PART II.

CHAPTER V.

GENERAL EFFECTS CF DIET ON THE HUMAN SYSTEM.

"Providence has gifted man with reason; to this, therefore, is left the choice of his food and drink, and not to instinct, as among the lower animals. It thus becomes

his duty to apply his reason to the regulation of his diet; to shun excess in quantity, and what is noxious in quality; to adhere in short to the simple and the natural; among which the bounty of his maker has afforded him an ample selection; and beyond which, if he deviates, sooner or later he will suffer the penalty.

PROUT'S BRIDGEWATER TREATISE.

THE vital principle, which we call life, though modified by peculiar circumstances, is the same in all human beings. It becomes, therefore, of importance that these circumstances should be understood by us, because, as we have seen in the chapter on "Health and Longevity," this principle can only be secured in a healthy state, for many years, by the regular and harmonious action of all the functions of the system. It is subject

to, and a consequence of, a due performance of the organic laws. Proper food, water, air, exercise, and rest, with entire abstinence from drugs, are essential to its continuance. Every circumstance which tends to enfeeble the organic functions, diminishes in a greater or less degree, the force of the vital principle.

A little attention to the subject of Diet, will be sufficient to shew how much Health and Longevity depend upon a proper line of conduct in this respect; inasmuch as the whole constitution of our bodies may changed by it alone; nor is it less important in the cure of disease. Hence it is truly astonishing that PRIESSNITZ, that man of nature, should be so much influenced by the gross mode of living generally adopted by the Germans.* The manner in which this matter is handled by Mr. Claridge, in his otherwise excellent work, is a great drawback on its merits and usefulness. Yet there is much in Priessnitz's system of diet which is very excellent; such as taking their aliments cold, etc.

The object of food being to supply the system with nutriment, health in a great measure depends on a proper supply,† of the best quality. This is

We are informed by those who have visited Grafenburg, that patients are provided with the veal of calves not more than a day or two old. Hares, coarse, dry or tough, being first boiled, and then baked. Pork, goose, duck, and sausages, all baked, help to vary the repast. Add to this, old mutton and cow beef, stewed in vinegar, succeeded by racid ham, served up with mashed grey peas. They have also cucumbers cured in nothing but salt and water, which the Germans devour with avidity: yet wonders are effected; proving the efficacy of the water treatment.

↑ The invigorated state, which in two or three years would ensue, on a return to the laws of nature, the appetite would measure the quantity of vegetable food proper to be taken during the day; an advantage which is lost at a well furnished table, where the flavour of the dishes is too seductive for us to recollect the juice of the meat have been compressed for our destruction. RETURN TO NATURE.

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also of great importance mentally as well as physically; for as Dr. Cheyne justly observes, that would have a clean head, must have a clean blody." The Stomach, which has been denominated by Lord Bacon, "The father of the family;" and by J. J. Gurney, Esq. "The kitchen of the house;" is the centre of sympathy, and intimately connected with the body and the mind; the most important organ in the preservation, or the restoration of health; is capable of modifying the action of every substance submitted to it; and if either the body or mind be hurt, intelligence of the injury is soon carried to it, and it soon becomes distended and offenced,* in proportion to the importance of the part, and the degree in which it is hurt; this injury is resented either by excess of languor or excitement; doing too little in the first case, and too much in the latter. In the one case Constipation, and in the other Diarrhea is increased, in such as are subject thereto; and all chronic complaints are exasperated. The habits of society very much contribute to this state of things. The quantity of food

*The Stomach, that great organ, soon
If overcharged, is out of tune,
Blown up with wind that sore annoys
The Ear with most unhallow'd noise!
Now all these sorrows and diseases
A man may fly from if he pleases;
For early rising will restore
His powers to what they were before,
Teach him to dine at nature's call
And to sup lightly, IF AT ALL-

And leave the folly of night dinners

To fools, and dandies, and old sinners.

It is your superfluous second courses, and ridiculous variety of wines, ices, desserts, etc., which are served up, more to gratify the appetite, and pamper the pride of the host, than to promote the health of those who partake thereof;-it is these which overcome the stomach and paralize digestion, and seduce children of larger growth to sacrifice the health and comfort of several years, for the

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commonly made use of by those who can get it, its innutritive qualities, and the almost endless variety of dishes, tend very much to injure the functions of the stomach, and to frustrate its important operation. These people think, the more plentifully they stuff themselves, the better they must thrive, and the stronger they must grow; forgetting, if they ever knew, that it is not the quantity taken into the stomach, but that which is properly digested and assimilated, which nourishes and strengthens-all besides this weakens.

Food is of two kinds, solid and liquid; and important as the subject is, still no specific, but only general rules can be laid down for its use. It is very difficult to ascertain the exact quantity, etc., of food proper for every sex, age, constitution, and condition in life; nor in such a nicety at all necessary, except in extreme cases, which will never occur to the man of nature. Mankind were never intended to weigh and measure their food; they have a better standard to go to-HONEST INSTINCT,* which seldom fails to to make out a title to be called UNERRING. Our stomachs are, in general, pretty good judges of what is best for them, if we would allow them to

Baby pleasures of tickling their tongues for a few minutes with Champagne, Custards, and trities.

*The horse or the ox which declines Harrogate waters, is wiser than man; nature has made the waters nauseous to warn all animals against drinking it; the animal therefore, which follows Instinct, is right; the reasoning animal man, is wrong.-TIMES.

Prompted by Instinct's never-erring power,
Each creature knows its proper aliment.
Directed, bounded by this power within,
Their cravings are well aimed:

Voluptuous man

Is by superior faculties misled;

Misled from pleasure even in quest of joy,

ARMSTRONG.

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guide us. Thousands have perished for being inattentive to their call, for one who has implicitly obeyed them. Yet nothing is more common than for invalids to inquire of their medical attendant, what food is proper for them. What nonsense! Their doctor might with more propriety be required to tell them what was most agreeable to their palates.* "A Fool, or a Physician at Forty," is an adage containing more truth than is commonly believed. He who has not by that time learned to observe the causes of self-disorder, shews few signs of wisdom; and he who has carefully noted downt the things which create disorder in himself, must possess much knowledge, which a Physician at a pop visit ought not to pretend to. But if we could lay down specific rules, as to the kind and quality, and also the time of taking food, there would be two grand obstacles in the way of accomplishing our object: 1. They are not always under our control. 2. Few have moral courage enough to war against appetite, and adopt them, even when they commend themselves to their judgment.

* A Dutchman, who had been a long time in the free use of ardent spirits, was at length persuaded to give them up, and to join the Temperance Society. A few months after, feeling unwell-a sinking at the stomach, he sent for a Doctor, who prescribed for him, an ounce of spirits. Not understanding what an ounce was, he asked a friend, who told him eight drachms make an ounce. Ah! exclaimed the Dutchman, the Doctor understands my case exactly; I used to take six drachms (small glasses) in a day, and I always wanted two more.

+ LOCKE says, Were it my business to understand physic; would not the surer way be to consult nature itself in the history of diseases, and their cure, than to espouse the principles of the dogmatists or chemists?

↑ I never yet met with any person of common sense, (except in an acute illness) whom I did not think much fitter to choose for himself, than I was to determine for him.-DR. HEBERDEN.