just Philosophy, nothing but
Analogy, Order,
or just
Proportion.
From hence it necessarily follows, that in the Scale of Beings, all Objects ought to be loved in proportion to their Degree of
Beauty, Symmetry
or
Perfection.
And consequently, the highest
Perfection
ought to be loved with the
highest
Degree of
Love,
and the several
subordinate
Degrees of
Perfection,
with proportionate Degrees of this
Affection
of the Mind. And since
Finite,
when compared with
Infinite,
evanishes quite, or becomes
nothing
; it follows necessarily (since there is, and can be, but
one
Object that is
Infinite, Good
and
Perfect,
and all others are but
Created,
and
Finite Goods
; that is, in
Comparison
they are nothing) that, according to the
eternal
and immutable
Laws
of
Analogy,
the
One supreme Good,
endued with
Infinite Perfection,
ought to be loved with a
Love
infinitely superior to our Affections for
other
Things, or (which is the same Thing in other Words) that, in
Comparison,
our
Love
to the Author of our Being, ought to be
infinite
; and that to ourselves and other Objects, as being
finite
Creatures, none at all. This is the true
Philosophy
of this Matter, and as much a
Demonstration,
as any thing in
Numbers
or
Geometry
possibly can be; however it may be received by Men of
Self-Love
and
Carnal Minds.
§. 8.
Yet I would not be so understood, as if I condemned all
subordinate
and duly
proportioned Regards
for
ourselves
and other
Objects
about us, that are necessary for our Support and Accommodation in our present State. No! There is a
just
and
laudable
Self-love, as well as a
false
and
vitious
one. If we love
Ourselves,
as we love our
Neighbours
; if we love
Ourselves
as
God
loves us; if we love
Ourselves
as we deserve to be loved by the
infinitely perfect Being
; if we love
Ourselves
with a justly proportioned, and duly subordinate
Love:
that is, if we love
Ourselves
with a
Finite,
and
Him
with an
Infinite Love,
or a
Love
increasing, and going on
in infinitum,
that has neither Limits nor End: Then we love
Ourselves
as we ought; this
Self-love
is just and laudable, and has its due and proper Degree of
Reality
and
Existence,
in the Nature of Things.
Perfection,
or an Object perfect in its kind, or one that we think so, is the proper Object of our
Love.
And as in due
Analogy,
Proportion and Order,
infinite
Perfection, requires
infinite
Love, or the highest Degree of
Love
we can give it; so all other
Objects
are to be loved with a Degree of
Love
proportioned to their
Perfection.
And since a Being of
infinite Perfection
can be but
one,
and all other Beings can have but a
finite
Degree of Perfection, we must love them but with a
finite
Love; or, the
Proportion
of our Love to Him and them, ought to be, as
Infinite
is to
Finite.
That is, comparatively we ought to love them with
no Love
at all; but absolutely (or without comparing
created
Things, to the
infinitely perfect Being
) with their proper Degree of
finite
Love, according to their
Rank
in the
Scale
of Beings.
Coroll.
Tho' from the Nature of the
Demonstration
I have given, that
God
is to be loved, it is evident he is to be loved
infinitely
for
Himself,
and his own
infinite Perfections,
abstracting from all other Considerations, even that of our
own Happiness,
in the Enjoyment of, or Union with Him; Yet it is certain, these
Two,
our
Love
to
God,
and
our own Happiness,
cannot be actually separated.
Pleasure
consists in this, That the
Soul
and
Body
are affected, by the Objects that produce it, with an
harmonious
and
commensurate
Action or Touch; for in their
original
and
uncorrupted Make,
as they came from the Hands of their
Creator, both
separately, and
each
by themselves, and also in their Actions on one another, all was
Harmony
and
Concord.
As to the
Body
; as nothing but a
musical
or
commensurate
Touch, can affect it with Pleasure, and as a
discordant
and
uncommensurate
Stroke creates a
Jarring, Grating
and
Obstruction,
which is Pain (this is evident in
Hearing,
where the agreeable Sensations of sonorous Bodies, are altogether
harmonious
; Sir
Isaac Newton,
has made it plain in
Vision
; And, no Doubt, it is so in all the
other Senses
) So likewise as to the Soul;
Truth,
and
Beauty
or
Perfection,
are the only Objects, that give
Pleasure
to the
Understanding
and
Will,
its two
Cardinal
Faculties. And these are nothing but
Harmony,
or just
Proportion
in the respective Objects. And we have shewn, that the Union of the Soul and Body (or
Life,
the so much coveted Good) consists in a kind of
Harmonia praestabilita
(though a kind very different from Mr.
Leibnitz's
) whereby an
harmonious Touch
or Action upon either of them, produces a
pleasurable
Sensation. Now as
Beauty
or
Perfection
gives Pleasure to both the Parts of the Compound, and as nothing but the highest Degree of
Perfection
or
Beauty,
can give the greatest Pleasure,
i. e.
Happiness; it necessarily follows, That
Spiritual Love,
or the
Love of God,
as it is the only Mean of
uniting
us with the one Being, who is
infinitely perfect,
is also the only Mean of making us
infinitely happy.
§. 9.
As to the
second
Thing proposed, concerning
Spiritual Love,
however foreign these
metaphysical Speculations
concerning it may seem, to a Discourse about
Health
and
Long Life
; yet, if steadily believed, and their natural Consequences reduced to
Practice,
they would not only become the most effectual Means to prevent
Diseases,
but also, the most of any Thing, promote
Health
and
Long Life.
For,
first,
Were our
Love
proportioned to the
Order
and
Analogy
of Things; were our
Love
to the
Supreme Good infinite,
and that to others, in Comparison,
none at all
; we should have but one single View in all our
Thoughts, Words
and
Actions
viz. The
Promoting
and
Raising
that
supreme Love,
to its due Degree and
Elevation:
whereby all
Anxiety, carking Care,
and
Solicitude
about other Things (the Source of all our
Miseries,
and of many Bodily
Diseases
) would be
cut
off all at once.
Secondly,
Since
Love
always begets
Resemblance
of Manners; since the Object of this
Love
is
infinitely perfect
; if we loved him in the
supreme Degree,
we should
infinitely
endeavour to
resemble him:
whereby
Hatred
and
Malice, Luxury
and
Lewdness, Laziness,
and all the other
Seeds
of Bodily
Diseases,
would be altogether
destroyed. Thirdly,
Since
Spiritual Love
is not only the
noblest,
but also the most
joyful
and
pleasant
Affection of the Mind; since the Object of our
supreme Love
(as an
inspired Poet
expresses it) has
Fulness of Joy in his Presence, and Rivers of Pleasures at his Right Hand for ever
; and since our
Joy
and
Happiness
will always rise in proportion to our
Love
; the placing our
supreme Love
on the
supreme Good,
would render us
infinitely joyful, serene, calm
and
pleased
; than which, certainly, no Man can imagine a more effectual
Mean
of
Health
and
Long Life.
RULES of
Health
and
Long Life,
drawn from the
Head
Of the PASSIONS.
1. THE
Passions
have a greater Influence on
Health,
than most People are aware of.
2. All
violent
and
sudden
Passions, dispose to, or actually throw People into
acute
Diseases; and sometimes the
most violent
of them bring on
sudden
Death.
3. The
slow
and
lasting
Passions, bring on
chronical
Diseases; as we see in Grief, and languishing hopeless Love.
4. Therefore the
sudden
and
acute.
Passions are
more dangerous
than the
slow
or
chronical.
5. Men of lively Imaginations and great
Vivacity,
are more liable to the
sudden
and
violent
Passions and their Effects.
6.
Thoughtful
People, and those of good Understanding, suffer most by the
slow,
and
secretly consuming
Passions.
7. The
Indolent
and the Thoughtless, suffer
least
from the Passions: The
Stupid
and Ideots
not at all.
8. The
Diseases
brought on by the Passions, may be
cured
by
Medicine,
as well as those proceeding from other Causes, when once the Passions themselves cease, or are quieted. But the
preventing
or
calming
the Passions themselves, is the Business, not of Physick, but of
Virtue
and
Religion.
9. The
Love of God,
as it is the sovereign Remedy of all
Miseries,
so, in particular, it effectually
prevents
all the Bodily
Disorders
the Passions introduce, by keeping the Passions themselves within due Bounds; and by the unspeakable Joy, and perfect Calm, Serenity and Tranquillity it gives the Mind, becomes the most
powerful
of all the
Means
of
Health
and
Long Life.
CHAP. VII. Containing those OBSERVATIONS, that came not naturally under the foregoing Heads.
§. 1.
MENTION having been so often made of
Chronical,
and sometimes of
Acute
Distempers, it may be convenient here, to suggest to the Readers, as clear an Account of their Nature and Difference, as I possibly can.
Acute
Distempers, then, are understood, Such as within some short
limited Time
have their Periods, either of a perfect
Crise,
and subsequent Recovery, or of putting an End to the
Distemper
and
Life
both together; and are therefore called
quick, sharp
or
acute
Distempers, whose Symptoms are more violent, their Duration shorter, and their Periods more
quick,
either of
sudden Death,
or a glorious
Victory
over the Disease. These are generally limited within
Forty Days.
