UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA. GIFT OF* Mrs. SARAH P. WALSWORTH. Received October, 1894. ,, Accessions No.^J C *// Class No. . HINTS AND HELPS TO HEALTH AID HAPPINESS; OR M R il 1 4 15 o.ietl, 4 15 Roilf-J 4 15 do 1.15 r\n 1 30 do 1 30 Veal, freh Fried, 1 30 4 30 Boiled 4 30 Pork, fat and lean, Roasted, 5.15 Tendon, Boiled, 5 30 Suet, beef, fresh, do 5.30 CRITERION. Now, although the above table presents many interesting facts, yet the reader will perceive that it will hardly be a safe rule to follow, taking for a cri- terion the time required for the digestion of each ar- ticle. For example, many can eat a piece of plain fowl, with impunity, or slight inconvenience, who cannot tolerate a single ounce of old cheese, though the latter digests half an hour sooner than the former. The fact is, more mischief may be done in the use of an edible attended with distress, though it digest in a single hour, than in eating others, which require four times that period, without any oppression. Every man knows very well that a horse, fed on cer- tain articles of food, does not feel so well as when fed upon others, and cannot endure as much hard- ship. It would seem that men ought to be as quick to discern their own sensations, and as wise to select suitable aliment for themselves, as for their horses and dogs. DIET. 29 It is to be hoped that the reader will feel that he has something more to do in selecting food from day to day, as varied circumstances demand, than sim- ply to commit to memory certain rules from books, although said rules are never so good. Nevertheless rules may lead to good results may bring us to pro- per conclusions. And as it is of no small importance that \ve not only select proper articles of food and have them suitably prepared for the table, but equally important that said food be received into the stomach in a proper manner, I therefore submit the follow- ing rules in regard to eating. RULE 1 . Eat not by rule : nor make your neigh- bor's eating your own criterion. It is perfect folly for A to think that he can very properly and safely eat roast goose, because B does. SAMUEL might as well have thought that he could take the doors of the gate of the city of Gaza, the posts, bar, and all upon his shoulders, and carry them up to the top of the hill that is before Hebron, be- cause Samson did so. There was a time when even Samson could not do it again. So in the experience of many a man, there is a time when he finds that he has outstripped the strong man in folly, but discovers it too late to save himself, if not from the wrath of the Philistines, from the penalty of a violated law. Therefore eat what, and where, and ivhen, your own experience approves. 30 DIET. 2. Eat not too much. Every body, after years' practice, ought to know when to stop eating. And every man thinks that he does know. And surely it is not an easy matter to decide for him. But if not deficient in knowledge, some are evidently wanting in practice. There is more to be feared from a surfeit than a famine, in a land whose never failing streams are milk and ho- ney. The stomach, let it be remembered, largely consists of muscular fibre, which possesses the property of elas- ticity and contractility. This is the only tissue that can give motion to any organ in the body. It will also be remembered, that when filled with its accus- tomed stimulus, the stomach does not lie as passive in the abdomen as a pudding-bag in a New-England dinner-pot. But commences at once a rolling, churn- ing motion, (although involuntary and inappreciable to the senses,) tumbling the food from side to side, and mixing it up with the gastric juice, until its con- tents are discharged into the duodenum. Now it may be seen at a glance, that, whatever interferes with this process, must retard digestion. And over-distention does this very thing. By stretch- ing this fibrous or muscular coat of the stomach, from day to day, beyond its proper boundary, with an un- due amount of food, its resiliency is more or less des- troyed, so that it cannot contract upon the food with sufficient power to discharge its function with that vigor which is necessary to healthful digestion Consequently the food undergoes a change which is DIET. 31 prejudicial to health. One of two things generally constitutes the cause of this error namely, a profu- sion of dishes, or a morbid appetite. I pity the sto- mach that has to rectify both evils combined. 3. Eat not too little. There are those who seem to fancy that almost any disease may be cured by starvation. Whereas, almost every chronic complaint may in this very way be aggravated. It not unfrequently happens that such cases improve rapidly by being well treated by the Butcher ! But let those who live on the fat of the land, beware how they thus add fuel to the flame in any acute disease. 4. Eat not too fast. Some people seem to take their food as though they were eating for a whole nation in a state of starvation, and thrust down every mouthful as though they expected each would save some famishing soul from death. Don't hurry, you will get along all the better. There is not a doubt that many seriously injure their digestive organs by eating more like a starved grey-hound, or a famishing savage, than ci- vilized men. Again, I repeat the injunction, Don't hurry, nor swallow your food whole. 5. Eat not too often. The stomach needs rest, as well as the hands or the head. And, beside all this, after a meal is near- ly digested, to thrust upon the digestive organs a mass of crude materials before this beautiful pro 2* 32 DIET. cess is finished, would seem to be as great an insult as to dash upon the canvass a bucket of paint, when the artist has only to make a few touches to finish his work. Three times a day, at proper intervals, is quite often enough for an adult in health. 6. Hat in good humor. Cheerfulness, though not yet added to the list, in the text books on anatomy, may nevertheless be called one of the organs of digestion, and is by no means an unimportant one. Therefore, the less you cry, and the more you laugh (if you do not choke), the better. A man should never, just before dinner, commence any im- portant business which will be likely to try his pa- tience, especially if it is of such a nature that it can safely be deferred, or, if thus prosecuted, will be likely to involve himself and another hungry man, in a quar- rel. For while the stomach is weary of waiting for its accustomed stimulus, the slightest insult may prove quite indigestible, and render his dinner so too ! But let the stomach be well supplied first, no mat- ter to whom it belongs, and the man will become as manageable as an anaconda, after he has introduced a young buffalo to the interior of his snakeship, and as harmless as was Samson after Delilah had sha- ven off his " seven locks." On the other hand, let the man be sorely vexed, or grievously injured, just before dinner, and he will be in a fit condition to turn roast beef into fried-clams! A man should never expose himself to contagion, with an empty stomach. DIET. 00 7. Eat not incompatibles. A profusion of dishes, leads to a profusion of ills, encourages a profusion of doctors, and ends in a pro- fusion of remedies, which are very likely unsuccess- ful. If a man has for his dinner a piece of good beef or mutton, well cooked, he had better wait un- til the next day, before making further experiments in analyzing the animal kingdom, unless perchance a little milk or butter be needful to complete the first experiment. Some people seem to ransack the hea- vens, the earth, and the seas, to prove that they live to eat. Hence, go they will for incompatibles, if they are compelled to dispose of them as the sickened whale did of the Prophet. But such people would do well to remember, that fish and mutton, and pork and game, and nuts and cheese, and wine and oil, are about as unequally yoked together in the stomach, as sheep and shad are in the ocean. 8. Proscribe not variety. Some people are so fond of extremes, that they not only sweep all animal food overboard, but even the man who eats the wheaten-loaf, unmixed with straw, is in their estimation little better than a Cannibal. We go decidedly for a wholesome variety, and for that very reason would not have all the good things at once. But while we look over the world's great bill of fare, and rejoice in such a profusion of edi- bles, we certainly would not rob the poor Grahamite of "bran-bread." 34 DIET. 9. Never gratify the palate at the expense of health. First count the cost, expecting to foot the bill. Better " eat to live, than live to eat." Better please the stomach than the palate. Better eat for profit than for pleasure. 10. Rest after dinner. Avoid vigorous exercise immediately after a full meal, and, rely upon it, digestion will go on all the better. The stomach has work enough to do, at this important moment, to require the strength of the system. (See art. on Exercise.) 11. Beware of Poisoned Edibles. Never eat an unhealthy article because it is cheap. The writer once knew a family who were unfortu- nately poisoned, and several of them fatally, by eat- ing (as was reported) salted geese which had spoiled at sea, and which .the owner, who was the captain of a vessel, and a victim of the poison, did not like to throw away after his return home. But the reader will not expect to need any caution in this, or any similar case, though other edibles occasionally undergo a change which makes them peculiarly ob- noxious to health. I would however more particular- ly notice an article which is much admired by epi- cures, though some pay dearly for their indulgence. I allude to fungi (mushrooms). Various directions are given by writers for avoiding the poisonous vari- eties of this edible. But no better rule can be given than one which has already been given by Dr. Lee, namely, let them all alone. And this may be said of DIET. 35 every other article which is brought upon the table to hurry men to the dust Let it alone. 12. Masticate and insalivate. The saliva performs a very important part in di- gestion, and there are those, (not a few) who deprive the stomach of this essential fluid by constant and profuse spitting, which is induced by resorting to that pernicious weed, the use of which, as a luxury, one would almost be inclined to think must have been first suggested by the enemy of our race, that wicked spirit who began early in the world's history to tempt mankind astray, commencing with the appe- tite, and meeting with great success up to the pre- sent day. Now for a man to sit between two of these genuine manufacturers of the precious infusion of tobacco, who, ever and anon, make a spittoon of the bottom of the stage, and a street-sprinkler of their mouths, is a " trial of heart and nerve," to say nothing about the shining gaiters, and fine stockings, and white skirts, and silk dresses, and the best wishes of the fair sex. But what does the man get in return for this fool- ish, filthy habit ? He often gets the constitution of a poor, miserable, nervous, fidgety, broken-down dys- peptic. True, he does not get it in a day may not in a year ; but, sooner or later, he is almost certain to suffer. But you may say, " I cannot live without it." How does your mother live without it ; and when did the doctor order it for your sister ? 36 DIET. Now I am not going to say that it can never be used to advantage, when used moderately. Excep- tions of course to general rules. But I do say that, ninety-nine times in a hundred, its use is prejudical to health. In relation to mastication, it should not be forgot- ten that the process of digestion commences in the mouth, and that food thoroughly chewed is half di- gested. To do this properly, two things seem indis- pensable, namely, time and teeth. I have already spoken of the folly and the danger of eating too fast. This error is no trifling one. Many, without a doubt, suffer from indigestion half their days from this cause. But I must leave the reader to eat fast, or slow, little or much, often, or seldom, as time, patience, plenty, and prudence may indicate, while I give him a hint in relation to that important apparatus which con- tributes so largely to health and comfort, namely, the teeth. In order to obtain good bread, among other things, it is not only necessary that the grain should be good to start with, but it is quite important that it should be well ground. So if we would have good diges- tion, it is equally important that our food should be well masticated, and to do this effectually, good teeth seem quite indispensable. Perhaps it will not be improper for me, although a little out of place, to give a word of advice in relation to preserving these useful organs, which are often most shamefully abused, and at other times as shamefully neglected. The first, and most important thing, is, to keep them clean. But to do this, avoid the use of strong acids, DIET. 37 and other corroding agents. A thorough brushing daily, with an occasional use of suitably prepared charcoal, (see recipes,) will usually suffice. At any rate, keep them clear of all foreign substances, such as tartar, slime, pieces of meat, &c. It is generally thought to be a very simple manipulation to brush the teeth, and this is so. But, simple as it is, I find few who do it rightly. The brush is usually pass- ed a few times across the teeth, or even many times, in some cases, the mouth is rinsed out, and the work is supposed to be well done. This" however, is a mistake. It should be done both ways. That is, pains should be taken to brush the teeth lengthwise, or the brush does not pass into the spaces between. them sufficiently to remove all foreign substances which may be lodged therein. In brushing the low- er teeth, brush upward, and the upper teeth, down- ward. The next important item to bear in mind, is, the very moment decay commences, have it arrested as soon as possible. Go immediately to your dentist, and the matter will be properly attended to. But don't wait to see whether the tooth is going to ache. No matter if it never aches. And if it is painful, don't think to make short work of it by going to some quack tooth-puller, or apothecary's apprentice, to have it extracted. Every tooth you lo.se " drives a nail in your coffin." Hence you had better keep your teeth, if you would preserve your health. We often hear it said, " It is better to pay the butcher than the doctor," but you must also pay the dentist, or the doctor may pay both, and the tailor, too, out of 38 DIET. your pockets, and then perhaps forgive you half his due. Every cavity, in its incipient state, and in a tooth otherwise sound and healthy, properly filled, will amply reward and sufficiently remind you, that the gold is well deposited. The investment will be found a safe one, and the dividends frequent. But wait until the cavity becomes large, the vitality and the beauty of the tooth nearly destroyed, and it will be much more tedious and expensive to have it filled, and, when it is done, it will not be strange if it should be found little better than stock in a brokeii bank. No matter how small the cavity, even if it is smaller than a pirfs-head. That is the very time to stop it successfully. Some people never think of going near a dentist, unless their teeth ache, or they can detect some de- cay. But this again is all wrong. It is impossible for any man to make a thorough examination of his own teeth. To prove this, I beg leave to present an example. While the author was once inspecting the work of a distinguished dentist, a gentleman pre- sented himself to have his teeth examined, supposing from occasional pain, as he said, that some tooth must be a little decayed, though he could not detect it. At first view, it was thought that the man must be mistaken. But, after a thorough removal of the tar- tar, and a careful examination, the gentleman's ap- prehension was more than confirmed, for the num- ber of cavities to be filled was eight ! Tt will be remembered that pain was in this case the cause which led to an examination, and had there been no uneasiness, though twice as many cavities, per- DIET. 39 haps the man would have supposed that all was safe. Hence we discover the importance of a frequent ex- amination by a practiced eye. We are very willing to admit that it is a greater luxury to have some de- licious edible between your teeth, (especially if you are hungry,) than a dentist's fingers, files, and forceps. But, never