And those that run out longer, turn into
chronical
Distempers, whose Periods are more slow, their
Symptoms
less severe, and their
Duration
longer. They too (if new Fuel were not administred to them) would, by the Course of
Nature,
and the
Animal Oeconomy,
have their
Periods,
and terminate at the last. The
Viscidity
of the
Juices,
and the
Flaccidity
of the
Fibres,
would, in a great measure, and to some very tolerable Degree, by
proper Remedies,
and a due
Regimen,
be removed, and the Party recover in
these,
as well as
acute
Cases. But this requiring long Time, much Care, and great Caution, unwearied Patience and Perseverance, and so long a Course of
Self-denial,
as few People are willing to undergo, it is become the
Reproach
of
Physick
and
Physicians,
that
acute
Cases cure themselves (or rather Nature cures them) and
chronical
Cases are never cured. But both the Branches of the Reflexion are equally false. In the First,
Art
and
Care,
judiciously applied, will always
alleviate
the
Symptoms
and Suffering, will help on Nature to the
Relief
she points out, and quicken the
Crise,
which it will constantly bring about, if the
Distemper
is not too strong for the
Constitution.
And even then it will
mitigate
the
Pain,
and lay the
Patient
gently and easily down. But in the
last Case,
if due Care be had, to follow timeously the Advice of an
honest
and
experienced Physician,
a
Period
certainly may be brought about to most
chronical Distempers,
where the great
Viscera
are not spoiled and destroyed. The Failing is in the
Patient
himself, who will not, or cannot,
deny himself
for a Time sufficient to bring about the
Cure.
Some
chronical Distempers
indeed are such, either by having gone
too far,
or by being
Hereditary,
and interwoven with the
Principles
of Life, as never to be totally overcome. And then 'tis a Piece of
great Wisdom,
to know how far their Constitution will go, and sit down contented with that
measure of Health
their
original
Frame will admit of. But of this I am morally certain, If the
Rules
and
Cautions
laid down in this
Treatise,
be
carefully, steadily,
and
constantly
observed, few
chronical
Distempers but will receive such
Relief
and
Alleviation
by them, as to make Life
tolerably easy,
and free from
grievous Sufferings:
And in the mentioned
Case,
that is all that is left for
Art
to do. But in other
chronical
Distempers taken in
due Time,
where the
Viscera
are not quite spoiled, they would infallibly bring about a
final Period,
and perfect Cure. The most certain distinguishing Mark of an
acute
Distemper, is, To have a
quick Pulse
; that of a
Chronical,
To have a
slow
one. The first will exhaust the
Fluids,
and wear out the
Solids
in a
short
Time; whereas the
last
will require a longer Time to produce the same Effect. Some
chronical
Distempers, especially towards the
last
and
fatal
Period, turn
acute.
And some
acute
ones terminate in
chronical
Distempers. But this
Mark
will not only keep them distinct; but also point out, when
acute
Distempers have
chronical
Remissions or Intermissions, and when
chronical
Distempers have
acute
Fits or Paroxysms.
§. 2.
Some Persons, who are extremely healthy and sound during their
younger
Days, about, or soon after the
Meridian
of Life (that is, about Thirty-five or Thirty-six, according to the Observation of an
inspired King
) fall into
chronical
Distempers, which cut them off in few Years, or make them miserable all the rest of their Lives. Thus
Consumptions
prove mortal to some about that Time. Thus
Stone
and
Gravel, Gout
and
Rheumatism, Scurvy
and
Dropsy, King's-Evil
and
SkinDiseases,
either make their
first
Appearances, or shew themselves in their true
Type
about this Time of Life. The Reason is, While the
Juices
are sweet, sufficiently thin and fluid, but especially while the
solid
Organs, the
Membranes
and
Fibres,
are yet but
unfolding
;
stretching
and
drawing
out to their full
Dimensions
; any
Acrimony,
Sharpness, or
corroding
Humour, can affect them no other Way, than by making them
vibrate,
and so extend themselves farther and farther. For as Pain, so these sharp Salts by their Twitching and
Irritation
on the tender
Fibres,
make them only contract, and so draw at both
Extremities,
and thereby unfold and extend themselves farther. So while the
original Foldings
and
Complications
of the
Solids
are not yet quite extended, this
Irritation
serves only to draw them out, and does not hurt them, till they are arrived at their full
Extent,
which generally happens about Five-andtwenty. It takes a
due
Time after that for these
sharp
Humours to
exalt
themselves to their utmost
Acrimony,
to corrupt and putrify the Juices, and also some more Time to
wear
out, to obstruct and break the great
Organs,
and their smaller
capillary
Vessels. The Sum of all which, brings the
Periods
of the great Attacks of these Distempers to the mentioned
Time
of
Life.
Those in whom the
original Taint
is deeper and more radicated, and the natural Constitution
weaker,
suffer under these Attacks
sooner.
And those in whom it is
slighter
and more superficial, and whose Complexion is
stronger
and more
hardy,
hold out
longer.
But the Generality suffer first,
eminently,
about the
Meridian
of Life. Hence the common Observation of those that die of a genuine
Consumption,
that they begin to feel it first before
Thirty-six.
§. 4.
There is no
chronical
Distemper whatsoever, more
universal,
more
obstinate,
and more
fatal
in
Britain,
than the
Scurvy,
taken in its general Extent. Scarce any one
chronical
Distemper but owes its
Origin
to a
Scorbutick Cachexie,
or is so complicated with it, that it furnishes its most cruel and most obstinate
Symptoms.
To it we owe all the
Dropsies
that happen after the
Meridian
of Life, all
Diabetes, Asthma's, Consumptions
of several kinds, many sorts of
Colicks
and
Diarrhaea's,
some kinds of
Gouts
and
Rheumatisms,
all
Palsies,
various kinds of
Ulcers,
and, possibly, the
Cancer
itself, and most
cutaneous
Foulnesses, weakly Constitutions, and bad Digestions,
Vapours, Melancholy,
and almost all
nervous
Distempers whatsoever. And what a plentiful
Source
of Miseries these last are, the
Afflicted
best can tell. And scarce any one
chronical
Distemper whatsoever, but has some Degree of this
Evil
faithfully attending it. The Reason why the
Scurvy
is so
Peculiar to this Country.
endemick
a Distemper, and so fruitful of
Miseries,
is, that it is produced by
Causes
mostly special and particular to this
Island
; to wit, The indulging so much in
animal Food,
and
strong
fermenting Liquors, in
contemplative
Studies, and
sedentary
Professions and Employments (and thence the Want of due
Labour
and
Exercise
) together with the
nitrous
Moisture of an
Island,
and the
Inconstancy
and
Inclemency
of the Seasons thence arising. I have had many Occasions to shew, how such
Causes
must necessarily and naturally produce such
Effects.
I will here only touch the Matter slightly, to point out the
Connexion. Animal Foods
and
strong Liquors
to
Excess,
and with Continuance, must load and charge the
Fluids
with their
Salts.
Want of due
Exercise
must suffer these to unite in
Clusters,
and increase their
Bulk
in the small Vessels. Their
larger Bulk,
and greater
Acrimony,
thence arising, must increase the
Viscidity
of the
Fluids,
by breaking the
Blood Globules,
and so
coagulating
the Mass, and at last obstruct the
finer
Pipes, and all the smaller
Glands:
Whereby the
Tone
of all the
elastick
Fibres must be interrupted and broken, and their Vibrations stopt at every obstructed
Gland
and
capillary
Vessel, and an universal
Disorder
produced in the whole
animal Oeconomy.
And this Disorder will operate, and shew it self in
Symptoms
special and particular, according to the special and particular
Make
and
Conformation
of the Parts, the Weakness or the Strength of the
Organs,
the particular Mismanagements, and precise State of the
Air
the Party lives in. And the
Detail
of these general Causes applied to particular Persons, must produce the
respective
Diseases mentioned. In a Word, The
Scurvy
is a kind of
Catholick
Distemper here in
Britain,
arising from
constant
and
general Causes,
from the
Customs
of the People, and from the
Nature
of the
Climate,
which renders the serous Part of the Blood too
thick
and
glewy,
breaks and divides the Union of the
globulous
Parts, obstructs the
small
Vessels, and destroys the
Springiness
and
Elasticity
of the
Fibres.
So that most
chronical
Distempers, can be little else, but
Branches
and
Cions
from this
Root,
which (like
Pandora
's Box) is so fruitful of Variety of Mischiefs. And its arising from the
Climate
and
Customs
of the People, is the Reason why
chronical
Distempers are so frequent in
Britain,
to what they are in
warmer Climates
(which, by a
freer Perspiration
and
lighter Diet,
not only prevent those
Diseases
in their own
Inhabitants,
but
universally
cure those of our
Island
who are afflicted with them, if they flee to those
Regions
any
reasonable Time
before Nature be quite worn out.) For though the Inhabitants of
Britain,
live, for the most part, as
long,
or rather
longer
than those of
warmer
Climates; yet scarce any one, especially those of the
better
Sort, but becomes
crasy,
and suffers under some
chronical
Distemper or other, before they arrive at
old Age.
The same Reason is to be assigned for the Frequency of
Self-murders
here, in
England
especially, beyond any other Country. For few have
Grace
and
Resignation
enough, to suffer patiently the lasting Pains of a
chronical
Distemper, or the yet more
torturing
and
crucifying Anguish
of a perpetual
Dispiritedness
; though I have observed
generally,
and have good Reason to conclude
universally,
That all
Self-murderers
are first
distracted
and distempered in their
intellectual
Faculties. Notwithstanding the
Diffusiveness
and
Universality
of this Disease, so that scarce a single Individual of the
better
Sort is altogether free from it; yet I never once in my Life, saw it
totally extirpated
in those who had it to any Degree, so as to be intirely free from it all the rest of their Lives after; but that it still appeared, and sprang up again in some
Symptom
or other, and at last brought forth that
grand one,
which put a
final Period
to all their Sufferings. One good Reason for this is, That it requires a
Regimen
and
Conduct
so intirely
contrary
and
opposite
to the
natural Habits
and
Customs,
and the universal
Bent
and
Appetites
of the Inhabitants of this
Island,
that it becomes a kind of perpetual
Self-denial
to them; which the
British Nation,
in general, does not mightily admire. Another Reason is, That
fine Folks
use their
Physicians,
as they do their
Laundresses,
send their Linen to them to be cleaned, in order only to be dirtied again. Nothing less than a very moderate Use of
animal Food,
and that of the Kind which abounds least in
urinous Salts
(as most certainly the young and the lighter-coloured do) and a more moderate use of
Spirituous Liquors, due Labour
and
Exercise,
and a careful guarding against the
Inconstancy
and
Inclemency
of the
Seasons,
can keep this
Hydra
under. And nothing else than a
total Abstinence
from
animal Foods,
and
strong fermented Liquors,
can totally extirpate it. And that, too, must be begun early; before, or soon after the
Meridian
of Life; or else there will remain too little
Oil
in the
Lamp,
the
Spirits
will sink too far, ever to be recovered again; and the remaining Part of Life, will be too short for so total a Change as must be made. So that those who suffer greatly under this
British
Distemper, must be contented to
bear
and
forbear,
a little, and must expect no greater
Degree of Health,
than their
Time of Life,
the
Nature
of their Disease, and the State of their
Constitution
will admit of. But still a great Moderation in
animal Foods,
and
spirituous and fermented Liquors, due Exercise,
and a Care to fence against the
Injuries
of the Weather, will make Life tolerably easy; especially if some gentle domestick
Purges
be interspersed. The
Seeds
and young
Sprouts
of Vegetables, have scarce any gross,
fix'd,
or
essential Salts
at all in them. This is not only evident from the Reasons formerly given (because they are young, or the Nourishment appointed by Nature for young Vegetables; for the
Earth
is only a proper
Nest
or
Matrix
for them; and the
Sun
's Heat serves them instead of
Incubation
) but upon
See
Lowth.
Abridg. of Phil. Trans.
v.
2.
p.
661.
Trial
and
Examination,
they yield none, being too light and thin to
calcine
and
incinerate,
and the
Salts
too
volatile
(and consequently, small and fit to pass by
Perspiration,
and thereby can be no way injurious to
Human Constitutions
) to endure the
Fire
; which full-grown
Plants,
their
Stalks
and
Wood,
readily do. And in
unfermented Liquors,
the
Salts
are so
enveloped,
that they cannot unite to form a
Spirit,
and are so
sheathed,
by particular Coats of the
Materials
of the
Vegetable,
that they can scarce do any harm (except when they exceedingly abound) to
animal
Bodies. Hence it comes to pass, that a
vegetable
Diet for a few Weeks or Months, together with drinking Water or unfermented Liquors (such as
Tea, Coffee, Barley-Water, Liquorice-Water, Teas
made of
Oranges,
or other Seeds and Plants) will fasten the Teeth when dropping out, from a
Consumption
of the
Gums
by
scorbutick Salts,
cure any
cutaneous Foulnesses
or
Eruptions,
and even any spreading
Ulcer,
if it is not
Scrofulous,
when no Medicine on the Face of the Earth will touch it. Hence the grand
Maxim
in the Cure of all
Ulcers
is, by
Diet
to bring them to the State of a
Wound,
and then they will cure of themselves. And, as I have elsewhere observed, there is scarce a
thin, consumptive, hysterick
or
hypochondriack,
and weakly Constitution in
England,
which has not for its Parent, a latent or manifest
scorbutick Cachexy,
excepting that which arises from a
Scrofula.
From the whole we may gather, how much a
proper Regimen
of
Diet
and
due Exercise,
with the other
Helps
and
Remedies
already mentioned in this
Treatise,
is able to do in most
British chronical
Distempers.
§. 4.
Having had so often Occasion to speak of weak and relaxed Nerves, it will not be amiss to
suggest,
some of the outward and most sensible
Signs
and
Characters,
whereby it may be manifest, whether
one's self,
or any
particular
Person he is concerned for, be of this
Make
and
Constitution,
before some
chronical
Distemper, or other dismal
Symptom
has made it plain; in order to prevent
these
as far as possible. To which purpose we must observe, that the
Nerves
are Bundles of
solid, springy,
and
elastick
Threads or
Filaments
(like twisted
CatGuts
or
Hairs
) whose one
Extremity
is terminated at the
common Sensory
in the
Brain,
where the
Soul
is supposed to reside; the
other
is interwoven into every Point of the
Scarf-skin,
the
Membranes,
the
Coats
of the
Vessels,
the
Muscles
and the other
sensible Solids
of the Body, in order to convey the
Motions, Actions, Vibrations
or
Impulses
of outward
Objects
to the
Soul.
These
Threads
or
Filaments
are highly
elastick
or
springy,
as we may see from their hardned Substances, such as
Whalebone, Ivory, Horn
and
Cartileges,
which are more eminently
so
than any other Bodies known. Some Persons have their
Fibres
very
quick,
readily
vibrating,
highly
springy
and
elastick,
so as to
tremble
and
shake
violently, by the least
Impulse.
Others have more
rigid, firm,
and
stretched Fibres,
which yield not but to strong
Impressions,
and move slowly, but move for a long Time.
Lastly,
There are those who have
weak, loose, slender
and
relaxed Fibres,
which though easily moved, and yielding to the weakest
Impulse,
yet communicate only
imperfect, languid
and
faint Impressions
and
Vibrations
to the
Soul,
and have all their other
Animal Functions
of the same
languishing
Nature. And 'tis of these last, I have been all along speaking. And we may readily discover them, by these outward
Characters
and
Signs.
1. Those who have naturally
soft, thin, small
and
short Hair,
are of a
loose, flabby,
and
relaxed
State of
Nerves.
For the
Hair
seems to be some of the fleshy
Fibres,
only lengthen'd outwards and harden'd. At least, like the
Fibres,
they consist of a great many lesser
Filaments
contained in a common
Membrane,
are
solid, transparent
and
elastick:
And as these Hairs are in
Strength
and
Bulk,
so generally the
Fibres
of the Body are. 2. Those of the
fairest Hair,
are of the
loosest Fibres
(other Things being equal) because the
Fairest
are more
rare, porous
and
fungous
; And because Bodies of the
lighter
Colours, consist of
smaller
Parts, than those of the more flaming Colours; as has been formerly observed. 3. Those of large or (as they are called)
mastiff Muscles.
and of
big Bones,
are generally of a firmer State of
Nerves,
than those of
little Muscles
and
Bones.
Because the
Muscles
and
Bones
being
similar
to their
Fibres,
as is highly probable, and these being
bigger,
and consequently stronger, so must those be; and on the contrary. 4.
Soft, yielding, pappy
Flesh, is a sure
Symptom
of
loose Fibres
; whereas
hard, firm
and
unyielding Muscles,
are the constant Sign of
firm Fibres.
5. A
white, fair, blanch'd
or
ashen
-coloured
Complexion
or
Skin,
constantly indicates a
weaker
and more
relaxed
State of
Fibres,
than a
ruddy, fresh, dark sallow
or
black Hue
; for Reasons already given. 6. A fat,
corpulent
and
flegmatick
Constitution, is always attended with
loose, flabby
and
relaxed Fibres,
by their being dissolved and
oversoaked
in
Moisture
and
Humidity.
And, on the contrary, those of a
dry, clean
and
firm Make,
have
strong, firm
and
tense Fibres.
7. Those who are subject to
Evacuations
of any kind, in any Degree greater than what is natural; and those who by any
Accident,
have suffered long by any
preternatural Evacuation
whatsoever, are, or become of
loose, relaxed Fibres
and
Nerves.
Thus those who frequently run into
Purging,
or
Floods
of pale
Water, flow
at the Mouth or Nose, or
melt
into profuse
Sweats,
those who any Way have lost much
Blood,
have had a
Diarrhoea,
have recovered of a
Fever,
and those of the
Sex
who have
purified
longer or more than is usual; all of these, are
originally,
or become
accidentally,
of
weak
and
relaxed Nerves
and
Fibres.
8.
Lastly,
Those who are of a
cold Constitution,
are apt to run into
Coldnesses
on their
Extremities,
or ready to catch
Cold,
are also of
weak
and
loose Fibres
and
Nerves:
because these are Signs of a
slow
and
interrupted Circulation
and
Perspiration
; which manifests a weak
Spring
in the
Fibres
of the
Coats
of the
Vessels,
the
Fibres
of the
Muscles,
and a Weakness of the
Spring
of the
Scales
of the
Scarf-skin.
§. 5.
On this Occasion of rehearsing the Signs of weak Nerves, I cannot omit
apprising
those of the breeding Part of the
Sex,
and those who are concerned in them, of their Readiness of
Miscarrying,
unless duly tended and managed, especially those of them of
tender
and
weak Nerves,
or of too
delicate
a
Constitution.
The Signs I have now laid down, will always make it evident, if any
particular
Person is so or not. And if upon
Examination
they be found to be
such,
they will be apt, upon the slightest Occasion, to run into frequent
Miscarriages
; whereby a great Part of their
Posterity
will be destroyed, and they themselves exposed to
Dropsies
or
Consumptions,
or (which is worse than either) perpetual
Lowness
of
Spirits, Vapours
and other
Hysterick
Disorders. And by this Misfortune alone, a considerable Part of the
better Sort
here in
England,
perish and are lost.