mind that. Your appearance, your com- fort, your health, nay, your very existence, more or less demands your attention to this subject. To those who unfortunately have no teeth to take care of, or with which to eat, and cannot afford to get a very good substitute, I would say, chew your food well on your plate. Indeed, I w T ould say this to all. Keep a sharp knife, and don't be afraid to use it, for this is the best thing we can do while the grinders are absent. One word to parents, while I am on this subject, will suffice. Look well to the condition of the teeth of your children. The brief hints given above are generally quite as applicable to children as to adults, and in some respects more so ; for they will be al- most certain to say nothing about any affected teeth, so long as they do not ache. But I wish to make a re- mark on one point which I have not yet noticed, namely, that a wrong direction is frequently and needlessly given to a growing tooth, which some- times disfigures the individual for life. Whenever- you discover any imperfection in this respect, you had better consult-your dentist at once, and have the evil corrected before it is too late. To return from this digression, to the subject of food, I would remark that in eating, no individual 40 DIET. can hardly have stronger reasons for watchfulness and self-denial, than the dyspeptic ; and few perhaps feel more tempted to disregard theories, facts and common sense. One would at first suppose that this class of sufferers would be glad to walk in any safe path, to shun such a serious affliction. But how many thousands are now suffering from many real, and not a few imaginary evils whose wretchedness is mostly owing to their own folly. They know full well their misery ; for a happy dyspeptic is as rare as a white crow. Notwithstanding all this, with many, every thing that tastes good, must go down, if it is followed in ten minutes by a perfect abdominal tornado. With an impaired state of the digestive organs, many articles of food become manifestly hurtful, which otherwise would not only be harmless, but beneficial. Many of these articles contain saccha- rine matters, which, in a weak and deranged state of the stomach, are very apt to undergo acetous fermen- tation, setting free a large quantity of gas, which distends the stomach and bowels, and thus by pres- sure disturbs the functions of the heart, liver, lungs, and other organs, producing cough, difficult respira- tion, palpitation of the heart, severe pain, and other alarming symptoms, which often awaken sad suspi- cions in the sufferer. PASTRY. But there are certain articles of food, and which are very generally used, which no man in reality ought to touch. Among these ill-adapted agents, DIET. 41 and in wide-spread evil influences, Pastry stands pre-eminently at the head of the list, though it ought to be as much shunned by all, as swine's flesh is by the Jew. To see one of nature's fairest emblems of purity, as it comes from the miller's snow-white bolt, thus tortured into an instrument of self-destruction, is enough to put a thinking man into a pathological state. And what makes the matter still worse, this mischief-making trash is generally taken after too much is eaten already. Mothers, if you wish to bury your children, feed them on pastry ; if you would have them live long enough to bury you, feed them on stale bread, plain meat and wholesome vegetables. NUTS. Again, the whole tribe of nuts is altogether un- wholesome trash, being nearly saturated with fixed oil. And although a man may eat them for a while, and dream of impunity, and laugh at advice ; yet, sooner or later, indigestion of a more or less aggra- vated character, will be almost certain to follow. Yes, let a man, with what is generally called a weak stomach, persevere in eating these indigestible things, which ought to be marked poison, and he may have the best physician that ever lived since the time of Hippocrates, and access to all the remedial agents that have ever been discovered since the days of&sculapius, and he will probably live in misery and die in haste ! 42 DIET. INFLUENCE OP THE MODERN EATING-HOUSE. Many young men, (and I cannot even acquit the fair sex,) ruin their health before their physical frame is fairly developed, by improper eating. This pain- ful truth is more strikingly witnessed in large cities and towns, than in rural districts. Few suspect the large number of shattered constitutions which owe their ruin to the modern " Eating-House." Said a young lawyer to me the other day, " I nearly destroy- ed my health at the eating-house, before I suspected the danger." I am aware that such establishments are convenient for many, and it is by no means altogether the fault of the proprietors, that they are not fountains of health. Hence I do not condemn the vender, but I warn the unwary eater ! Young men flock to these places, daily, to eat a meal in haste, and so thrust down their food without mastication, that an inexperienced spectator would be very likely to say, Poor fellows ! how their moth- ers do starve them at home ! And he would hardly dare to take a vacant seat at the table, lest some mortal more hungry than himself, might stand in perishing need of his place. But, not only do they so hastily dispatch plate after plate, that the waiter from morning till night, hears the cry of "hurry up the cakes" but they are also tempted to eat such things as no judi- cious mother would think of furnishing for a dai- ly meal. As they take a seat at the table, the eye glances over the bill of fare, the palate makes the selection, and that unruly member, which no man can DIET. 43 tame, keeps the waiter on the trot, and down goes the pies, cakes, tarts, jellies, puddings, custards, dump- lings, and a host of other indigestible trash, quite sufficient to lay the foundation for future wretched- ness. Moreover, with many, imprudent eating does not stop here. They not only make rapid strides to their own graves by day, by eating improper things, but they cap the climax at night, by eating at improper hours, and by going to bed about the time when they ought to be ready to rise. Frequently such an one does not make his appearance at the breakfast- table till nearly noon, unless driven up by his en- gagements, and of course has a poor appetite at that.- He sometimes tries to get down a cup of coffee, be- fore he leaves his room, while the patient waiter, skillful cook, and indulgent mother, all lend a hand to shorten his passage to the tomb. Now, to expect present health, and a happy old age, as the result of such folly, would be about as reasonable as to expect life from the dead. And, although such semi-suicides will not admit, or do not suspect their danger, yet those who thus show their folly, had better pay their bills and make their wills, for they will soon need a sexton, more than a doctor. IT DIET. 45 TEA AND COFFEE. Although there is no middle ground between vice and virtue (unless the dumb beast can claim it), yet there seems to be a central path, as to most of our earthly transactions, which holds out greater induce- ments, encourages those who walk therein to hope for more success and safety, than those who take the extremes, either on the right hand, or on the left, have any reason to expect. Volumes have been written for and against the use of tea and coffee. Ultraists have ransacked the world for facts, to prove that tea is as poisonous as arsenic ! Others fill up the old family tea-pot to the very brim, with an infusion " strong enough to bear up an iron wedge," and drain it to the very dregs, to show conclusively that not a single day's enjoy- ment is possible without it. As to friends and foes, coffee probably shares about the same fate. JUDGE BY THE EFFECTS. Both tea and coffee of moderate strength, and in moderate quantity, may doubtless be taken with food by the majority in health without injury, and in ma- ny cases with decided benefit. They are both nu- tritious and stimulating cordials. Every one knows that a cup of weak tea, in sickness, is frequently al- most the only thing the stomach will tolerate. But the difficulty is. to convince people that they take their tea and coffee too strong. Or, perhaps in some cases, that they should take none at all. There is no good reason why any man or woman should 46 DIET. drink strong coffee or tea. The man who uniformly drinks the strength of a tablespoonful of ground coffee in each cup, is no better satisfied, than the man who uniformly takes a teaspoonful. Some will find that they enjoy better health, when they drink only tea, and others, when they drink only coffee; and some when they take neither. But either of these articles as a beverge, is preferable to chocolate, for health, especially for dyspeptics. Many persons are in the habit of asking questions as to what is healthful, and what is hurtful to eat drink, &c., when information for the sake of re/br- mation, is the very last thing desired. It is of very little use to talk to such people. They would be very glad to have the doctor's opinion, provided it should harmonize with their pre-conceived notions, and confirmed habits. But it is very easy to see that any advice that he may give, will be of little ser- vice to this class, view it as you will. If they are already in a safe path, they do not need his advice. If they are not, his opinion would not have the weight of a feather. Moreover, if he is foolish enough to endorse their excess, then they go stumbling over a time-serving doctor, all their days ; for an ounce of advice on the side of appetite, will weigh down a pound of counsel in the scale of reason and truth. But there are those who sigh for facts ; and toil for knowledge. Who love to hear little every day things (every body's things) discussed. They content them- selves to pattern after the bee, and take the honey wherever and whenever they can find it. For this class I intend my remarks, though I do not pro- mise them much honey. DIET. 47 FOLLOW INDICATIONS. The old proverb, " what is one man's meat is ano- ther man's poison," is quite too true to be forgotten. Hence the importance of observation. Therefore, no better dietetic rule can be given in relation to the use of any nutritious agent, than to follow indications. But what are the indications? says the reader. That is just, what I want you to tell me. Yes, but it is just what I cannot tell you, without special information. What do I know about your in- dividual condition, your constitution, your occupation, peculiar habits, exposures, idiosyncrasies, &c. There may be circumstances which render it important for an individual to be confined to the use of an article at one time, which would be manifestly unsuitable at another. Now if it is so difficult to point out a path which is safe for a single individual to follow under all circumstances, it is very obvious that rules which are given for all, must be very imperfect. Should any suspect that either tea, coffee or any other article is prejudicial to their health, and yet fancy that they can hardly decide which is doing the mischief; let me advise such, to make the trial of first giving up the article which they love most. It behooves each one to examine closely what seems to be the best adapted to his constitution and condi- tion, as to the use of every thing. And surely no man ought to expect such rules to be given as will supersede the necessity of a little painstaking in this respect. Have you been in the habit of drinking coffee for 8 48 DIET. a long time, with uninterrupted good health ? Then it is pretty clear that there are no indications for chang- ing your habits in this respect; and especially if you have taken it moderately. Of course the same remarks will apply to tea. But if there has been any excess in the use of these articles, I would recom- mend an immediate reform. For although you may not at present discover any alarming symptoms, yet you may be gradually undermining the constitution while you little suspect it ; and if you wait to be thoroughly convinced, the evidence may become overwhelming. Excess in eating and drinking, and in almost any thing else, is not always followed immediately, by serious consequences. Nature will long apologize for our follies, by striving to adapt the constitution to our habits, whereas, we ought to adapt our habits to the constitution. But her patience will not last for- ever, and you may rue the day that you meet her frown. Suppose you see a man toiling hard to gain some object, you know not what, whose countenance and every act, betray great anxiety of mind. You say, " Friend, what are you doing ?" " What am I doing ? Why, to be sure, I am trying to gain the good will of nature," says the man. " What ! you have the good will of nature already, unless you have long and grievously offended." " Alas ! I have done that very thing." " Ah ! then, rest assured, thine is not an easy task. Thou wilt find it necessary to toil long, hard, and in- cessantly to regain her favor. Thou wilt have to DIET. 49 make double restitution, and treble, too, if she re- quires it." " What then must I do ?" " Why, you must undo as fast as you can, much that you have done amiss. You must get into the. path of prudence, as soon as possible. But you will find it much easier to commit errors, than to correct them." DECIDE WISELY. Suppose that you have indulged in the use of cof- fee for years, though temperately, as you suppose, and your health has been gradually failing, without any very apparent cause, it will be easy to perceive that indications suggest a change in some one or more of your habits. Something must be wrong. Coffee may be to blame, perhaps tea, and possibly neither of these articles have any thing to do with the diffi- culty. Perhaps some other little indulgence which you do not suspect, or one which you are unwilling to abandon, is secretly shortening your days. But, suppose you conclude that coffee may possibly have much to do in bringing the evil upon you, can you not decide the question without sending for a medical prophet ? Resolve not to taste or smell a homeopa- thic dose of it for six months, and substitute for it, the coffee of olden time, namely " crust-coffee" It makes no man nervous. It is no mean drink. Peo- ple used to like it, when their palates were as honest as they are now. If you have been in the habit of drinking the for- mer beverage very strong, why, then burn the crust 50 DIET. all the blacker. And if this is not bitter enough, put in one or two grains of aloes to each cup, which will form an excellent substitute for " dinner pills," which are very likely needed. If, after trying this experiment, you do not find your health sufficiently improved to convict and con- demn coffee as the guilty one, be not in haste to con- clude that it must be innocent. It may not be the sole agent : very likely it is combined with other causes which are gradually working out an unhappy change in the system. Many, without a doubt, are injured by the habitual use of strong tea, in a way which is not alluded to by popular writers. At least I have seen no such notice. I have reference to its constipating influence. Neither Pereira, in his " Materia Medica," and his treatise on " Food and Diet," nor Wood and Bache, in their " United States Dispensatory," nor Dunglison, in his " Human Health," all valuable productions, give a word of caution while discoursing upon the article, in relation to this tendency at least none that I have discovered; although some of these gen- tlemen speak of an objection to coffee because it makes some people costive. Now it may be proper to briefly examine this subject, and see how far facts warrant such a conclusion in regard to coffee, and how far silence in relation to the constipating influ- ence of tea, is justifiable. ELEMENTS OP TEA AND COFFEE. In speaking of the essential elements of these agents, DIET. 51 I shall notice only those with which our subject is immediately connected. TEA, of every variety, contains a large amount of tannin, and green tea about one sixth part. This, it is well known, is a powerful astringent, and the very article to check excessive evacuations, such as diarrhoea, &c. And how does it produce such a result? Of course, it is by locking up the secretions. And if so potent in disease, will it not shut up the fluids in health ? It does this very thing, and here lies one of the great evils of using strong tea, and, in my opinion, the worst of