Nature
has formed the Generality of the Sex, of a
soft, slender,
and
delicate Make.
Want of due
Exercise,
a full
Table,
indiscreet
Nurses,
overfond
Mothers,
and
Hereditary
Sharpnesses, make them much more so. And if by
Neglect
or
Accident,
they once begin to
miscarry,
every
first Miscarriage
paves the Way for a
second,
and a
third,
and so on, till the
poor, pretty Creature,
has neither
Blood
nor
Spirits, Appetite
nor
Digestion
left. For one Miscarriage weakens the
Constitution,
breaks and tears the
nervous System
more, than two
mature Births.
If ever this is to be secured or prevented effectually, 'tis to be done, at least attempted, in the
first Instance,
if possible, at least as soon as may be, before a total
Relaxation
and
Dissolution
of the
nervous System
is brought on. The
Giddiness, Romping,
and
Gadding
about of the young Creature herself, is often the Cause of her
Miscarriage.
But oftner the
Forwardness
and
Indiscretion
of
Surgeons
and
Midwives,
by
bleeding
on every little threatning
Symptom,
without considering the
Constitution. Bleeding
may do well enough in
sanguine, robust,
and
plethorick
Constitutions: But 'tis
Death
and certain
Rain
to those of
slender
and weak
Nerves,
and the surest
Way
to cause the
Miscarriage
'tis designed to prevent, by
relaxing
the
Nervous
Fibres; which
Bleeding
does as certainly, as it lessens the
Quantity
of the
Blood.
The most effectual
Method
I have ever found to prevent such
Misfortunes,
is, To order those in such Circumstances, to drink plentifully
Bristol Water,
with a very little
red Wine,
for their
constant Drink
; to lay the
Plaister ad Herniam,
with
Oil
of
Cinnamon,
and
London Laudanum,
in a due Proportion, to their
Reins
; to keep them to a
low, light, easily digested Diet,
especially of the
farinaceous Vegetables,
and
milk Meats
; to strengthen their Bowels, with
Diascordium
and
toasted Rhubarb,
if they become too
slippery
; to
air
them once or twice a Day, in a
Coach
or
Chair,
and to keep them
cheerful,
and in good
Humour,
as much as may be. This
Method
will scarce ever fail, unless a latent
Scrofula,
or some other
Hereditary Sharpnesses
in their
Juices,
destroy the
Birth.
§. 6.
The
Tender, Sickly,
and those of
weak Nerves,
ought to have a Regard in the
Conduct
of their
Health,
to the different
Seasons
of the
Year.
I have elsewhere
Essay on the Gout.
observed, that such
Constitutions
begin to
sink, droop
and
languish,
about
Christmas
or
Mid-winter,
go on from
worse
to
worse
till the
Spring
is over,
get up
a little, as the
Sun
grows
higher
and
stronger,
arrive at their
Meridian Altitude
of
Health
and
Strength
about
Midsummer,
and hold it out so long as the
Sun
warms them, or the
Strength
they have acquired lasts. Those who have very weak
Nerves, fail sooner,
even about the
Autamnal Equinox:
But they get up
sooner,
because their weaker
Nerves
make less
Resistance.
The
Sun new ferments, rarifies,
and
exalts
their
viscid Juices:
So that the
Circulation
is better performed, more
full, free
and
universal.
The
Perspiration
is also thereby much
increased
and
promoted:
And the Load being drawn off, by the Force of the
Sun's
Heat; their
Appetite
is sharpen'd, and their
Digestion
mended: To which the
serene, warm
and
clear Air,
and the greater Liberty of
Exercise
and
Business
contributes. I should advise such therefore,
religiously
to follow the
Indications
of
Nature,
and to take these
Benefits
it offers
then,
as a certain
Sign
of their being
best
and
fittest
for them. After
Christmas,
and in the Beginning of the
Spring, Milk, Eggs,
and
Spring-Herbs,
as
Asparagus, Spinach,
and
Sprouts
come in
first:
Of which I advise them, to make the greatest Part of their
Diet
then. As the
Spring
advances,
Lamb
and
Veal, Green Pease
and
Sallading
abound. After the
vernal Equinox, Chicken
and
Rabbit,
young
Turkies,
and
early Fruit
come in
Season.
About
Midsummer, Mutton
and
Partridge, Colliflower
and
Artichoak
may be had. And
Autumn
brings in
Beef
and
Venison, Turnip
and
Carrot.
And it will be found, the
concoctive Powers
of weak Persons, and those of
relaxed Nerves, rise
and
fortify
gradually, as these
stronger
Foods come in
Season.
By
Season,
I mean not, those
earlier
Days, that
Luxury
in the
Buyers,
and
Avarice
in the
Sellers
about
London,
have forced the several kinds of
Vegetables,
and
Animals
in. But by
Season
I mean, that
Time
of the
Year,
in which by
Nature,
common
Culture,
and the mere
Operation
of the
Sun
and
Climate,
they are in most
Plenty
and
Perfection
in this
Country.
But the principal
Point
I would
urge
is, That
such
Persons, would regularly begin to correspond with
Nature,
in both
lessening
the
Quantity,
and
lowering
the
Quality
of their
Food,
as the
Seasons
indicate, and Providence provides the proper Food in greatest Plenty and Perfection. By which they will preserve the
Ballance
of their
Health
pretty near
equal
all the Year round, have the
lightest
and
least Food,
when their
concoctive Powers
are
least,
and their
nervous Fibres weakest,
and
rise
in the Food, in
proportion
as these
rise.
Add to these, That as
Winter
is best for
Home Exercises, Summer
is fittest for those without
Doors.
And as the
Day
lengthens, their
Labour
and
Exercises abroad
ought to be lengthened out. Neither
Sydenham
nor
Fuller,
have been able to tell the Half of what obstinate
Exercise
will do, in low, cachectick, consumptive Cases.
q. d.
Unweary'd Exercise will overcome any chronical Distemper.
—Labor omnia vincit
Improbus.—
HORAT.
§. 7.
The
Germans
have a
Proverb,
That
wise Men
ought to put on their
Winter
Cloaths
early
in
Autumn,
and put them off
late
in the
Spring.
By which they would insinuate, that People ought always to go
well-cloathed.
Whatever may be in this, as to Persons that drink hard, and require a plentiful
Discharge
by the
Skin,
those who are
sober,
or who would render themselves
hardy,
ought to accustom themselves to as few Cloaths, both in
Summer
and
Winter,
as is possible. Besides the general
Rule,
of having as few
Necessaries
as may be;
much
and
heavy
Cloaths,
attract
and
draw
too much by
Perspiration
; as Dr.
Keill
proves, in his
Med. Static. Britann. tender
and
debilitate
the Habit, and weaken the Strength. The Custom of wearing
Flanel,
is almost as bad as a
Diabetes.
Nothing can
enfeeble
and
drain, weak
and
tender
Persons more. To make this clear, we must distinguish between
Perspiration
and
Sweating
; which differ as widely, as the daily
natural Emptying
our Bowels, and a
Looseness
or
Diarrhaea.
And as no Body in their Senses, much less the Tender and Weakly, would endeavour to encourage this
last
; no more ought they that other of Sweating. For as promoting
slippery
Bowels, would always keep the
Fibres
of the
alimentary
Passages
relaxed
; so would perpetual
Sweating,
those of the
Skin.
And as the
Moisture
and
Damps
that
Flanel
perpetually keeps the Skin in, and its growing so readily
dirty,
shews what a
Flux
of
Perspiration
it promotes there; so the perpetual
Friction
produced by it, gives the
Reason.
If one lays on a
superfluous Load
of
strong Liquors,
'tis happy for him Nature
discharges
the
Ocean
any how; for he had better
sweat,
than burn in a
Fever.
But for
temperate, tender
and
sickly
Persons, the more
firm
and
tight
all the
Organs
of their
Evacuations
be (if they be not totally
obstructed
) the
better
it will be for them, the more it will
strengthen
their
Nerves,
and
harden
their
Constitution.
Nothing but
Superfluity
in
Food
or
strong Liquors,
requires
Sweating:
And that is the
Reason,
the
Germans
run so much upon it. So far, that
In his
Medicina Mentis & Corporis.
Tschirnhaus,
a very
learned
and
ingenious Gentleman
otherwise, resolves the
Cure
of almost all
Distempers
into
Sweating,
upon observing its Success in their
Bottle-Fevers.
They drink much
thin sharp Wine,
which passes every way; and when it comes through the
Skin,
both the
Conflict
and the
Danger
is over. But for those Inhabitants of our
Islands,
who are
sober
because they are
tender,
or would preserve their
Health
; the
lighter
and
fewer
their
Cloaths
are, both by
Night
and by
Day,
in
Summer
and
Winter,
the
hardier
they will grow. The more open the whole Body is to the
Air,
provided it be
benign
; the more
fluid,
and the more
active,
will the
Animal Juices
be; and, by consequence, the more
full,
and
free
will the
Perspiration
be. For right tempered
Air,
is beneficial and
medicinal
to the
Animal Juices:
And a great Heap of
Cloaths,
only
condenses
our own
excrementitious
Atmosphere
about us, and stops the kindly
Influence
of this beneficial
Element.
As to catching
Cold,
he that lives
soberly,
and avoids
nitrous,
that is,
moist
or
frosty Air,
will either not readily catch
Cold,
or if he does, will soon get rid of it. It is only
Air
thus
conditioned,
that
thickens
and
coagulates
our
Juices,
and gives painful and dangerous
Colds.
It is
inward Heat
only, which destroys us. No
sober Persons
ever suffered by
Cold,
unless it were
extreme,
or that they expose themselves
obstinately
to it, against
Sense
and
Reason.
§. 8.
Another Mean of
Health,
to the
Tender, Studious
and
Sedentary,
is much and often
shaving Head
and
Face,
and
washing, scraping
and
paring
their
Feet
and
Toes.
The great Benefit (besides the Pleasure) to the
Head, Eyes
and
Ears,
by often
shaving
the
Head
and
Face,
and
washing
them Daily in
cold Water,
with a few
Drops
of the
Compound Spirit of Lavender,
or
Hungary Water,
is best understood by those that have felt it. The Cutting off the
Hair,
and
shaving
the
Head,
will, in the
first
Instance, scarce fail to cure a
Head-ach,
a
Fluxion,
or even a nervous
Weakness
of the
Eyes.
Any one
Evacuation,
will not only lessen the
whole Mass
; but, if encouraged, will make that
Evacuation
more ample and full. The more and oftner the
Hair
is
shaved,
the
faster
and
thicker
it will
grow.
So that thus
shaving
the
Head
and
Face
frequently, will be like an
Issue,
or perpetual
Blister
on these
Parts.
Besides the
Washing
with
warm Water
and
Soap,
and
scraping
the
Skin
with a
Razor,
will
cleanse
the Mouths of the
Perspiratory Ducts,
from that
Morphew
and
Scurf
that adheres to them, and will extremely encourage the
Perspiration
from these Parts, and give a full and free
Vent,
to the
Fumes
on the
Head
and
Brain.
And
washing
well, and
dipping
in
cold Water
afterwards, will shut the
Scales
of the
Scarf-skin,
and secure against
catching Cold
in the
Head,
which is frequently a heavy
Grievance,
to
tender, studious
and
sedentary
Persons. Therefore I should advise
such,
to
shave
both
Head
and
Face every
Day, or every
other
Day, or as
often
as they possibly can, and
wash
them well in
cold Water
afterwards. What
shaving
does to the
upper Parts,
the same do
washing
and
scraping
the
Feet,
and
paring
their
Nails
to the
lower.
We know by the
Ticklishness
of the
Soles,
what a multitude of fine
nervous Fibres
terminate in them.
Walking, Standing
and
Treading,
render them
callous,
and the
Skin thick
and
hard
; which much injures the
Perspiration,
and hinders the
Derivation
of the
Blood
and
Spirits
into them. And 'tis a common
Observation,
That nothing is a surer
Sign
of
strong
and
rank
Health, than a
kindly Heat,
and a
profuse Perspiration
on the
Feet.
It shews a full and free
Circulation
in the small
Vessels,
at the greatest Distance from the Source of
Heat
and
Motion
; than which nothing can more plainly
indicate great and good Health.
On the contrary,
weak
and
tender
Persons, are always
cold
in the
Legs
and
Feet,
and first of all feel
Cold
there in
frosty
Weather. Let the
Tender
therefore, and the
Weakly,
duly
once
a Week, wash in warm
Water, rub, scrape
and
pare
their
Feet
and
Nails.
Which will likewise prevent
Corns, Hardnesses,
and the unnatural
Tendency
of their
Nails
into the Flesh. These are, 'tis true, but low and seemingly
trifling Observations
towards
Health
; but 'tis in this Case, as 'tis in a more
momentous
one;
He that despiseth little Things, shall perish by little and little.
§. 9.
Those
tender
and
valetadinary
People, whose
Studies
or
Profession
oblige them to
read
or
write
much, ought, as far as they possibly can, to
stand
in an erect
Posture, bending
their
Head
and
Breast
as little as may be,
leaning
only on a
sloping Desk,
and continuing their
Exercises
in that
Posture,
'till they grow
weary
; then rest, and be at it again.
Custom
and
Practice,
obstinately persisted in, will at length render the
Posture
easy to them. And 'tis inconceivable, how many and great Advantages it will bring to the
Constitution. Sitting, Bending
and
Leaning
low,
compress
some, if not many of the
Vessels
of the Body; and so stop and retard the
Circulation
of the Blood and Juices thro' them; which makes a more ready
Flux
through the other more
patent
and
pervious
ones. Whence that
Sleepiness
and
Disability
to Motion in the
Limbs,
till the
Blood
and
Spirits,
by a proper Posture, get a free
Admittance
into them. From this also, there ensues an
unequable
and
subsultory Circulation
of the
Juices,
and an unequable
Secretion
in the
Glands
; and, consequently, an unequal
Growth, Strength
and
Vigour,
of the
Organs
and
Parts.
Which is the Cause of
Rickets
in
Children
; careless Nurses, neglecting to
rock, dandle
and
toss
them sufficiently, that the
Circulation
of the
Juices
and
Spirits
may be equally promoted every where. And to avoid this
Inconveniency,
seems to be the
Reason
why the
Romans
and the
Eastern
Nations, lay along, at their great
Meals
and
Feasts,
and when they were obliged to continue long in one
Posture.
Besides, that in
Writing
or
Reading,
if one sits, there is a constant
Pressure
on the
Cavity
of the
Breast
and
Stomach,
which must necessarily
weaken
their
Functions
; and these are commonly the
Organs,
which first decay in
Clerks
and
Under Secretaries.
And
hanging down
the
Head,
is the ready Way to raise
Fumes
and
Vapours
to it: Whereby such will be exposed to
Lowness
of
Spirits,
and perhaps
Consumptions
;
all which
are, in a great measure, avoided by an erect
Posture:
For thereby all the
Organs
will be in their
natural Situation.
Many of the
Muscles
will be in Action, and so press on the
Blood Vessels,
to facilitate the
Circulation.
But
chiesly,
by this erect
Posture,
the
Juices
will have the Advantage of their own
Gavity,
to
descend
with the greater
Velocity,
to
warm
and
cherish
the
lower Parts,
which are remotest from the
Source
of
Motion
; and the grosser
Evacuations
will be more readily
promoted,
and thereby preserve the
upper Regions clear
and
serene:
Which will bring great Advantages towards
Health
and
Long Life.
But this
Practice
will never become easy, unless to those who begin
young.
Those who
dictate
or
consult,
ought to do them
standing
or
walking
; which would relieve both
Body
and
Mind.
§. 10.
The
Unwieldy, Fat
and
Overgrown,
besides the
Rules
already laid down, I advise, in particular, as much as is possible for them, to
abstain
from
Drink
of all kinds. No one
Rule
or
Condition,
ever was contrived, or can be, of
so great Use,
to
preserve
and
lengthen
the
Lives
of such, as an
obstinate
and
universal Astinence
from all kinds of
Liquors.
If the
Doctrine
be
true
(as 'tis highly
probable
) that the
Mass
of all the
Bodies
of
Vegetables
and
Animals,
is only
Pipes
and
vascular Tubes,
formed all at once, in their first
Rudiments
and
Seeds
; then
Growth
and
Increase
of
Bulk,
is only
filling
and
plumping
up,
diluting
and
unfolding
these
Pipes
with
Liquors.
We know from
Kircher
's and Dr.
Woodward
's Experiments, to what
Bulk Vegetables
will thrive, by mere
Element
alone. Two
Pigs
of the same
Litter,
were fed upon an equal
Quantity
of
Milk
; only, to one of them, the
Milk
was mixt with the same
Quantity
of
Water.
After a
Month
's feeding, they were both
killed,
and that which had the
Water,
was found much
larger
and
fatter
than the other.
Dropsies
(at least
Anasarca
's) have been cured by an obstinate Forbearance of
Drink.
And
Lethargies
proceed from the
Moisture
of the
Brain.
And these are the two
Distempers, Unwieldy, Fat
and
Overgrown
Persons are most subject to. Therefore, such ought to avoid
Drink,
as those do, who have the
i. e. Dread
of Water; a Disease so called, proceeding from the Bite of a
mad Dog.
Hydrophobia,
or are bit by a
mad Dog.
Which they may easily bring about, if they feed only on young
animal,
and
moist
and
cool vegetable
Food. But whenever I speak of
vegetable Food,
I mean that which is dressed by
Fire.
§. 11.
To the
Aged,
and those who are passing off the
Stage
of
Life,
I have only
two
Things to recommend, if they would make the
last Hour,
as
easy, indolent
and
free
from
Pain
as may be. The
first
is, That they would avoid the
Injuries
of the
Weather,
as much as ever they can. The
Blood
of the
Aged
is ever most certainly
poor
and
viscid.
Their
Perspiration
little or none at all; and their
concoctive
Powers
weak.
And consequently, they must be
subjected
to, and suffer by the weakest
Injuries
of the
Weather.
Therefore I advise
such,
to keep
Home,
provide
warm Rooms
and
Beds,
and good
Fires,
whenever the
Sky lowrs, Winds blow,
or the
Air
is
sharp.
Such are not to expect to
raise, improve,
or
exalt
their
Constitutions
or
Health. Freedom
from
Pain,
to prevent the
vital Flame
's being extinguished by
Accidents,
and to have it
burn
as clear, and as long as Nature, at their
Age,
has designed it should, is all they ought to
aim
at.
Exercise
is only to purge off
Superfluities.