all. COFFEE, on the contrary, does not contain a particle of tannin. Now I do not say that tannin is indis- pensable to constipation, neither do I say that this affection never follows the excessive, or even moderate, use of coffee. This would be to deny facts. But I am not sure, after all, that people would not be costive, if they abandoned their coffee altogether, and did not reform in any other particu- lar. Moreover, it is well known that, with many, coffee is actually a laxative. But I have never heard of an instance where tea had this effect. Again, many contend that coffee makes people more nervous than tea. With some this may be so. But it is now well understood that theine, the essen- tial principle of tea, and caffeine, the essential principle of coffee, are perfectly indentical, (a curious fact,) being composed of C 8 H 5 N 2 O 2 . Now one would be inclined to expect a similar effect from the use of articles whose essential prin- ciples are so identical. But they possess other prin- 52 DIET. ciples entirely different, and, In a majority of cases, it will probably be found that the article which most disturbs the functions of the stomach and bowels, will most effect the nervous system. VARIETIES OP TEA. Writers are not altogether agreed about the com- parative influence upon the system, of the different kinds of tea. The majority, however, hesitate not to give the black variety, the preference. But Dr. Dunglison, in his work on " Hygiene," says, " when employed in moderation, the particular variety may be wholly left to the taste of the consumer." This will be very acceptable news to those who happen to be partial to either variety. But it is too good to be true. We care not a straw what effect either may have upon chemicals in a professor's la- boratory. The question is, what effects do these agents produce on the human system ? Do they make us sick or well ? Do they lead to weal or wo ? Now it is a daily occurrence, that people are bene- fitted by exchanging the green for the black variety. But the converse of this, may be said to be rare, when the palate will consent to have facts brought into court as witnesses. But, after all, what says chemical analysis ? In 100 parts of green tea, 17.80 are tannin. Whereas black tea contains only 12.88 per cent, of this powerful astringent. Here we perceive at once, a very wide difference. Moreover, Pereira, in his work on *' Diet," says, that the peculiar influence of tea over the ner- vous system, depends on the volatile oil which it con- DIET. 53 tains. This I very much doubt. But let us again appeal to chemical analysis, to ascertain its compar- ative influence, if it has any. Well, the green vari- ety contains 0.79 per cent, and the black only 0.60. Here again we perceive a very considerable differ- ence in favor of black tea. To conclude this part of my subject, I would re- mark, that the sugar taken with either tea or coffee, often disagrees with the dyspeptic. The quantity of fluid is another objection, as it diminishes the solvent power of the gastric juice by diluting it. CONDIMENTS. A very few words on the subject of condiments will suffice. Salt, the first and most important of all, is so generally used, and its value appreciated, that none, except a few one-idea-men, will presume to ques- tion its value. (See remarks on Hydropathy.) But we find a variety of opinions respecting other articles, such as vinegar, pepper, mustard, horse-rad- ish, ginger, nutmegs, &c.,&c. Any of these, and sim- ilar articles, may doubtless be used with moderation in health, and frequently with advantage. A small quantity of pepper, either black or red, stimulates the nervous tissue of the stomach, causing this organ to act with more vigor, and thereby promotes digestion, and has a tendency to prevent flatulence. Vinegar, used moderately, also promotes digestion and im- proves the appetite. But all should be cautious how they interrupt the wise and salutary operations of nature. Whenever she says, " Here is a subject for fat, and 54 EXERCISE. deems it expedient to make a large deposit of this burdensome tissue, as it sometimes becomes, let her alone. She knows what to do better than you. Just let her proceed. That the reader may know what the writer means by this hint, he takes the liberty of presenting a brief sketch of an affecting case, which will probably suffice. FATAL EXPERIMENT. "A few years ago, a young lady, in easy circum- stances, enjoyed good health ; she was very plump, had a good appetite, and a complexion blooming with roses an,d lilies. She began to look upon her plumpness with suspicion ; for her mother was very fat, and she was afraid of becoming like her. Ac- cordingly she consulted a woman who advised her to drink a small glass of vinegar daily : the young lady followed her advice, and her plumpness dimin- ished. She was delighted with the success of the remedy, and continued it for more than a month. She began to have a cough ; but it was dry at its commencement, and was considered as a slight cold, which would go off. Meantime, from day to day, it became moist ; a slow fever came on, and a difficul- ty of breathing; her body became lean, and wasted away ; night-sweats, swelling of the feet and of the legs succeeded, and a diarrhcBa terminated her life. On examination, all the lobes of the lungs were found filled with tubercles, and somewhat resembling a bunch of grapes." EXERCISE. This is a matter of great importance, and de- mands our attention and encouragement at every period of life. It has equal claims upon all nations ; and the whole animal kingdom is hardly less ex- empt than man. But notwithstanding the necessity is so great, and the result so good, when properly at- tended to, and so ruinous when neglected, yet many let the precious opportunity slip, for securing one of the greatest earthly blessings that man can ever gain, until, when it is too late, a shattered constitution re- veals to them their folly ! While many are sacrificing their health and com- fort to a listless, idle, passive life, it behooves those who fully realize the evil tendency of this ease-loving age, to speak out to the generations of the living, such sentiments as the vast importance of this vital subject demands. The careful attention of the rea- der, for a short time, is therefore respectfully solicit- ed, while we briefly examine the subject of physi- cal exercise, under four heads, viz. : its importance, the testimony in its favor, the proper mode, and the result. ITS IMPORTANCE. That active and habitual exercise are important, to develop a strong and symmetrical body to preserve the health to give to food a pleasant relish, and to sleep a refreshing sweetness to make the mind cheerful, the passions governable, and life, with all its burdens, comfortable appears too obvious to need 3* 56 EXERCISE. any proof. But it is one thing to admit, and another thing to feel. . If a convoy of angels should be commissioned to fly from the heavenly world, to this sickly planet, with a message for the slothful sons and daughters of Adam, and should take their stands at the corners of our streets, and, with the voice of a trumpet, cry, Health, strength, and life, to the active ; they would have less hearers this very day, than if they cried, Cash, pleasure, power. Let them tell the inhabitants how to get gold, and ten thousand times ten thousand would be ready to fall down and worship them, saying, O tarry with us, tarry with us ; your message is thankfully received, it is better than life ; pray tarry, till we, our children, and our children's children, have all obtained skill and wisdom to get gold. But, as many seem to require much less evidence in favor of the importance of getting gold than of getting health, we must turn our attention for a mo- ment to the TESTIMONY IN FAVOR OP PHYSICAL EXERCISE. The best specimens in its favor positively, are those who use it most, (if not to excess.) and the best neg- ative specimens, are those who use it least. The neg- ative and the positive testimony everywhere abound. And the living witnesses which may be found in al- most every street, are doubtless sufficient to satisfy every candid mind, with a moment's reflection, as to the difference between the active and the idle man. There is, moreover, a difference in more respects than EXERCISE. 57 one. Their health and strength, their happiness and usefulness, their physical and mental enjoyments, are by no means the same. See the man who lives an active, stirring life ! Who has work for his hands as well as his head. He has a noble frame, a strong arm, a clear head, a confi- ding heart, and a happy frame of mind. He is riot suspicious of his friends, nor easily discouraged in times of trial. Not so with those who take little or no exercise. Is such man in a good condition to endure hardship, to meet adversity ? No. He is not even prepared to meet prosperity. And instead of his being quali- fied for activity, or the commerce of life, it would make him pant to carve a turkey ! In a word, there is just about as much difference between the active and the idle man, as there is be- tween the right hand and the left, when the former is made to do the work of both, while the latter hangs passive in a sling. We have an abundance of testimony in favor of exercise in the book of inspiration, which, from be- ginning to end, condemns idleness, and applauds ac- tivity. And not so much to hoard up gold, as to pro- mote spiritual and physical health. NATURE'S TESTIMONY. In the book of nature, too, we have testimony as clear as the noon-day sun. The all wise Creator has placed every living creature (with possibly a very few exceptions) in circumstances which make it ne- 58 EXERCISE. cessary for all to live a stirring life. And why ? Sim- ply to promote their highest good. In this way the smallest animalcule is perfectly developed, and by this very necessity, probably receives as much com- fort as it is possible for it to enjoy. It is very interesting to look at the clear testimony which comes to us from the hand of our Creator at a particular time of life. It is as much to the point, as if every word which has ever been uttered by man in favor of physical exercise, had been written down by inspired prophets. Look at the frolicksome lamb, the kid, the calf, the colt, the kitten. In one sense there is less need of activity at this period, yet in a very important sense, it is more demanded than at any other time of life. Now, the beneficial effect is two-fold. Let parents keep this in mind. It is necessary for the natural growth of the body, and for the preservation of health. But how is this important end obtained, while there is so little necessity for exertion? By a uni- versal inclination to play. And surely none but an atheist will say that this is an accidental circum- stance. Take for example the kitten. During about one- third of its entire growth, it hardly need to use a limb to procure a subsistence, as its mother furnish- es it with milk and with meat. Yet every one knows that this playful kitten will take more steps every day, than its mother. And although with a different object, will nevertheless produce an equally EXERCISE. 59 important result. But, some parents seem to think that little boys ought to be quite old men, and little girls old women ; and seeing no necessity for so much play, suppose that kittens frolick because they have nothing else to do, and that children ought to be as grave as Judges, and as free from antics in the field or nursery, as if they were in church. I beg leave, therefore, to present a physiological reason why this playful propensity should not be restrained. Or rath- er, why the young have this propensity, instead of, or more than the adult. Lest mothers should neglect this important matter, Divine Wisdom has adopted a far better substitute than parental authority or example, for securing great activity at this period of life. The brain of a child six years of age is found to be about * of its entire weight. Whereas, that of an adult is only ^ to ^. Now, it is well understood that children are far more prone to convulsions than adults. And here we perceive the reason. The ner- vous centre is excessively developed. This being the case, we ought to give our children much for their hands to do, and little for their heads. Let it be understood that this superabundance of nervous energy stimulates the young to great activi- ty. It produces an intense desire for play and amuse- ment, that can hardly be restrained. And by no means should it be restrained, nor is it safe. Nay, encourage it, in all suitable ways and places. They were made to play. Their Creator expects them to play. So let them obey the voice of nature* Let them 60 EXERCISE. jump and laugh, and shout, and sing, and so work off this excess of nervous fluid, through this safety-valve, lest you find them dying of convulsions, or suffering some calamity equally bad. Now, as we can have no stronger proof of its importance, than the fact that we were made for physical exercise, we will pause a moment to notice the MODE. Some people are foolish enough to suppose that a man can hardly learn how to breathe, without going to Europe ; and of course nothing can satisfy such persons short of going to Paris, and having Col. Amoros show them how to climb a ladder and pull a rope. Well, let them go. But as there are thou- sands skilled in the art, on the way, they will learn all that, before they get far, if it is not their own fault. The truth is, there is no necessary mysticism about gymnastics in the least. Show me a man who is determined to take active exercise daily in the open air, and I shall have little fear for that man, though he may never see a gymnast in his life. All that can be said on the subject, will do more good in the way of encouraging people to practice it, than in showing them how. Still, a few simple rules may be noticed. Whatever plan may be devised for encouraging this healthful act, and whatever apparatus may be used, it should be remembered that much will depend upon the state of the mind, whether the exercise itself shall be found beneficial or even injurious. EXERCISE. 61 A man, for example, may endure an amount of exer- cise and hardship, with impunity, nay, with great advantage, in some fond pursuit, as in chasing the deer, \vhich might kill him if compelled to do the same thing. NATURE'S MODE. As exercise which promotes pleasurable sensations is more salutary than that which is not attended with recreation, if we are wise we shall imitate na- ture, and as far as possible make it all play. Present the right kind of exercise, and you can hardly find a man so old that he will not act out the boy again. Amusement will be, and should be had ; and if that which is harmless cannot readily be obtained, that which is hurtful will be very likely to be substituted. EXTREMES UNSAFE. In taking exercise, two errors are quite common. One consists in doing too much,and the other in doing too little. The excess sometimes occurs at Gymnasiums. There are those who visit these places of resort who seem to think that unless they put every part to the severest test, and strain every muscle until they can " see stars," that they do almost nothing. In this way, there is more hurt done than good. Let those who do not believe it, ask the Jockey's opinion about such extremes, and see if he does not say, that even ahorse subjected to such treatment, would soon be ruined. If they do not believe him, or think that a man ought to be treated worse than a beast, let them ask the physician what he knows about the strains, bruises, 62 EXERCISE. ruptures, hemorrhages, &c., which occur from ex - cessive exertion. This violent exercise is not beneficial, is not obey- ing the voice of nature, and is not safe. The other error, if not so immediately hazardous, is far more common, and therefore, in the aggregate, more disastrous. A lady who might enjoy good health, and find many a sweet and pleasant hour, in exerting a happy influence upon her friends and the world around her, often carries about a world of suf- fering without and within, and is a burthen to her- self and to society, and all from want of ambition. Simply because she cannot in any way be induced to live a stirring life. But she is not prepared to believe this. It is a very strange and absurd doctrine to her. Why, she walks around a whole block of houses every day, besides combing her own hair, and going down stairs to dinner, and is surprised at her activity, and won- ders that she is not as strong as a giant ! If she would walk each day, one block farther than on the preceding, and perhaps cut off a few right-hand-luxuries at the table, and pluck out a few right-eye-indulgences elsewhere, she might soon solve the mystery. The great thing is, to take plenty of exercise daily in the open air, and in such a way as to give the body a free and easy motion. But never for a mo- ment indulge the thought that this cannot be effect- ed, without the prescribed form of some Jimcrack of a Gymnast. I am willing to admit, that some are benefited by EXERCISE. 