If
these
therefore, be careful not to
exceed,
they will want none, nor would it much contribute to their
Ease.
For in old Men the
Bones petrify
; the
Cartilages
and
Tendons
turn into
Bones
; and the
Muscles
and
Nerves,
into
Cartilages
and
Tendons.
And all the
Solids
lose their
Elasticity,
and turn, in a great measure, into that
Earth
they are going to be
dissolved
into. So that the
Solids
wanting
Elasticity, Exercise
can do but little to
shake
off the
Load.
It will therefore be
enough
for
such,
to air themselves when the
Sun
lights them, and the
Summer
Breezes can
refresh
them. Or, if they would lengthen out their
Days,
to remove to a warmer
Climate,
by which they may live as long as the
Crow.
The
second
Thing I would advise
such,
is, To lessen their
Diet gradually,
as they grow
older,
before
Nature
has forced this
Diminution
upon them. This is a powerful Mean to make their old Age
green
and
indolent,
and to preserve the
Remains
of their
Senses
to the very last. By this alone,
Cornaro
lengthned out his
Days,
and preserved his
Senses,
in a great measure, intire to a
hundred Years.
He gradually lessened his
Diet
so far, that, as his
Historian
informs us, he came at last to live on the
Yolk of an Egg
three Days. I will not take upon me to advise others, in what
Measure,
either of Time or Quantity of
Food,
they ought to
diminish.
But this, I think, they ought to consider, That since 'tis certain aged
Persons
become
Children,
as to the
Weakness
of their
Digestions,
they ought to
diminish,
as
Children
increase in their Food, from
weaker
to
weaker,
and from
less
to
less.
For as their
Solids
are
unelastick,
their
concoctive Powers
weak, their
Perspiration
little, and the
Expences
of Living scarce any, their
Repairs
(not to
overlay
the
Spark
of
Life
remaining) ought to lessen
proportionally.
And 'tis to the Neglect of this, in
aged Persons,
that those
Rheums, Catarrhs, Wind
and
Colicks,
Loss of
Memory
and
Senses,
those
Aches
and
Pains,
and all that
dismal and black Train of Miseries,
that wait on
Long Life,
is mostly owing. Which, by a discreet and timeous lessening their
Diet,
might, in a great measure, be prevented.
§. 12.
There is no
Mistake
more fatal in the Cure of chronical Distempers, incident to the Weak and Tender, than the
vain and unjust
Expectation they entertain of a
sudden
and
quick
Cure, or even of a sensible Relief. This, with their Inconstancy, and Impatience of being confined in their Appetites, makes them either throw off all Remedies and Restraints in Despair, and give themselves up to an
habitual
Indulgence in all those Things that brought on or exasperated the Distemper, or run about changing, from Doctor to Doctor, till they end with a
Quack,
or die under the Hands of a
Mountebank,
and are
fool'd
out of their Lives and Money at once. It is surprizing that reasonable Men can imagine, that in any
small
Time, any possible Methods or Medicines should cure, or even sensibly relieve a Distemper, that perhaps was
brought with
them into the World, and
interwoven
with the Principles of their Being, or, at least, may have been
Ten
or
Twenty Years
a breeding, by
Excesses,
or an
indiscreet Regimen.
I know no fitter Similitude of the Case, than the annual
Income
of an Estate just sufficient to keep one in decent Necessaries, and due Plenty and Cleanness. If one that has such an Estate, run out every Year, for Ten or Twenty Years, and then set about to retrieve, before he be come to
Starving
or a
Gaol,
would we not count him mad, if he should imagine by Retrenching, Management or Saving, even joining to those
Day-labour,
that a
few
Months or Years would recover all, and bring his Estate to its first Condition. No! he must
labour, abstain
and
manage
for several Years; and the Time required, will be always in a Proportion compounded of the
Rate
of his former
Expences,
and his present
Saving.
That is, If his Expences were but
small,
and his Savings
great,
the Time will be the shorter, in respect of the Time he continued his overspending. If he gives over
Saving,
he must at last most certainly starve or go to Gaol; and if he begins to save in due Time, he will certainly
retrieve
all; but the whole consists in
Labour
and
Saving
for a
due Time. Excesses
and an
undue Regimen,
is running out of one's Health; which, without a proper Remedy, as
Labour
and
Abstinence,
will necessarily bring a Man to
Diseases
or
Death.
And these must be continued a
Time proportioned
to the Greatness of the
Excesses,
with regard to the
Labour
and
Abstinence.
Most
chronical
Distempers have for their Parents, corrupted Fluids, and broken Solids, as has been shewn. A bad State of the
Stomach
and
alimentary Organs,
either beget these or accompany them. Suppose, for Example, the Case be a
scorbutick
Habit, shewing it self with
Blotches
and a
watry Ichor,
or
Bumps,
with
yellow
or
black
Spots on the Skin, a thick, viscid,
rheumatick
Blood, an obstructed
Liver,
and a constant overflowing of the
Gall,
Oppression of
Spirits,
want of
Appetite
and
Digestion,
and thereby a
Wasting, Lassitude, Inquietude,
&c. which I have often met with in your
Bon Vivants,
and your Free-Livers, who have been born healthy, vigorous and lively; I know no way in Nature to relieve and effectually cure this Case, but by oftenrepeated, gentle
Vomits
and
Stomach Purges,
as the
Choler
(which certainly degenerates into
Flegm,
before the Cure be brought about; for
Flegm
is but
Choler
more diluted, or the grosser Part of the
Serum
only, as
Choler
is that of the whole
arterial Fluid
; and when
Choler
is come to
Flegm,
the Cure is half carried on, one Part of the Fluids being already purified, and the
Liver
free and open; As the
Choler,
I say,) and the
Flegm
rises and loads the alimentary Passages;
Bitters, Aromaticks
and
Steel
varied and prescribed, according to the Strength of the Patient, and one kind as another has lost its Virtue;
Chalybeat
and
Mineral
Waters, constant
Labour
and
Exercise
; a
cool, light, spare Diet,
and constant proper
Regimen,
long and obstinately persisted in. The Patient will often complain, What!
Vomits
and
Bitters, Galloping
and
Fasting
for ever!
Vomits
only relieve for a few Days, but do not
cure:
We grow as bad as ever again, and in some Months Perseverance, find ourselves just where we began. New Doctors must be had, and they must either be cashier'd if they pursue the same Intentions (which, if they be honest Men, they must do) or else must write Things that can neither do Good nor Harm, or those which will actually hurt, for their Fees (for there is no
Medium
) till the miserable Person has run thro' the whole Faculty; and at last got into the
Charlatan
Tribe. It is certain, that when Nature has begun to throw the gross and viscid Parts of the Juices on those loose and spungy Glands, it will continue so to do, till it has deflegmated the whole Mass; and every new Vomit will make Room for another; and there is no other Remedy as long as there is any viscid Humour remaining, nor can the Decline of the Disease be discovered so certainly by any Thing, as by the Lessening of the Quantity excerned, and the Lengthening of the Intervals: As in a Vessel of Oil and Water incorporated, a sure Way to separate the Oil from the Water is, to skim it off as it comes to the Top. Now
as long
as there is any Oil remaining it will swim, if you but give it Time to extricate itself from the Embraces of the
Water,
and then you may separate the viscid Mixture intirely. No great Purpose in Life was ever brought about, but by
Time
and
Patience,
and by constantly
pursuing
the most natural and best approved Means that lead towards that End. Nature works not by sudden Jumps and Starts, but goes on steadily,
fortement & doucement,
and 'tis Nature that is the true Physician: Art only removes Obstacles, checks Violences, and gently sollicites Nature the Way she tends. This requires
Time
and
Patience. Tempus edax Rerum.
It most certainly consumes chronical Diseases, if not fuelled and fed;
Nothing else
can.
§. 13.
In fine, Providence has been kind and gracious to us beyond all Expression, in furnishing us with a certain
Relief,
if not a Remedy, even to our most
intense Pains
and
extreme Miseries.
When our Patience can hold out no longer, and our Pains are at last come to be
insupportable,
we have always ready at Hand a Medicine, which is not only a present Relief, but, I may say, a standing and
constant Miracle.
Those only who have wanted it most, and have felt its friendly and kind Help in their Tortures, can best tell its
wonderful Effects,
and the great
Goodness
of Him who has bestowed it on us. I mean
Opium,
and its Solution
Laudanum,
which, when properly prescribed, and prudently managed, is a most
certain
and
sudden
Relief in all
exquisite
and
intense
Pain. The
Manner of its Operation
may be gathered, from the Observations I have made in the preceding Treatise. Pain constricts, crisps up, shortens and contracts animal Fibres. It acts like a Wedge in tearing, rending and dividing these small Filaments; it does to them in a living Body, what the Points of Salts do to all animal Substances, which are to be preserved for Food,
viz.
hardens, stiffens and contracts them. The Fibres of live Animals being contractile, tonick and springy, when a hard pointed Body enters them (which is the Case in all bodily Pain) the Parts by their contractile Nature, fly from, recede, and shun, as much as possibly they can, the wounding Instrument. This appears in the large Gash of a Wound, made across the Fibres of a Muscle; in the continual Bending towards the other Side, when any Part of one is pained; in the
Cramps
and
Convulsions,
nay, and sometimes
Fevers,
produced by intense
acute Pain.