63 taking exercise at the Gymnasium, and I suppose that it is the very place for that class who seem to need the strength and activity of others to induce them to stir enough to keep their own blood from stagnation. I would say to such, go by all means to the gymnasium, and strictly follow the direction of the teacher, if he is a man of sense. But, after all, I have not a doubt that most of those who receive any benefit at these places, may receive still more elsewhere, if they will. For instance, those who live an out-door stirring life, do not need to go to such a place to lift a weight, climb a rope, and pull a stick not at all. While those who are boxed up the live-long day, in a dusty, gassy, smoky, confined apartment, certainly need a little fresh air, and should be encouraged to get it. For example, a young man is shut up in a store through the day, and so constantly occupied at the desk, or the counter, that one hour in twenty-four is all that he can possibly devote to physical exercise for the improvement or preservation of his bodily and mental health. Would you shut him up a little longer and have him spend that hour among those who kick up the dust, scientifically? Better turn him out into a sheep- pasture. He was made to breathe the out-door air let him have it. As the reader will perceive, that I wish to have every man feel, that if it is not his own fault, he will have a gymnasium of his own, and a gymnast too, I will here take the liberty of calling his attention to one of the best arranged gymnasiums which can be found, and to which I had the pleasure of an intro- C4 EXERCISE. duction some thirty years ago, in Massachusetts. A better teacher than those had, who took a part in it, could not be found. The exercises appeared to be of the most appropriate and healthful character, and were enjoyed in the highest degree. And as I have since seen nothing of the kind more perfect, I take pleasure in giving the reader a slight glimpse of it, though it comes far short of the reality. Nature's Gymnasium. Yes, in the open field, in the shady forest, and out up- on the great and wide-spread sea, are the appropriate places for exercise. These are nature's gymnasiums, and they all have a perfect teacher, and teachable pupils. Can the farmer improve upon nature's plan for giving exercise to the lamb in the pasture ? Can the hunter teach the fawn how to gambol in the wil- EXERCISE. 65 derness ? Can the fisherman instruct the whale how to swim in the great deep? The untutored In- dian, whose yell in the forest, if not sufficient to wake up an earthquake, is quite enough to start from their slumbers both friend and foe, for miles around shall he go to a gymnast to learn how to inflate his lungs and expand his chest? RESULT. Influence of Location, Position, $c. It is well known that many exercise much, and do not receive the benefit which they need. The failure may often be attributed to location and position. By location, I mean the spot occupied, and by posi- tion, the state of the body. Two specimens will illustrate the sentiment, viz. the Tailor and the Woodsawyer. The former works as hard, and is as tired at night as the latter. But every one knows that the effects of these different exercises are not alike good. The latter has greatly the advantage of the former, both in location and position, and con- sequently receives a correspondingly greater amount of benefit. But there is still another influence to prevent a good result, which may be noticed. For example, a poor widow has to support herself and her little ones, with her needle. She goes to some of those clothing shops, the owners of which are proverbial for gra- nite faces, and she asks for work. The man says, " I can give you a lot of vests to make, for which I will pay you ten cents a piece." 66 EXERCISE. "Can you give me no more," says the industrious, needy woman. " Not a cent." <' I fear I shall starve at that price." " I cannot help that, I can get as many made as I please for less." " Well, I must do something, for my poor children have not yet had any breakfast, and I was compelled to leave them in bed, for want of fuel and clothing. And, beside all this, my poor boy, my future depen- dence, is now sick, and I have not a shilling to pay for the medicine which the doctor ordered this morning ; and how I am to redeem the clothing which yester- day I had to take from his bed to the 'Pawn Broker's,' to keep my children from starving, I know not- So you will please give me as many even at that rate, as you think I can make in time to answer your purpose." But the inhuman monster, ready ever to take the advantage of an honest confession, replies, " I can let you have but a dollar's worth at that price. You can take more at eight if you wish." She takes as many as she can well carry, in her feeble condition, and hurries home as fast as she can, to encourage the sick and the hungry ones to expect relief in due time. She plies her needle with all her might the live-long day, and half the night, giving a word of comfort and hope to the little group at al- most every stitch, and from time to time administering to their wants, according to her ability. Thus she goes on, day after day, trying to make her little darlings as comfortable as possible, hardly EXERCISE. 67 thinking of herself, or even daring to look forward to quarter-day. But still she finds that she can by no possible exertion or economy, gain upon her stock of comforts. She looks at the last loaf of bread, the last inch of candle, and the last chip of fuel, and with a sigh and a tear, and in the midst of cries of " Hurry, mother dear" starts with her ten vests for street to get her dollar. But does she get it? No. The villain declares that, as ninety-six pence are eight shillings, so ninety- six cents are one dollar, and takes special pains to pay her in such a way as not to give her another cent. Now it will not be very difficult to perceive, that this kind of exercise, which is bad enough under the most favorable circumstances, will not be very salutary under such discouragements and abuse. Who can- not see that if this class of persons could once feel that they were well paid for their toil, that if they could at every stitch hear hope whisper, " a good time coming," that they might work hard, early and late, with far less risk of constitutional suffering ? But lest the reader should get an uncharitable opinion of the " trade," I ought to remark, that all respectable shops pay their seamstresses pretty libe- ral wages. And lest some should say, It cannot be that such a pirate as just described is tolerated in this goodly city, I beg leave to say, that my tailor, who is a gentleman of integrity, informs me that he has now in his em- ploy a female who has been repeatedly robbed in this very way, as to the manner of making payments 68 EXERCISE. &c., until she could endure it no longer. He also gave me the name of the robber, which I am not quite sure that I ought to withhold from the public, as every man ought to shun such an establishment AS he would a den of thieves. Physical exercise is useful in at least a two-fold sense. It is of much service to the mind, as well as to the body. The union of mind and matter, is a very profound and mysterious subject. Sometimes they harmonize, at other times they disagree. They act and re-act upon each other, but how we know not. Now when we find anything for our hands to do, which is agreeable, it assists the mind in getting out of the deep labyrinth of imaginary evil, and thus prevents its preying upon itself, or the body. It is also of paramount importance to the material frame. "Agreeable exercise," says a distinguished writer, " acts as a salutary excitant to the intellectual faculties and sensations. *' Employed moderately, it has a tonic and stimu- lating influence on the system, and is calculated to be beneficial in a great variety of complaints. Used immoderately, it exhausts both the mental and bodily powers, and produces great debility." Exercise promotes digestion, assimilation, secre- tion, circulation, absorption, exhalation, and respira- tion. The last named function is influenced by ex- ercise in a very important sense, and demands a spe- cial notice. The thorax, which contains in its cavity the lungs, heart, &c., is composed of several tissues, three of EXERCISE. 69 which, it will be sufficient to notice on this occasion, viz. bones, muscles, and cartilages. The bones and cartilages constitute the principal frame-work, and are so articulated as to admit a pretty free mo- tion in several directions, and thus allow a modifica- tion of said cavity by dilatation and contraction. Tht- se movements produce inspiration and expiration, which together constitute the function of respira- tion. But it will be remembered that the muscles are the only active organs of locomotion, and of course are the only active agents in performing this indis- pensable function. In this interesting and vitally important operation, the lungs are passive. They have not the least power to draw in, or expel a par- ticle of air, except, that when distended, they have a tendency to return upon themselves by virtue of their elasticity ; so that we may say that we breathe with our muscles. It is true they use the lungs ; so they also use the bones, cartilages, ligaments, &c., but the muscles do the work, and in extreme emer- gency the number which are brought into requisition amount to one hundred and one. Now, if we call to mind the indispensable change which is wrought in the blood at every breath, through a long life, and remember that this change cannot possibly be produced without muscular effort, we shall be prepared in some measure to appreciate that exercise which calls into play the respiratory muscles in such a manner that they shall acquire strength to so expand and contract the chest, that no ordinary obstruction shall prevent a free circulation 70 EXERCISE. of air through all the delicate air vesicles where said change is wrought. Exercise that does this, is sure to do good. But there are those in the world, who seem to go all for contraction of the chest, as though it were more important to shut the air out of the lungs, than to let it in. But this error will be noticed under another head. When speaking of diet, I remarked that active exercise, immediately after a full meal, is not advisa- ble. Here again we have a hint from nature. In- deed, her teaching is always good. How quickly does the animal, when plentifully supplied with food, obey the voice of nature, if nothing prevent, and remain on some soft spot to take a nap. This is the time when the stomach has an important function to per- form, and its energies should not be diminished by laborious exertion. Although exercise materially aids digestion, yet let it be remembered that it does so by giving a healthy tone to the digestive organs, when taken at a proper time, and not by giving the body or the mind a hard task to perform at this critical period. It should not be forgotten that rest is quite as important as exercise. WRONG CONCLUSION. The benefit derived from exercise, is not always apparent when first taken. Indeed it is quite com- mon for people to adopt a very erroneous conclusion in regard to the first effect of taking some kind of exercise to which the person has not been accus- EXERCISE. 71 tomed. It is said, " It has done me more hurt than good, for I feel as sore as if I had been pounded." Not so. It simply proves that certain idle muscles have been set to work, and no wonder that they at first complain. Don't let this deter you a moment. It is just the blacksmith's experience when he first begins to swing the hammer. But every one knows full well that his arm is far from becoming puny by this apparent injury. Persevere, and the effect will be, that the muscles will increase in volume and strength, and soon cease to complain. If bread may be called the "staff of life," surely exercise may be called the staff of health. BENEFICIAL IN DISEASE. If physical exercise is so beneficial in health, it cannot be difficult to perceive that an important be- nefit may be derived from such an agent in certain forms of disease. As severe acute diseases usually re- quire rest, it is obvious that chronic maladies mainly, indicate the use of this agent. The want of exercise often produces that form of disease which is so well known, and yet so ill known, viz., dyspepsia. It is presumed that no disease has more victims than this, and hardly any makes its subjects so wretched in body and mind. True, few are more susceptible of cure or improvement, and yet no physician, in his right mind, would think of treating it successfully without plenty of exercise in the open air. But while we highly value exercise, both in health and disease, yet we do not expect it to do every 72 EXERCISE. thing. We hail it as an indispensable agent, but not as a specific. NOVEL GYMNASTIC EXERCISES. The reader may recollect that, some few years since, a gentleman in the city of New- York an- nounced a specific for dyspepsia. Many sent to him from different parts of the country for the wonderful secret. It consisted in thumping the belly. Now this thumping process, which was thus put in operation throughout the land, and which possibly presented a ludicrous scene to those of moderate gravity, was not altogether in vain. Neither is it at all strange that this pinching, punching, pounding the abdomen should be more or less beneficial. Indeed, I have heard candid persons acknowledge the benefit, and they are so many witnesses in favor of physical exercise, although some may rather object to the gymnastic apparatus. HYDROPATHY. Lest I should offend the advocates for cold water, I must not fail to make a few remarks on the impor- tance of bathing. The value of cold water, hot water, ice and steam, is seldom called in question at the present day. We are all aware of the refresh- ing influence of the cooling draught in "dog days." We are also familar with the bracing effect of the cold, and the soothing influence of the warm bath. But we must not let a little water wash away all confidence in every thing else. That a simple fluid which has ever constituted a large portion of our victuals and drink which has hardly been out of our mouths, or off our faces since we were born, should now, in these latter days, become, the world over, the "pool of Bethesda" is truly marvelous. By no means do we undervalue the use of pure water as a hygienic, or a therapeutic agent. Nay, we extol its virtues ; and urge a more frequent use of this fluid, which is too much neglected by the great majority, while some, who have but "owe idea" doubtless use it to excess. After being fatigued and burdened with care and toil through the day, a bath at night, is the best and safest of all anodynes for domestic practice. Indeed it may be taken night and morning too, with great advantage, either warm or cold, according to cir- cumstances. The warm, or tepid bath, is generally considered the most soothing; but the cold bath is decidedly the most invigorating, and is, in fact, the only 74 HYDROPATHY. form which may with any propriety be called a tonic. In commencing bathing, the safest plan is, to be- gin with the water about blood warm, or 98 (Fah.), and gradually diminish the temperature daily. Soon the water will be tolerated at 75 , and even less, by many. The application should be followed with plen> ty of friction. A very useful form of bathing, though it does not agree \vith all, is the cold shower-bath. Bathing should be avoided immediately after a full meal, and cold bathing should not be practiced when the surface is cold or chilly, or excessively warm. Early in the morning before breakfast, ten to twelve o'clock, A. M., and two or three hours after dinner, or just before retiring at night, are as appropriate seasons as can be