Pleasure, on the contrary,
relaxes
the Fibres by a gentle, soft, and bland, or (as the
Mathematicians
speak) a commensurate and harmonious Touch. It acts on the Fibres as two unison and concordant musical Instruments act on one another, and by stroaking, softening and smoothing, comes at last intirely to relax and unbend them. The Parts of the Fibres run after, follow and pursue, and at last break their Union in some Degree, to reach such a demulcent Touch. Some Persons have had the Faculty to allay Pain, by gently smoothing the afflicted Part with their Hands; which in some Measure was true of the
Touching Doctor.
Soft Oils, and emollient Herbs, with gentle Warmth, by
relaxing
the crisped Fibres, will allay
Pain.
Soft Beds and Cloaths, and tepid Baths will relax and weaken the whole Habit. Now since Pain so certainly crisps up, constricts and
contracts
animal Fibres, and since
Opiates
infallibly, if duly dosed, relieve and
ease
Pain, I can see no possible Way it can effect that, but by
relaxing
and
unbending
these Fibres as much, or near as much, as Pain contracts and draws them up. And that this is the real Fact, we may observe from many Effects of
Opiates.
1. Nothing is so powerful, or so certain a
Diaphoretick
as an
Opiate.
Nothing causes such plentiful Sweating, especially if joined with
Volatiles,
and promoted with plentiful drinking small, warm Liquors. This it can do only by relaxing the Fibres of the Skin and Perspiratory Glands. 2. Nothing so much
palls
the
Appetite,
and
weakens
the first
Digestions,
as the frequent Use of
Opiates
; insomuch, that most People, after a liberal Dose of them, seldom fail to reach, and never care for Food for a considerable Time after, till their Effects are wrought off; which are the constant Symptoms of a
relaxed Stomach and Guts.
3. Nothing so much promotes the
Eruption
of the Small-Pox and Measles, the
Expulsion
of the Stone and Foetus, the Monthly, and the After-Birth
Purifications
of the Sex, as
Opiates
; insomuch, that in difficult Births, they are now the only Resource of the Midwife Physicians; and, when joined with
Volatiles,
will bring on the most powerful and
vigorous
Throws, in the most weak and
languishing
Constitutions. These Effects they can produce only by
relaxing
those Fibres Pain has
contracted
and render'd unelastick in some measure. 4. Nothing quiets and stops
Cramps, Convulsions
and
Hysterick
Fits, so suddenly and certainly as
Opiates
do. And every one knows these arise from violent Contractions, and crisping up of the muscular Fibres. All these, and many more such Effects,
Opiates
produce, by
unbending, loosening,
and
relaxing
those Fibres violent and acute Pain had constricted and
contracted,
and by giving a Respite and Reprieve from its Tortures, and thereby allowing Nature (the only true Physician) to go undisturbed about its own Work. The Way it stops Purging, and cures a
Diarrhaea,
I take to be by carrying off the sharp and watry Humours in the Bowels by
Perspiration,
which
Opium
exceedingly promotes; by quieting those
Spasms
and
Convulsions,
and allaying those
Stimulations
excited by Purging; and settling and calming the Violence of the
Peristaltick
Motion of the Guts, which
hurries off
their Contents. I will not take upon me here, to determine the proper Cases for
Opiates,
or their
Doses.
That is the Business of the Physician. But in general I may say, Wherever Pain is
acute, intolerable
and
past
enduring, where it may indanger
Convulsions,
a
Fever
or
Inflammation
; after premising the proper universal
Evacuations
(such as Bleeding, Blistering, Cupping, Purging or Glistering, as the Case requires, or will bear)
Opiates
then will most certainly relieve, and may be safely administred. If the Case is attended with
Vomiting,
solid
Opium
will do best; because it will be in a smaller Volume, and will not be so readily rejected. If speedy Relief be required where there is no Vomiting, then
Laudanum
will disperse soonest through the Habit, because
Liquid,
and joined with a Spirituous Vehicle will
soonest
effect the Design, raise the oppressed Spirits more, and penetrate deeper and quicker. In common Cases a vinous Vehicle will be sufficient, because
Opium
is best dissolved in Wine, to make
Laudanum.
There are
four Cases,
in which 'tis absolutely and eminently necessary; the
Cholick
; the
Stone
; the hard
Labours,
After-Birth and Monthly sluggish
Purifications
of the Sex, especially if attended with violent Pain, as is common in such Cases; and in the
Gout
and
Rheumatism.
In the
first,
it ought always to be given with some Stomach Purge, as
Elixir Salutis,
or
Tincture
of
Hiera Picra,
with
Syrup
of
Buckthorn,
and in those of more tender Bowels, with
Tincture
of
Rhubarb
; especially if the Cholick is in the lower Bowels and attended with no Vomiting; in which Case an artificial Vomit is to be premised, if Circumstances forbid it not. In the
Stone
it ought to be given with
Oil
of sweet
Almonds,
or in some soft
Emulsion,
to lubricate the Parts. In the
two last
Cases, it ought always to be given with proper
Volatiles, Antihystericks
and
Attenuants.
In violent and acute Pain, the first Dose ought to be large, at least from
thirty
to
forty-five
Drops of liquid
Laudanum,
or its Equivalent in
Opium,
from
two
Grains and a half, to
three
and a half; and afterwards to be increased by
fifteen
Drops of Liquid, or half a Grain of solid
Laudanum
every half Hour, till the Pain begin to remit; and then an intire stop is to be put to its Administration. And thus the End will be obtained without any Fear of
over-dosing.
And the Truth is, there is less Hazard of that, than Persons are aware. For those who die of an Over-dose of
Laudanum
in the
Opinion of the World,
would have lived few Days without it. For there are those that by Custom, have brought themselves to
two Drams
of solid, that is, near
six Ounces
of liquid
Laudanum
a Day. And I know a Gentleman who took near
three Ounces
at once, instead of
Elixir Salutis,
and had
never
taken any in his Life
before
; who (though it extreamly weakened his Stomach for some Time, and that he dosed almost a Month under it) yet
did well,
and, for ought I know, is alive still, though it be many Years since. If the preceding Dose be rejected by Vomiting, about a Third Part may be supposed to stay; and then the subsequent Doses may be proportioned accordingly. The Difference of Constitutions will make no great Alteration here, since very
weak
Persons seldom suffer very
violent
Pain, which is the only Case I am here considering.
§. 14.
To draw towards a Conclusion. The
Grand Secret
and Sole Mean of Long Life, is to keep the Blood and Juices in a due State of Thinness and
Fluidity,
whereby they may be able to make those Rounds and Circulations through the animal Fibres, wherein Life and Health consist, with the fewest Rubs and least Resistance that may be. In spite of all we can do, Time and Age will
fix
and
stiffen
our
Solids.
Our original Frame and Make renders this unavoidable and necessary. As in the
greater
World, the
See Sir
Isaac Newton
's Princip.
Quantity of the Fluids is Daily lessening and decreasing; so in our
lesser
World after a limited Time, the Appetite and Concoctions failing, the
Fluids
are lessened and spent on the continual Repairs of the Solids, and thereby lose their Nature, and become firm and hard. For by insinuating themselves into all the Pores of the
Solids,
and the Interstices of their Parts, and straitening and damming up the small Vessels, which carry in Nourishment to the internal Substance of the Solids, and so depriving them of their
Moisture
and Lubricating Juices, these Solids come at last to harden, stiffen and fix, and thereby lose their
Elasticity
and Springiness. Here the Process is
Mechanical
and
Necessary.
Age and Time, by weakning the Concoctions, impairing the natural Heat, which consists in a brisk and extended Circulation of the Juices, by the turning those
Juices
into
solid
Substances, and thereby fixing and hardning these Solids, and depriving them of their due Elasticity, the
Fluids
circulate with less
Velocity
and Force, and seldom reach the
Extremities
and
smallest Vessels,
but pass through the more
patent
and larger
Vessels,
by their
biggest
lateral Branches. And if with all these unavoidable and irremediable Circumstances, both the nutritious and serous Part of the
Blood,
and the globular, become
viscid, thick
and
glewy,
the Circulation must stop at last, and come to an End. Now 'tis certainly in a great measure in our Power to maintain the
Juices
in a due State of
Fluidity
and
Thinness,
and to render them such, if they are not corrupted to an extreme Degree, so that the remaining Part of Life be not too short for such a tedious Work. We certainly may
dilute
and
thin
any
Fluid,
that has an Inlet and Outlet. And the more
fluid
a circulating Liquor is, that is, the
smaller
and
finer
its Parts are, the
less Force
it will require to set it a going, and to continue its Motion. And in animal Bodies the thinner and more
fluid
the Juices are, they will not only circulate by the
less Force,
and with
less Resistance
(i. e.
Pain
) but also, they will preserve by their Circulation, the
Solids
the longer from
stiffening
and
hardening.
There is not a more mischievous, nor greater Mistake than the common one, that
thin
Blood is
poor
Blood, which the Vulgar and Herd of Mankind are as terribly affrighted for, as outward Poverty and Want. For, on the contrary, the
thinnest
and most
fluid
Blood is the
richest,
that is, the
best
Blood (if
rich
and
good
mean the same Thing). For in
Hydropical, Anasarcous, Cachectick,
and
Scorbutick
Persons, both the serous and globular Part of the Blood is
thick, glewy
and
acrimonious,
so that it can neither get thro' the
small Vessels,
nor can it be long contained in them, but corrodes and frets them, and so falls (at least the thinnest Part of it) into the Cavities, and begets a
Dropsy
; or stops in and obstructs these small Vessels, and so becomes an
Anasarca
or
Scurvy.