selected for ablution. Children, and those who are feeble, should be cautious about staying in the cold bath too long. Stay not a moment after beginning to feel chilly. Let none fail to use friction. I would also caution the reader against a frequent use of hot baths. They weaken the system. By hot baths, I mean, more than blood warm. Although pure fresh water may be used in vari- ous ways with great advantage, j r et, in many chronic affections, it can hardly compare with sea-water. But Hydropathists, or " cold water-doctors," though better named Fresh-water- doctors, deny this, and of course would have people get away from the sea- shore, to be packed in sheets dipped in the mountain rill at their own chosen retreats. And why? Be- cause, say they, the ocean contains various drugs. Yes, we know that it does, and this is the very thing HYDROPATHY. that adds to its value. Every physician who has had any experience, and is fortunate enough to have common sense, knows full well, that salt water-bath- ing acts like a charm, in scrofulous affections, ner- vous debility, general prostration, loss of flesh, en- ergy, appetite, &c. Indeed, the very atmosphere about the salt water is so invigorating, and full of health-giving influence, that a sick man with any curable disease, can hardly go to sea without benefit unless perchance he takes along with him a doctor or two. The fact is, we have so many one-idea-doctors, and one-idea-patients, that we have to look out sharp for extremes. For it would seem that those who go the whole figure for the " water-cure," would have us be- lieve that, as a matter of course, if thoroughly ap- plied, cold fresh water will be just as certain to wash away every curable disease by which the suffering are afflicted, as is the mighty Niagara to wash every thing down into the deep and fearful abyss which floats upon the very verge of the cataract. Suppose a man should say I have found ten good things and that is enough. No man ought to have more. Every thing can be done with ten good things, which can be done with a greater number, and every thing else is useless. What would people say of him ? In every thing else but in treating the sick, he would be called a fool! But in practicing the healing art, the number is too great by nine ! Yes, water is all-sufficient. It is " the remedy" li lt is nature's own remedy." Well, so it is. But had na- ture anything more to do in causing the water to flow 76 HYDROPATHY. than in causing the Rhubarb, the Ipecac, and the Poppy to grow ? The question is not, Is there no water ? but "Is there no balm in Gilead ?" On a certain occasion, the Great Physician himself saw fit to use water in restoring sight, yet let it be remembered, he used other remedies also, for he first " spat on the ground and made clay" (a mineral reme- dy,) and anointed the blind man's eyes, and said, "Go wash in the pool of Siloam." Some of our " water-cure doctors" are so afraid of drugs, that they even attempt to exclude common salt from the table. Well, let us look at this, the best of all con- diments, and valuable medicinal agent, and see if this is not also " nature's own remedy." Let me in- troduce the anti-drug doctor to one of the " salt licks," as they are called by the hunter, perhaps he may study " Materia Medica" at such a spot with profit, though man is slow to take instruction from a brute. HYDROPATHY. 77 Scene at a Salt Lick. These brackish springs abound in our western for- ests. For this water the Elk, Deer, &c., have a great relish. Secreted near by, have I lain at night, with my rifle in my arms, to take advantage of that propensity for " drugs," which nature has given them. The Wolf and the Panther not unfrequently take their station there, also, but more for meat, than salt. And al- though the poor deer find no friends at such places, (for the Hydropathist would hardly spare them,) and though they get frightened away again and again, yet so strong is the craving for salt, that they will return, night after night, and from the appearance of their paths, travel miles to gratify their appetite. But lest it should be said, that the water may con- tain something else rather than salt, which they so 78 HYDROPATHY. highly prize, I would remark, that I have often made what are called " artificial licks," even within a short distance of my " cabin," by boring into a tree lying on the ground, and filling it with salt. And I have been Surprised to see how soon these animals would find it, and how greedily they would gnaw into the solid wood to obtain the condiment. Now these anti-hydropathists who are thus guilty of introducing minerals into the system, (untaught by man,) obey the voice of nature, and what do you say, anti-drug doctor, is not this " nature's own reme- dy r The Jockey also might give you some light on the subject, for he treats his patients better, knowing that if he does not, they will soon die of " botts." The farmer , too, knows very well, that this relish for salt was not given to his flocks in vain. And if he happens to forget it, nature soon jogs his memory with a dead lamb ! Finally, I refer the reader to a form of punishment which once existed in Holland, which exhibited fear- ful testimony against the absurd sentiment that salt is prejudicial to health. " The ancient laws of the country ordained men to be kept on bread alone, unmixed with salt, as the se- verest punishment that could be inflicted on them in their moist climate. The effect was horrible ; these wretched criminals are said to have been devoured with worms engendered in their own stomachs." (Paris on Diet, p. 78.) As I did not intend to notice, in this volume, each branch of a very numerous family of medical hum- HYDROPATHY. 79 bugs, T beg leave to proceed to the discussion of other topics. FOOT BATH. This simple agent is of so much value, that I would have all feel that whether they have facilities for general bathing or not, this form of bathing need never be neglected, and can hardly ever be used in vain. In that deranged state of the system, called a cold, it is pretty generally known to be of service, though even in this case, it is not half appreciated. But to suppose that it is good for nothing else, is to make a very great mistake. Many are annoyed with cold feet, during the winter, and it is not saying enough, to call this condition of the inferior extremities, an uncomfortable one. It is more than this. IMPORTANCE OF SUPERFICIAL CIRCULATION. In the first place it may be proper to inquire into the cause of cold feet, or rather why they are ever warm. Heat circulates throughout the body, through the medium of the blood. Let there be a due supply of this life-giving fluid in any part of the body, and, no matter how cold the air which surrounds it, it cannot be cold. The temperature of this fluid in health, is 98 (Fan.), and it is a very interesting fact, that na- ture maintains this standard with very little increased or diminished variation through life, whether in sick- ness or health, in cold climates or warm Whenever the vessels contract (whatever the 80 FOOT-BATH. cause,) the blood begins to recede, and then the sen- sation of cold commences, and is more or less severe as the part becomes bloodless, and according to the temperature of the medium which surrounds it. We all know that a person may suffer much with the cold, in mid-summer, during a fit of ague, and also feel very much oppressed with heat, in mid- winter, in a paroxysm of fever. Now the blood remains of very nearly the same temperature in both cases. But we must remember that its distribution is en- tirely different. And this will account for the dis- similar sensations, while the blood itself remains nearly or quite unaltered. Without a knowledge of this fact, it is hard for people to believe that their blood is just as warm when they say, " I am chilled through," as when they say, " I am burning up ftith this fever." After the chill passes off, however, and the blood returns to the surface, they usually feel very much inclined to think that it has not lost much of its caloric. The sldn, or external covering of the body, may be considered as an expanded nerve, the grand organ of sensation, which, through a long life, conveys to the brain from day to day, through the medium of the nerves, a variety of sensations, both agreeable and painful, with great fidelity. Hence, when a large amount of blood rushes to the surface of the body, there is a sensation of great heat, and when it re- cedes, the opposite feeling prevails. Now when the blood is properly distributed, there is usually, in no part of the body, either deficiency or excess. But an unequal distribution, we can see at POULTICES. once, will give one part too little, and another part too much. From this may and does arise se- rious consequences. The evil does not usually befall the part that thus becomes minus, but the organ or part which has more than a normal quantity. The result of this may be congestion, inflammation, sup- puration, mortification, hemorrhage, &c. Now suppose that in consequence of cold extrem- ities through the day, or, in other words, an absence of the necessary amount of blood to keep them warm, the lungs or other organs are so charged with blood, that congestion of an alarming character is ready to supervene. Up to this time, the person has had no pain, and is not aware of the least danger. But, before going to bed, he wisely takes a stimula- ting foot-bath. The consequence is, the skin is soft- ened, healthful perspiration established, the vessels on the surface are expanded, the equilibrium is re- stored, the night is passed in safe and refreshing re- pose, and the man escapes a sudden death and never knows it ! But this is not all. With this application at night, with plenty of friction, the vessels of those parts which have been cold through the day, will be more likely to perform their appropriate function the suc- ceeding day. POULTICES. This, in reality, is no more nor less, than a local bathj and is often the most convenient and efficient form that can be resorted to. But, unfortunately for this generation, it has lost its novelty. It is so aim- POULTICES. pie, so cheap, and so domestic, that it seems hard for some people to see anything good in it. But the question is often asked, " What kind of a poultice is best?" Well, one man is partial to bread and milk, another to flax-seed, the third to slippery elm, the fourth to Indian-meal, and the fifth to bran, &c. But, in a great majority of cases, it is mere fancy. The grand agents, after all, are heat and moisture. As to milk, it is no better than water, and frequently far less agreeable, as it so soon sours. When there is great pain in the part, it is very pro- per to add to the ordinary poultice, some anodyne, such as a strong infusion of hops. Laudanum may also be used, but if the patient is a child, and the part' to be poulticed happens to be raw, a little cau- tion may be necessary, lest too much of the poison should be absorbed. For painful swellings, a better poultice than poun- ded stramonium leaves, can hardly be obtained. If gangrene, or mortification, is feared, a poultice made of good yeast, should be applied, and fre- quently repeated. There can hardly be an objection to poultices, where common sense seems to indicate them. I am aware that some are afraid to advise a poultice, where it is desirable to avoid suppuration. But I know not why. I am fully satisfied that, nine times out of ten, they do more to prevent than to encour- age it. They deplete the part, and thus relieve the blood-vessels. They soften the part, and thus dimin- ish the swelling and the pain ; and they promote ab- POULTICES. sorption. If anything better can be done to prevent suppuration, I must confess I know not what it is. And when suppuration is unavoidable, they actually diminish the amount, and make the patient more comfortable. If the part is not inclined to undergo this process or change, you may poultice it as long as you please, and the patient will be as likely to grow fat from external nourishment, as you will be to ob- tain any pus. Now, if a man happens to " run against a snag," leaving on the end of it, a pound of flesh, the loss of which would make a very considerable concavi- ty in a leg or an arm ; let him remember that there is nothing he can apply which will make the little granulations sprout out and fill up the cavity, so beau- tifully and so quickly, as a simple poultice. Keep it on, and never fear the snags, and you will find it so. Don't hear a word about plasters, and salves, and extracts, and goose-grease, and " all-healing oint- ments." Not a word of it. Every body has some " all-healing" remedy. But strictly speaking there is no healing remedy in nature, but nature herself. Other things may remove dead weights, and there is nothing better than a poultice for this, unless the knife be indicated ; but nature always has, and al- ways will do all the healing herself, every bit of it, if it is ever done at all. So, friend, don't forget the poultice, for it is a friend to almost every sore. In short, if we should put a little more bread on the outside in the shape of poultices and fomenta- tions, and a little less inside, in the shape of pud- 84 FRICTION. dings and dressings, we should be a little better off. FRICTION. Here we have another agent which is somewhat akin, in its effects, to the last two herein mentioned. This is also a remedy which belongs to that list which costs nothing, and therefore is worth nothing. Sometimes people show their fallibility, very con- clusively, by making estimates according to this rule. One half of the curative influence which is attri- buted to vapor baths in Russia and elsewhere, may undoubtedly be credited to the shampooing, or fric- tion which follows. It breaks up morbid adhesions, removes rigidity and stiffness of the joints, equalizes the circulation, promotes secretion and absorp- tion, and a general healthy action in the part. There is a variety of circumstances wherein this agent is invaluable. I have often had a pain in my head entirely relieved by a gentle combing with a coarse comb. Of course the effect of this, or any other remedy, will be modified by the cause of the pain. At almost every step we take in life we may learn something useful from nature's teaching, if we are not too wise already. Look at that sagacious animal the dog. Nature has taught him how to cure a sore, and I question whether any surgeon can better it. Two very es- sential applications he makes every day a cleans- ing and a stimulating one. Through the use of his tongue, he gets the poultice and the friction, and FRICTION* 85 thus stimulates the part to a healthy action. And he sets us another example ; when he gets sick, he is very temperate ; and when he is well, he rarely eats enough to give him the dyspepsia, or make him nervous. The farmer knows very well that the curry-comb not only improves the appearance of his horse, but also his health. Oh, that men were wise enough to treat themselves as well as they do their beasts. ERRORS, FROM THE CRADLE TO THE GRAVE. As our comfort, usefulness, and destiny, not un- frequently depend upon minor incidents of every-day life, which attract little or no attention, I propose to notice certain forms of error, with which every one is familiar, and some of which usually escape the attention of writers, being considered, perhaps, too trivial to deserve their notice, or too common to need a rebuke. But, no matter how common the error, the more so, the worse nor how trifling its frequent occurrence may make it appear. If it is in any way, either directly or indirectly, prejudicial to the physical and mental prosperity of the communit} 7 , it ought to be clearly pointed out, and its pernicious tendency revealed. At least such is the judgment of the writer, and it is presumed that such is the opinion of the reader. A HINT TO MOTHERS. "Just as the twig is bent, the tree's inclined." There is a volume of truth in this saying, physi- cally, mentally, and morally. If the great map of influence could be faithfully and intelligibly drawn out, with its bright and dark spots to represent the good and bad effects of example, and so hung up to view that a single glance should reveal the whole, it would perfectly astonish the world. Although generally considered only in a mental ERRORS. 87 and moral sense, yet the tottering cripples in our streets, and the deformed and helpless sufferers in their retirement, are too often so many witnesses to the disastrous folly of disregarding the principle em- braced in the above adage. HANDLING INFANTS ROUGHLY. It will be remembered, that just as the tender twig is bent, the tree is inclined. Surely no epithet is more applicable to the infant than this. The little creature is so tender a twig, that careful handling will be needful, to rear a vigorous and healthy plant. But let us notice some of the common, every-day er- rors which contradict this sentiment. Some people seem to think that as soon as a child is born, the pounding, tossing, tumbling process ought to commence, and hence the helpless, speechless one, hardly has a chance to breathe in peace, from sun-rise till midnight. If the frail creature, from any cause whatever, presumes to cry, it is tossed about in the nurse's arms, or on the mother's lap, as though its very brains were made of india-rubber. If it is playful, and inclined to laugh, some little sister or cousin, is ready to snatch it up, and shake it, and tickle it, until it almost has convulsions. Perhaps some of my readers may say, this is far- fetched, or destitute of practical importance. But unfortunately this happens to be a mistake. The writer has more than once been put in pain by wit- nessing such a process. It may seem very trifling to those who know little, and care less, about the con- dition of the organs and tissues of infants. 88 ERRORS. Again, if the little one manifests a disposition to tale a short nap, it must be thrashed about in the old cradle, until it is sufficiently stunned to secure an hour's sleep. And so, because it does not actually speak right out, and say, Not quite so hard, it must be pounded up and down for crying, thrashed about for being sleepy, and tumbled right and left for waking up; while some thoughtless intruder shouts in its sen- sitive ears, with all the sharpness and shrillness of seven brass trumpets, and as many " Ram's Horns," as though the perfect development of the auditory apparatus all depends upon the tremendous concus- sion and vibration of an atmosphere of Bedlam around' its ears. Now I need not say that all such treatment is bad enough ! Every body knows it, or ought to know it, who is old enough to have the charge of infants. Every body also ought to know better than to suffer such inconsistencies to be perpetrated. If we consider for a moment how very frail and helpless these little ones are how delicate all their organs and tissues how soft and limber their bones how weak and imperfect their muscles how tender and irritable their skin how slender and sensitive their nerves how unaccustomed to hard usage their bodies, and how unable to make known their sensations ; it will appear that common sense ought to teach those who have the charge of infants, to treat them at least as well as instinct teaches the wild beasts of the forests to treat their offspring. Let a man treat a young cub as roughly, and see if old Bruin does not pretty effectually re- ERRORS. mind him of his harshness. Let no one suppose that I make these remarks merely to amuse the reader or the writer. They are too applicable to those who are not aware of their roughness in handling and managing helpless ones. It is a fact that cannot be denied, that some do not treat these tender specimens of humanity as well as they treat their dogs ! If called upon, of course, we shall have to prove it, for no body will plead guilty. Treatment of Dogs, Kittens, and Children. INFANTILE EXPOSURE. Another error, and one which is frequently fatal, may be noticed, namely, the habit of carrying infants out door during the winter. If I had kept a list of all the cases of inflammation of the lungs which could 90 ERRORS. be clearly traced to such imprudence, which has come within the scope of my limited experience, a large proportion of which proved fatal ; it would probably be such an astounding warning, as many mothers are not prepared to hear. This disease, though bad enough at any age, is more destructive to infants than to others. Hence the importance of avoiding sudden changes of tem- perature. True, they need good air as much as good milk. But they must not be carried out at an im- proper season to get it. Carry them from one room to another, and let each be thoroughly ventilated while they are absent, if a suitable and safe provi- sion is not made for perpetual ventilation, which ought to be the very first thing attended to. (See Ventilation.) But, says one, if they are well protected with suita- ble clothing, is it not safe to carry them out ? I answer, No / With such a protection it is true that they stand a better chance to escape harm. But remem- ber that they must breathe I And, under such cir- cumstances, they draw into their sensitive lungs such an atmosphere as many a man at thirty cannot stand with impunity in our climate. Now, let others say and do what they will, keep them in from the first of November to the first of May ! But you may say, that Mrs. A and Mrs. B carry out their babies in winter, and still they live. That may be : and so may a man fall from a great height upon a naked rock, and not break his neck. But who would like to run the risk ? Still you may ask, Can I not safely carry out my ERRORS. 91 infant in a very pleasant day ? Alas ! these are the very days when the mischief is done ! Who will be foolish enough to set their babies out to play on a snow-bank, to get fresh air in a hail storm ! Keep them in a comfortable, well- ventilated room, if you wish to keep them out of the tomb. Let the older ones run out as much as they will. As every season has its errors, we must briefly notice a foolish practice which occurs a few months later in life. It is an error which many think too trivial to be worthy of their attention. But this only makes the warning so much the more important, for, with a lively sense of danger, caution seems unne- cessary. PREMATURE WALKIXG. Some mothers, aye, and fathers too, seem to feel proud of having their children learn to walk very young, and take special pains to encourage them to acquire the art, as though they would have their children run through this world in a hurry, and the quicker they get through the better. At any rate they do sometimes get through all the sooner for it. Let me call the attention of those most interested, to the structure of a particular tissue of the body, namely, the bones. It is well known that they form the principal frame-work, and preserve the general conformation of the body. That they not only serve to protect important organs, such as the brain, heart, lungs, &c., but also form a series of levers upon which the muscles act in producing locomotion. ERRORS. This frame-work of the body, it must be remembered, presents a very different consistence at different periods. For instance, in early life, that is, before birth, the bones are all in a gelatinous state ; becom- ing in due time cartilaginous, or more firm, and eventually osseous. But this is a gradual process, as some of the bones do not become hard until about the twentieth year, and not one in the body is as firm in childhood as in after life. Now if the bones be required to sustain the weight of the body (which is the case in the upright posi- tion) before they have received sufficient strength to prevent yielding under the pressure to which they are subjected, it is evident that they are liable to be- come more or less injured. And herein lies the dan- ger of inducing the child to outrun nature. The injury more frequently falls upon the spine than upon any other part, as these bones are soft and spongy. Should any one consider this too trifling a matter to deserve their attention, I can only add, a crooked back for life might slightly disturb their incredulity. No doubt the germs of spinal disease do sometimes thus begin to sprout. Nature intended that children should creep before they walk, and we had better let her proceed in her own way. Why not ? We used to creep when we were babies. And now when we put our hands upon our backs, and find that they are tolerably sound, let us rejoice and thank our wise mothers that they did not set us to running too soon ! Although I would not have them outrun nature, yet the reader is aware that I am an advocate for ERRORS. 93 exercise, and would therefore have the little ones, as soon as strength will permit, outrun all the deer in the forest if they can, and hope their good mothers will encourage them to do so; but they will suf- fer me to suggest the propriety of first protecting their children's feet with a pair of anti-corn-shoes ! Never mind the fashion. Let them dare to be seen with sound toes, vulgar and unfashionable as it may be. Few at the present day can commit an error in this department without going against light, and knowledge, and sensation. ERRORS IN SCHOOL. Some people, being a little "more nice than wise," would have us believe that children should have nothing but a three-legged stool to sit upon in school, lest with a better provision the occupants become crooked. But I pity the children who become half so crooked, as is the theory which is thus put forth to keep them straight. And I pity the bones, and ten- dons, and cartilages, and muscles which must be kept everlastingly on the stretch to maintain an equili- brium. And I pity still more, the stupidity of those who know no better, than to adopt such a ridiculous theory. This is the very way to make crooked spines, and flat chests. It is quite hard enough to sit six hours a day in school and attend to studies, without being put in a strait-jacket. Parents ought to be aware of this, and teachers too, when they complain of a sermon which happens to be fifteen minutes longer than ordinary discourses, while they have cushioned seats to sit on, and backs, and fronts, to 94 ERRORS. support them, and a preacher's eloquence to enter- tain them. This extra fatigue is far from being beneficial to the child. Now to suppose that a child can sit all day as safely, to say nothing about comfort, upon a seat without any apparatus for extra support, as upon a chair with arms and back, is just as foolish and unphilosophical, as to say that a man can sit just as well upon a chair with one leg, as if it had four, and lie with as little effort on the top of a rail as on a feather bed. But I cannot stop to notice all the errors which are congregated together in this imperfect world, nor even many which often prevail in the school-room, where the bones are taught to leave their proper place, and the child is taught to believe, that to sit upon the end of a block will make of it the most graceful creature in creation ! To say nothing about the teaching, give children good seats, good air, suitable light, and plenty of exercise NEVER DECEIVE A CHILD. Every one knows that a physician can succeed far better with a patient who has confidence in him, than if this characteristic be wanting. So can any one un- der all circumstances. But if a child cannot confide in his parents, whom can he believe whom can he trust ? Suppose you tell your children, when about to give them medicine, that it has no bad taste, while it is as bitter as aloes, or as nauseous as castor oil, and you know it. Will they believe you the next time even if you tell the truth ? Not at all. But, as this ERRORS. 95 habit has less to do with health than morals, i will direct the reader's attention to the subject of FRIGHTS. It is common for some parents to tell their children when perhaps a little refractory, that if they do not obey, or do this, or do that, they will send for the doctor ! And so the poor doctor has to be a bug-bear for the whole neighborhood, and the children learn to look upon him as a dangerous member of com- munity. A very respectable physician remarked to me a short time since, that he was recently called to see a little patient who was naturally nervous and excita- ble, with whom this foolish and shameful course had been taken. When the little sufferer found that the doctor must come in earnest, and expecting to be al- most cut into inch pieces, and bled all but to death, the agony of mind was horrible, far worse than the disease ; and in this excited state, with ev- ery nerve put to the utmost stretch, the muscular sys- tem in a perfect tremor, and every evil imagination conceivable concentrated in the brain, as the doctor rang the bell and entered the house, the little unhap- py patient fell flat on the floor in convulsions ; and it would not have been very remarkable if, in such an excited state, it had fallen dead ! Many affecting cases, illustrating not only the fol- ly, but the fatal consequences of frights, might be presented, but a few will suffice. 5 ERRORS. " CONSEQUENCES OF FRIGHTENING CHILDREN." * A school-mistress, for some trifling offence, most foolishly put a child in a dark cellar for an hour. The child was terrified and cried bitterly. Upon re- turning to her parents in the evening, she burst into tears and begged that she might not be put into the cellar. The parents thought this extremely odd, and assured her there was no danger of their being guilty of so great an act of cruelty, but it was diffi- cult to pacify her, and when put to bed she passed a restless night. On the following day she had a fever, during which she frequently exclaimed, * Do not put me in the cellar !' The fourth day after, she was taken to Sir Astley Cooper, in a high state of fever, with delirium, frequently muttering, * Pray, don't put me in the cellar.* When Sir Astley inquired the reason, he found that the parents had learnt the pun- ishment to which she had been subjected. He or- dered what was likely to relieve her ; but she died in a week after this unfeeling conduct." " Another case from the same authority may be here cited. It is the case of a child ten years of age, who wanted to write her exercise ; and, to scrape her slate pencil, went into the school in the dark to fetch her knife, when one of her school -fellows burst from behind the door to frighten her ; she was much ter- rified, and her head ached. On the following day she became deaf ; and, on the next, so much so as not to hear the loudest talking. Sir Astley saw her three months after this had happened, and she con- tinued in the same deplorable state of deafness." {Glasgow Constitutional.) ERRORS. 97 " The following cause of death was reported at the interment office this morning. It appears that some days ago, a boy, named Joseph Kennedy, six years of age, while sitting in the kitchen at home, received a severe shock of fright from a cat, which had been shut out, suddenly leaping through a pane of glass into the room, shivering the glass. The boy imme- diately sickened and died, and, as the physician pro- nounced, solely from the effects of the shock." (Bos- ton Journal.) WATCH THE TONGUE. The habit of talking to children about witches, ghosts, and hobgoblins, is fortunately less common than it was in the days of yore. I well remember the time when every quack of a duck, and squall of a goose, and scream of a cat, and spring of a toad, and start of a leaf after dark, was in obedience to the will of a witch ! These witches and ghosts, which used to be so plen- ty in New England, (not that I wish to say aught against my own blessed native land, for I would have been born no where else, witches or no witches,) were generally manufactured at the fire-side during the long winter evenings, when the good mothers (and of course every rnati had a good mother in those days, if he had any,) were in the habit of meeting together, not forgetting their " knitting work," to tell love-stories, war-stories, and witch-stories ; while the children who were too young to know anything, but just old enough to remember as many foolish sto- ries as any thoughtless mother or grandmother could 98 ERRORS. tell, were permitted to swallow every marvellous tale. The remarkable tenacity with which impressions made in early life cling to the memory, no matter how absurd, is worthy of special notice. It speaks volumes in favor of a judicious influence at that pe- riod. Many have been made miserable, half their days, through the agency of foolish stories. True, much may depend upon the natural temperament of the individual, as to the extent of the influence. Yet let it be remembered, that an impression may be made in a moment, which an age can hardly erase ! FOOLISH EXPOSURE. I beg leave to notice an error in the management of children, to which, fortunately for the rising gen- eration, those who live in the country are less liable than a certain class who reside in town. But still even those who reside in rural districts may possibly need a hint. ERRORS. 