In all which Cases, the serous Part is overloaded with urinous Salts, and becomes a perfect
Lixivium
; so that by its
Grossness
it cannot run into Globules, to facilitate the Circulation through the
Capillaries
(for these small elastick Globules, by turning Oval or Oblong, wonderfully facilitate the Circulation of the Juices through the
small
Passages) and the red or globular Part becomes a mere Cake of
Glue
; and thus the Quantity of
Serum
is increased, and the Quantity of the globular Part gradually lessened. And in
this
Sense (of a greater proportion of
Serum
) this State of the Blood may be called
thin
; but it can in no Sense be called
good
Blood. The thinnest and most fluid Blood, is ever to be look'd upon as the
best
Blood, as consisting of
finest
and
smallest
Parts, which most readily runs into red Globules, and most easily circulates thro' the
capillary
Vessels, which is the most solid Foundation of good Health and Long Life. Now as nothing but indulging in strong high Foods, which the concoctive Powers cannot break and divide into Parts
small
enough to run into red Globules, or circulate through the
small
Vessels, but overstock them with urinous Salts, which run into
Clusters,
and first
obstruct,
and afterwards
break
these small Vessels, and in wallowing in strong Liquors, which parboil and
eat out
the tender and delicate Fibres of the Solids; I say, as nothing but such an Indulgence, and such Excesses, long continued and obstinately persisted in, can beget such a State of the Fluids and Solids, and so bring on a
Cachexy,
which may end in a
Dropsy,
or some other fatal chronical Distemper, according to the Habits and particular Make and Constitution of the Party (for no Person that lived low and meagre, and drank only small and thin Liquors, ever became Hydropical, if his Solids were originally firm, and his Fluids not tainted with some
hereditary
Sharpness) so I know nothing under the Sun, that can solidly and fully effectuate the contrary State of the
Blood
and
Juices,
to render them
thin,
sweet, and in a constant
flowing
Condition, but taking the contrary Measures, and keeping to a strict Regimen of a
thin, fluid,
spare and lean Diet. We have no possible Way to attenuate, clean and dilute a
Vessel
full of
gross, glewy,
and foul Mixtures, that has only a small Inlet and Outlet, but by pouring into it a thin, clear, insipid
Fluid,
and by shaking it often and much. It is much the same with an animal Body. No
voluptuous
nor
lazy
Person, unless he has had an original Constitution of
Brass,
was ever a
long Liver.
And even then, as his Life has been more Misery and
Pain,
than ever a
sober Gally Slave
endured, his End, and the latter Part of his Days has been Rack and
Torture, Horror
and
Despair.
And though he has not had the Hope nor
Consolation
of a Martyr, yet his
Sufferings
have been far more
exquisite
and
extreme.
All those who have lived
long
and without much Pain, have lived
abstemiously, poor
and
meagre. Cornaro
prolonged his Life, and preserved his Senses, by almost
starving
in his latter Days; and some others have done the like. They have indeed thereby, in some measure, weakned their natural
Strength,
and qualified the Fire and Flux of their
Spirits:
But they have preserved their
Senses,
weakened their
Pains, prolonged
their Days, and procured themselves a gentle and quiet
Passage
into another State. Gentle domestick
Purges
frequently repeated, due
Exercise,
and the Use of the other
Means
prescribed in the foregoing Treatise, will mightily
contribute
toward this End. But the
Ground work
must be laid, carried on, and finished in
Abstemiousness
; and though not in absolute
Fasting
(for that is no ways required, and would be prejudicial) yet in a
thin, poor, low, light
and
meagre
Diet. All the rest will be insufficient without
this.
And
this
alone, without
these,
will suffice to carry on Life, as long as by its natural Frame it was made to last, and will make the Passage
easy
and
calm,
as a Taper goes out for want of Fuel.
Miscellany RULES of Health and Long Life.
1.
CHRONICAL
Diseases
last long,
wear out the Constitution
leisurely,
and are accompained with a slow Pulse; whereas
acute
ones soon
terminate
either in Death or Recovery, and are joined with a
quick
Pulse.
2. The
Scurvy
is the
Root
of most
chronical
Diseases of the
British
Nation; and is a necessary Consequence of their Way of
living
almost wholly on
animal Food,
and drinking so much
strong Liquors.
3.
Soft, thin, small, short, fair Hair, slender
Muscles and Bones;
soft
Flesh; a
white, fair, blanch'd
or
ashen-colcured
Complexion; a
fair, corpulent, flegmatick, cold
Constitution;
Chilliness,
especially in the
Feet
; a Readiness to
catch Colds
; and being subject to immoderate
Evacuations
of any kind, are
certain Signs
of loose, flabby, or
relaxed Nerves.
4.
Women
of
weak
Nerves are very subject to
Miscarriages.
Their Danger is increased by
high Living,
and indiscreet
Bleeding.
The only Remedy for them, is drinking
Bristol
Water and red Wine, with a
low
and
light Diet,
going Abroad to get Air, and using
Astringent Plaisters,
and other proper
Medicines
to
corroborate
their Bowels.
5. The
Weak
and
Sickly
(as their Concoctive Powers fail in Winter, and recover in Summer) should carefully proportion the Quantity and Quality of
their Food,
to the Strength of them in the several
Seasons.
6. The
fewer Cloaths
one uses, the
hardier
he will be. Flannel and great
Loads
of
Cloaths
by Day or Night,
relax
the Fibres, and
promote
only
Sweating,
instead of the natural and beneficial
Perspiration.
7. The
Weak, Sedentary
and
Studious,
should frequently
shave
their Head and Face,
wash
and
scrape
their Feet, and
pare
the Nails of their Toes.
8. People that
read
and
write
much, ought to do them
standing,
or in as
erect
a Posture as they can. And those who can go about any Part of their
Studies walking,
should do it.
9. The
Fat, unweildy
and
over-grown,
ought to
avoid
all manner of
Drink,
strong and small, and even
Water
itself, as much as possible. And if their Food be
Vegetables
and
young Animals,
they will have
little Occasion
for any Liquor.
10. The
Aged
should (1) carefully guard against all the
Injuries
of the
Weather
; and (2)
lessen
the Quantity, and lower the Quality of
their Food gradually,
as they grow
older
; even
before
a manifest
Decay
of Appetite
force
them to it.
11. As
chronical
Diseases are not brought on all at
once
; so they cannot be
quickly
removed. A
gradual
Corruption, must be
gradually
remedied. 'Tis contrary to the Nature of chronical Diseases to be
quickly
cured.
12. In all acute and
vehement Pain, Opium
is the sovereign
Relief,
particularly in the
Colick, Stone, Gout, Rheumatism,
and hard
Labour
of Women. It operates by
relaxing
and unbending the Fibres,
overstretched
and crisped up by
Pain.
13. The
great Secret
of
Health
and
Long Life,
lies in keeping the Blood (and consequently the other Juices of the Body) in a due Degree of
Fluidity.
CONCLUSION.
TO
Conclude,
without taking the Benefit of
Revelation,
which, in a Sense relating even to our
mortal
Bodies, has
brought Life and Immortality to Light
; if but the Precepts of the
Pagan
Philosophers were observed,
—Servare Modum, Finemque tueri,
Naturamque sequi.—
If Men would but observe the
golden Mean
in all their
Passions, Appetites
and
Desires
; if in all their
Thoughts, Words
and
Actions,
they would but mind, I will not say the
End
of their
Being
and
Existence
here, but the
End
to which their
Thoughts, Words
and
Actions
naturally tended in their last
Resort
; And,
Lastly,
If in the
Gratifications
of their
Appetites, Passions
and
Desires,
they follow'd the uncorrupted
Dictates
of
Nature,
and neither spurred her on beyond her
Craving,
nor too violently restrained her in her
innocent Biass
; they would enjoy a greater Measure of
Health
than they do; have their
Sensations
more
delicate,
and their
Pleasures
more
exquisite
; live with less
Pain,
and die with less
Horror.
For had it not been for the
Lewdness, Luxury,
and intemperate
Gratifications
of the
Passions
and
Appetites,
which first ruined and spoiled the
Constitution
of the
Fathers,
whereby they could
communicate
only a
diseased, crasy
and
untuneable Carcass
to their
Sons,
so that with the
World's Decay, vicious Souls
and
putrified Bodies,
have in this our
Age,
arrived to their highest and most exalted
Degrees
; I say, Had it not been for these
Evils,
there never had happened so much
Sickness, Pain
and
Misery,
so
unhappy Lives,
and such
wretched Ends,
as we now behold among
Men.
But even in this our
lapsed Estate
and Condition, had the
Dictates
of
Nature
and
Reason,
not to say
Religion,
been followed; we might have passed our Days in
Indolence
(at least from
chronical
Distempers) if not innocent
Pleasures,
arrived at a
good old Age,
with our Senses free, and our rational
Faculties
clear, and at last departed in
Peace,
as a
Lamp
goes out for Want of
Oil.
And let the Gentlemen of
Wit
and
Fire,
of
Banter
and
Sneer,
hug themselves ever so much in their boasted
Tranquillity
and
Security,
gratify their
Passions, Appetites
and
Humours
to the
Full,
and despise
Futurity
and
Whining
; I dare promise, when the
Farce
is ended, and the
last Minutes
are drawing on, they would prefer a
Life
thus
led,
and an
End
so
calm,
to all the
Pleasures
of
Lewdness
and
Sensuality,
and the
Bounces
of a false and ignorant
Security.
FINIS.