99 Hardening the Constitution. See a thoughtless mother leading her darling boy up and down Broadway in a cold winter's day, with his legs entirely bare below his knees, except a pair of" Tom Thumb" stockings which have dared to creep a little above the tops of his shoes, while she has a superabundance of silk, cotton, flannel, and fur. The sight of the shivering little mortal, as the snow-flakes fall thick and fast around him, is enough to bring up, all standing, every goose-pimple on a man's body, and nearly sufficient to tempt a spectator to look about for a Police Officer for the mother, and a doctor for- the child. And for what is all this display of the boy's pretty white skin ? 100 ERRORS. Professedly to " harden him /" Nonsense. Worse than nonsense ! Harden him ! More likely to kill him ! Alas ! it hardens the mother, more than it hardens the child, and because he does not actually drop down dead in the street, she fancies that nothing can hardly kill her son ! I solemnly declare let all hear it who will, and all shut, their ears who can that it is treating a child worse than a brute ! Who takes the fleece from the tender lamb in win- ter, and turns it out upon the cold mountains to har- den it ? True, there is a time when it can be safely taken, yea, advantageously to the sheep, as well as to the shepherd. Thanks to a bountiful Providence for this. So there is a time when you cannot safely with- hold it from these tender lambs for whom their Cre- ator has provided no such covering, as He expects you to be a little wiser than a sheep. Therefore re- member that every time you take your boy out to show his bare legs in a cold day, you stand a better chance of taking a long stitch in his winding-sheet, and he of taking a long step toward the graveyard, than of improving his health or constitution ! The same remarks will apply with equal proprie- ty to every variety of semi-'' model-artist" exhibition, of bare legs, arms, necks, and shoulders, in cold weather. The child who can outlive such barbarity, may be thankful for a constitution which can thus resist the morbific influences of all the shocks of an unstable climate, and all the follies of an imprudent mother j ERRORS. 101 for only such as are already hardened, and hardly they, can expect to escape with impunity. True, any one accustomed to such exposures can better endure them than those who are not. But this is far from proving that any are benefitted by being even habitually unprotected. It is undoubted- ly true that a man will stand the lash all the better for previously having had a dozen floggings ! This is truly a hardening process, both externally and in- ternally. But most men, I apprehend, would not pre- fer at each experiment, a bare back, for the sake of a hardening benefit- Now, I would ask those who advocate the foolish doctrine that such exposures give vigor to the consti- tution, why those poor miserable objects of pity, who shiver around the corners of our streets, with chat- tering teeth and rickety bodies, are not hardened into good healthy constitutions ? One would suppose that many are sufficiently accustomed to their privations, to receive all the benefit that habit can confer. But for such as are still skeptical, I can refer them to more convincing proof of the folly and danger of this ridiculous custom than all the arguments which the writer can possibly present. Let all the advocates for this foolish fashion, tho- roughly try its effects on their own persons. Just sleep with your feet out of bed from November till April, and if this does not harden you enough, thrust them into a snowbank ! It is sometimes said that a child does not need its arms covered in cold weather, any more than a man does his face. But this is another error, for such is 102 ERRORS. not the fact. The face has an extra supply of blood- vessels for the very purpose of keeping it warm. Hence it needs no covering, and should not be mask- ed ; for one's face, is another's guide-board. FRUITS OF FASHION. Another error may be noticed which generally oc- curs among those of riper years, and one perhaps not quite as chargeable to mothers as the last, though they are often far from being faultless. A young lady goes to a party, or a ball spends several hours in ac- tive physical exercise, in a close atmosphere of 70 ; and in a state of unusual perspiration leaves the apartment to ride some distance in a temperature possibly down to zero. Her apparel is almost any thing but what it should be. Possibly she may throw a light cloak around her, and perhaps not. The balance of her clothing might make a respecta- ble shadow in dog-days. She has on thin pumps and gauze stockings, and, on reaching home, jumps into bed, carrying with her a pair of miniature icebergs, which, through the remainder of the night, dare not come in contact for fear of losing their individuality. The next day, she gets up and says, " Mother, I don't feel very well." The second day, a slight cough and increased indisposition is present. The third day. a doctor is sent for, who examines the case, and per- haps dare not tell what he fears. The fourth week, (perhaps sooner,) a consulting physician is called the patient is hurried off to a mild clime to save her life, and hurries back to die at home. I love to think of the time when it did not make ERRORS. 103 people blush to be comfortable when every on* thought more of health and life, than of trash and fashion. I love to call to mind those long winter evenings which I so much enjoyed by the side of my mother, while she manufactured those good, long, warm stockings, and flannel garments, which she, and all other sensible women, then thought it no dis- grace to wear. But, alas ! how many now are not only strangers to health, but wretched in mind, lest the form and color of the flax and tow with which they happen to be covered, pass an unfavorable examination before the eyes of the fashionable critic. No wonder that scrofula and consumption stalk abroad, and threaten the extinction of our race ! Fashion is the Under- taker's right-hand man the grave-digger's assistant and the world's curse. How many children who now (so far so good health and symmetrical development are concerned) are little better than wooden dolls with glass eyes, sheep-skin lungs, and bonnyclabber brains, might be- come perfect models, if their imperfect mothers did not, by precept and example, interfere. How many adults, also, might increase the number of their days and their joys, with half the pains they take to dimin- ish them. THREE-FOLD ERROR. Some years ago, an old gentleman in the city of New-York, before his death, bequeathed the sum of forty thousand dollars to his grandson, who, on arri- ving at lawful age, took possession of his inheritance, 5* 1 04 ERRORS. with no provisory check to restrain prodigality, and very soon exemplified the folly of his grandfather in thus leaving his fortune to be squandered in a few short days, to the utter ruin of him whom he intend- ed to benefit. The writer became acquainted with this young man a little before he was twenty-one. He lost his father prior to the death of his grandfather. His widowed mother had evidently been too indul- gent for his good, or her own happiness. The " twig" had been neglected until it had become too stubborn to yield to her entreaties, or her tears. The groggery, the bowling-saloon, the gaming-table, and other kin- dred places, now presented greater attractions than a mother's love. But his race was short. " Delirium Tremens" hurried him away the grave-yard hid him from the gaze of mortals and to the eternal world his poor mother soon followed her ruined son ! Here we see combined in one disastrous result, the errors of three generations. COMPOUND ERROR. Thirty years ago, Messrs. A, B, C, and D, from Vermont, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Con- necticut, came to this city, to get rich. Well, what had they in their favor towards gaining their object ? Had they money ? No. That was the very thing they came to get. Had they a good knowledge of city customs, and the manner of doing a city business ? No. They came from the green valleys, and the rugged hills, and the mountain tops of New Eng- land. ERRORS. 105 Had they influential friends? IN'o ; they left their friends behind, to make such acquaintances here as circumstances would permit. Had they extraordinary gifts ? Xot unless good constitutions, good common sense, good principles, good habits, and good wives, were extra gifts. These were all the extra gifts they had, and all they needed. Well, did they succeed ? Yes, honorably and very successfully did they fol- low their several callings, and far exceeded their expectations. And now, a very important question may be asked. Having been wise for themselves are they now wise for their children? We have adniired their wisdom in adopting means to ends ; praised their perseverance and self-denial, and we love and respect them for their honesty, industry, sobriety, and frugality. But now we look for wis- dom, and behold folly ! Those successful merchants who first commenced business with a small capital in front, though with a goodly treasure in the rear, when fashion stored in a modest two-story building, goods, wares, and mer- chandise ; wives, babies, clerks, and friends ; bread, ham, eggs, butter and cider ; and who now spread out their wealth around the parks in glittering palaces and splendid equipage, what do they do to encourage their sons to pattern after their successful fathers ? Is not the millionaire conscious that he enjoyed life then better than now ? Does he strive to im- press this upon his only son? He ought to say, 106 ERRORS. Come, my son, you must live a stirring life, if you intend to preserve your health, and prolong your days. You must drive away at something honor- able and profitable, and be at it early in the morning, or that industrious young mechanic over the way, who has hardly two-and-sixpence capital, will be far more likely than you, to occupy these premises shortly after I am gone ! Yes, you must do as your father has done before you, if you ever expect to accom- plish any thing of importance. To be sure I have laid up a little money, but that has not learned you how to make any, nor how to keep it, unless you have learned to do, as 1 have done. I would rather see you out early in the morning making " wooden nutmegs" as I use to do down there in Connecticut, even if you have to peddle them yourself, than find you destroying your health and reputation by idleness and prodigality. He will also say, if he is wise, Come, my daugh- ter, look well to your health, lest you destroy it by being up too late at night, and down too late in the morning. If the fingers of a man's hand should come forth, as in the days of Belshazzar, and write upon the wall before your eyes, " Thou art found wanting," and for every unhealthful indulgence thou shalt have disorder, disease, destruction; you would hardly have greater inducements for scrutinizing your habits, than you have already. The vitalizing breeze without whispers, Come, come, immortal, and I will breathe into you the breath of life; therefore beware, my daughter, how you tarry too long at the toilet, lest you kill time to keep pride alive ; destroy ERRORS. 107 substance to preserve the shadow, and forfeit health, to inherit disease ! Neither set too long at the lyre, but imitate the songsters of the forest, for they work as well as sing. If you would long enjoy the comforts which surround you, be cautious and not abuse them. If you would tarry a little longer this side the grave, remember that the means for preserving your health, lie at your own door. You hold them in your own hand. Your health and happiness are now laid in the bal- ance, and it is left for you to turn the scale which way soever you will, and if you would not receive the painful intelligence from some man of skill, that you are weighed and found wanting, then I beseech you to listen in time, to the advice of the w r hole me- dical world, and not wait for action till the hectic flush, the hacking cough, the frequent pulse, the sunken eye, the panting breath, and wasting flesh, bespeak an early grave ! O, think not, my daughter, that your father has toiled hard and long to lay up, a little money with which to hurry you to the tomb, that he might give you a splendid funeral before you are twenty-one ! But, does this experienced father as wisely, and as indefatigably exert himself to induce his chil- dren to pursue the path of safety, as he did to add dollar to dollar, and house to house ? Of course many are wise and prudent in this important matter, but how is it with others ? What is the sequel ? 108 ERRORS. SAD MISTAKE. He says, Well, I have had a good many hard knocks in the world. Have often had wind and tide against me, friends and foes against me, changes, times, and seasons. My struggling up the hill has been like the frog jumping out of the well, and for a long time I doubted whether I should ever reach the top. With me it has been coarse fare, hard work, constant application to business, self-denial, and slow progress. Now I am determined that my children shall have an easy life. Ah! yes, and you might have added, an early death ! Strange that you should so soon forget, that in your very perseverance, economy and toil, was not only your success in gaining wealth, but also in pro- moting happiness, and in preserving your health. And if your life was to be lived over again, would you not take the same course, would you not prefer your industrious, frugal habits to those of the indo- lent spendthrift ? And were you not in reality as happy when you accumulated the first ten pounds, as you are now with all your estate ? Then, a stale crust tasted sweeter than a plum-pudding now. Then a few hours sleep were more refreshing than a week of dreams now. Then there was more satisfaction in earning fifty dollars, than in spending a thousand now. Then it was more delightful to walk a mile in the prosecution of business, than it is to ride in a coach and four now. A man often, if not always, finds more comfort in the acquisition of property, than in the possession. ERRORS. 109 And he will generally find that large sums of money not earned by the possessor, are more frequently a curse than a blessing. Ask any intelligent physician, and he will tell you that wealth lavished upon chil- dren, frequently hurries them to the grave, and not unfrequently proves the destruction of others. But we must notice the conclusion of the case now under consideration. Well, what does the unwise father, who does not train up his son to habits of industry and frugality, do for him ? Pretty early he begins to fill his pockets with money, and his head with vanity. He is will- ing that his children should know that he is richer than his neighbors, and they are pretty sure to be told of it even before they can spell the word money. And lest the little ones should not exactly understand what it means to have so many dollars and cents, they are told not to associate with certain children, because their parents have to work for a living ! Horrible of course ! Said a little urchin (hardly half way to his teens) the other day to his school-fellow, while they were standing before my window, " I am richer than you ! My father has got more real estate than your father has. He can't begin." Yes, the leaven of pride, and the yeast of riches, have already begun to ferment in this youthful mind, and will probably so thoroughly inflate him with self-con- ceit, that, before he is twenty-one, he will be older and wiser than his father and mother too. Will know how to spend money much faster than his father ever knew how to earn it ; can go to more bowling-saloons, 110 ERROKa. visit more gambling- tables, drink more champagne, eat more late suppers, smoke more cigars, drive a faster horse, and whistle for more dogs. Now, with all the improvements of the day, he of course ex- pects to reach the summit in much less time than his good old sire did in the old-fashioned way of crawl- ing up the hill by inches. But, the great mistake is, he begins at the summit and of course can run down the hill faster than his father could run up, and so finds the bottom in half the time that his father found the top. Going the Wrong Way, Before he is twenty-five, his health begins to suffer, his appetite fails, his hand is tremulous, his body a wreck, and delirium tremens hurries him away, or he ERRORS. Ill comes to some other untimely end. If the reader has not seen more than one thus begin at the wrong end of his journey, he must have been very little acquaint- ed with the inhabitants of this, or any other large city or town, for the last twenty-five years. But this is not all. One young man who is ruined for want of wise training in early life, perhaps ruins a dozen more. Influence in community is like leaven in a mass of dough. How often do transactions, ap- parently the most trifling, work out the most terrible results. POWER OF INFLUENCE. Let me first give the reader an illustration of the power of physical influence. That little animal, the musJirat, sometimes digs a small hole through a man's mill-dam, and lays the foundation for disastrous consequences. He has done but a very little, yet he has done enough, and may as well stop ; for the waters which lay stretched out above, far and wide, will finish the work of destruc- tion, unless some one is ready to apply a few shovelfuls of gravel at the right time, and in the right place. At first, no one suspects the danger. But in a lit- tle time a perfect torrent is seen rushing through the dam with tremendous force. The owner exclaims, My mill is gone ! and I am undone ! Messengers are sent hither and thither, and great numbers are collected to mend the breach. But now the proud waters laugh at all the shovels and spades, and brush and gravel, and plank and stones, and beasts and men, which can be brought into requisi- 112 ERRORS. tion, and sweep away, as so many spider's webs, every obstruction, and roll on with fearful velocity and augmented power, and, with a terrible crash, carry away in half the time, the next mill below; and still roll recklessly on with increasing strength, sweeping to destruction both mills and men. Now a spectator standing upon some eminence phi- losophizing upon the cause of this terrible calamity, could hardly believe, if he had had no experience in. such matters, that a few pounds of gravel scratched away a few inches from its appropriate place, by the tiny feet of the rat, was the cause of the wide-spread desolation. Again, a man is devoted to his cups, and his sons, and grandsons, and great-grandsons follow his exam- ple, and thus generation after generation of drunk- ards curse the earth and disgrace themselves. Hence we perceive that physical and moral errors travel down from one generation to another, so that when and where the influence will stop, no tongue can tell. A man may not only so undermine his own mansion as to be crushed in its fall, but he may so lay the foundation as to make the ruin of the future super- structure, also certain. But I must notice the mis- chief and ruin of physical influence in another de- partment. ARTIFICIAL CONFORMATION. The single custom of tight lacing has, either direct- ly or indirectly, dug more graves, blasted more hopes, and cut down more victims, than could ever be charged to guns, bayonets, and bullets, at any field ERRORS. 113 of battle upon the face of the earth. And why does this disastrous custom so prevail ? Has not the dan- ger been pointed out? Certainly it has, more than a legion of times, and by tongues so eloquent that 1 hard- ly dare speak above a whisper. Yes, ** line upon line, and precept upon precept" have been given. The consequences have been pointed out, over and over again. Then I ask again why does the worse than foolish custom prevail? Now we do not like to be so vulgar as to say, that it is simply to imitate the example of the <; Flat Heads" who think that their babies look most horri- bly, until, by continued compression, thoy modify the shape of the cranium to their own fancy. Yet we must confess our ignorance of any other good rea- son. It may be said that there has been much improve- ment in dress, of late, and we are very thankful if there is a single modification for the better, and will not despise the day of small things. But it unfortu- nately happens, that the axe is not yet half laid at the root of the tree. Fashion may seem to repair some of the mischief which she has done, while she be- guiles her unwary votaries into other destructive customs where danger is little suspected. We have already seen that the grand object of a well-developed chest, is to give full play to the lungs. In other words, to give the whole system the invigo- rating influence of a good supply of pure air. We condemn any and every apparatus which prevents this. But the lungs can be opened to receive the life- 114 ERRORS. giving atmosphere, only in proportion to the limits of their bony boundary. However, while they are perfectly sound, the individual may get along tolera- bly well, and suspect no danger, whose chest is much compressed. But let one lung be destroyed by disease, which frequently happens in a very short space of time, and then see how it will go with the sufferer who has long been guilty of the folly now under consideration. What would you say of a Captain, who, with his steamer and passengers starts out to sea with just fourteen days provision and coal, while there is plenty to spare, simply because he expects to cross the Atlantic in just two weeks ? Why, you would say " he is a real " stop, stop ! How do you know that you can command the servi- ces of the entire lungs half long enough to cross the Ocean ? And as you hardly have a cubic inch to spare, in case of emergency, you had better let the folly of the Captain pass for what it is worth, and if he does not repent and return to take in a little more coal, you had better prepare at once, to take in a little more air ! But the individual who has a well-expanded tho- rax, in which the lungs have plenty of room for dilatation, may lose an entire lung, and yet breathe on, and live on through a long life, with little inconveni- ence. Hence we see the wisdom and goodness of our Creator in furnishing us with two lungs, as well as with two eyes, two hands, two feet, &c., for every indispensable act can be performed with one of ERRORS. 115 each of these organs, when in a state of integrity. Perhaps the reader may think it a pity that some were not made with two heads also, if wisdom might thereby be found in either. No\v, mothers, for the sake of your own safety, the health and happiness of your daughters, and the re- demption of countless victims from the compressing, crushing influence of a silken serpent, let me once beseech you to act the part of wisdom, and set an example, and exert an influence worthy of your ex- alted station. Will you not reform at once ? Why not? I assure you that it is not an evil to be winked at. It is no trifle to be even fashionably suf- focated. It will afford you no comfort, when you shall be compelled to point those to the grave-yard, who inquire after your loved ones, to be able to say, they lived and died in the fashion. O no ! Those upon whose life and comfort, your very existence may al- most depend whose light hearts, and bright eyes, and sweet voices, and ruddy faces, are better to you than all the sparkling gems, and glittering crowns, and matchless harps, and golden sands, of which earth can boast. Alas ! would you sacrifice to fash- ion those cherished ones whom you so dearly love, and over whom you have so long watched, with the fondest hopes, and highest expectation whose silky locks a mother's hand so ofc has parted, and whose blooming cheeks so seldom lose a mother's kiss ; and over their lifeless remains would you shed your last tear ; on their sandy graves, plant the weeping- willow, and on their flinty tomb-stones write a long farewell ? 116 ERRORS. If not, then again I beseech you to let your ma- ternal tenderness be mingled with timely prudence, while you hear the voice of warning." While yet there is hope. When the physician finds that he can do no more to stay the work of death, remember that it is quite painful enough to communicate the fact, without pointing out at such a time, the folly which has led to such a disastrous result. And, besides all this, it is then too late to give advice. Hence you will not hear at such a time, what you may hear on other occasions if you will. From what I have already said, in another place, respecting the pliable condition of the bones in early life, it will be seen that compression of the chest, at any period before twenty, or twenty-five, is \vorse than at a more advanced age. If you contract its cavity by long compression before twenty, you cannot properly expand it then, if you would. But please bear in mind, that corset strings are not the only bands of pulmonary bondage. Watch your dress-maker, and don't let her cheat you out of your earthly comforts, by sending you on your way to the grave, panting for breath. As I witness in our streets the slow and solemn tread of the funeral train, I sometimes say to myself, now, if the primary cause of death could always be written upon the hearse, in letters that none could fail to see, that none could misunderstand, many stout hearts would tremble, while the incredulity of others would be terribly shaken. With such teaching as this, the warning voice from the living would hardly ERRORS. 117 be so much needed, though it is doubtless true, that many " would not be persuaded though one rose from the d^ad." But if I should say, that it is all idle to cry out against errors in this, or that department, that it makes no difference what you eat, nor what you drink, nor what you wear, nor what you do. suit your own fancy, and your health will take care of itself many would cry out. Ah ! yes, this is just the doctor for me ! But as I am not prepared to advocate such views, nor authorized to 4< cry Peace, peace, when, there is no peace," I will proceed to give a few more hints under the head of errors. PRIDE AND POVERTY. A man sometimes suffers pride to run away with his health and happiness, faster than the ** running of Ahimaaz, the son of Zadok," and '* the driving of Jehu, the son of Nimshi," while he searches for other cau- ses of his deteriorated health, throughout the dark recesses of earth's calamities. The following may be given as an example. A man in town, has lived many years in a two-story house, where he has enjoyed more real comfort per- haps than most of his neighbors. He has lived with- in his income, promptly met all his engagements, and has received all the respect that be could desire. But in an unlucky moment, he has come under the poisonous influence of that infection, which, in mod- ern times, so pervades the atmosphere of all large cities and towns. The fashionable style and parade of his rich neighbor, has caught his eye, and, like the 118 ERRORS. charm of the serpent, has rendered him an easy prey to future wretchedness. His neighbor has plenty of money, and therefore has a right to live in a style which is no criterion for him. But, alas ! the man measures his comforts by the wrong rule. He foolishly supposes that his neighbor's enjoyments must be at least one-third more than his, because he lives in a house one-third higher. This he cannot tolerate. Neither can his wife and daugh- ters. Hence he contracts at once for a three-story house. Well, the old furniture must now be disposed of, whether it sells for little or much, as the very sight of it, would be equal to living in the old house. Other articles, and more numerous and splendid, must adorn the mansion. DISCOVERED TOO LATE ! But the mistaken man finds, to his great astonish- ment, a little too late, that he is in a fair way to be placed under the head of errors. His funds begin to run short, before the last ornament has graced the new abode. This fiscal cooler gives him such a chill, when he looks the matter fairly in the face, that at least one story of his anticipated comforts is knocked away ! NOT EASY TO STOP. Well, he is now fairly in the current, and conse- quently must float on. Appearances must be kept up, and a fashionable party must come off in due time, and in due form. For this he requires five ERRORS. 119 hundred dollars, and, being a little minus, asks his friends for the money, and finds, to his great mortifica- tion, that they are perfectly aware that his income will not warrant his present extravagance, and dare not accommodate him as in days past. Now he begins to realize and regret his error. Now he vainly wishes he could recal the past. A crushing weight lies upon his mind, and disgrace stares him in the face ! What can he do ? Behold the crisis draws near ! He vacillates between hope and despair turns to the right, and the left looks this way, and that goes up town, and down works early and late, runs to bankers, brokers, and shavers ; begs assistance, asks endorsers, offers pledges, and after a few more days of deep and awful anguish, a red flag is seen fluttering in the wind over his door, endorsed with that significant word, AUCTION. This is the brief history of too many, who in this, and in similar ways, sacrifice their health and hap- piness to pride. Now they would be perfectly sat- isfied to come down to two-story -house-comforts. Yes, and cheerfully submit to all their losses of dollars and cents, if they could but regain their for- mer reputation. But, alas ! confidence has departed, and perhaps health and hope too ! Although such a disaster will not affect all alike unfavorably, yet the system may receive such a shock, as eventually to place it beyond the curative reach of any remedial agent. Hence, the physician sees the importance of warning his fellow-men to beware of errors in every form. 6 120 ERRORS. CRIMINAL ERROR. Whenever a man is determined to gratify his pride, even at the expense of others, he then imperils the welfare of his fellows, as well as his own. When he lies down at night, he calls to mind many who have toiled long and hard for him, and have not been requited. The cries of the wronged poor ring in his ears. The sighs of those whom he has impover- ished, disturb him without his consent, and prevent his repose. The entreaties of those who have gone to the dead, come up afresh from the grave, and he leaves his bed and walks his room and tries to forget the past. At length he looks out, and discovers at a little distance, sitting at an attic window, a poor, emaciated widow, exerting what little strength remains, whose honest husband he knows full well that he hurried to the grave, by robbing him of all the living that he had, so that now she must devote a double portion of her time to labor, to keep those little ones from starving and freezing, who are already becoming diseased, through his own agency. And his thoughts drive him from pillar to post, as his mind glances over the field of desolation, bringing to view those whom he has rendered helpless, homeless, and breadless ! Can he rest? Not as an honest man rests! He may lie on a bed of down may roll in luxury and heap up his ill-gotten gains to the clouds, and revel in all the gratifications that wealth and energy can command, yet he is not a happy man. Conscience is a ERRORS. 121 thorn in his pillow an arrow in his bosom, a bitter dreg; in his cup! Some may say, "he has no con- science !" So much the toorse. When he arises in the morning and sits down to a repast (which, though through his ill-gotten gains he is permitted to receive) dare he say, '* O Lord, bless me in the reception of this food which I have just snatched out of the mouth of that poor widow over the way." What else can he say and speak the truth ? And if he dare not speak the truth to his Maker, he had better stop and make universal satis- faction, as far as is possible, if it takes the last dol- lar he, as well as others, will be far better off. It will be remembered that I remarked at the com- mencement of this work, that health prevents crime, and I may here remark with equal propriety, that crime prevents health ! SURGICAL ERRORS. An erroneous opinion has been very generally en- tertained, in regard to bleeding immediately after injuries. Now, the reader may be present where some individual has fallen from a great height, and received a very severe shock. The first thing that you will probably hear, is, Bleed him, bleed him ! Possibly the same thing may happen to you. Should you be so unfortunate, and should any one attempt to thrust in a lancet, for there is often some knowing one near by who has at least seen a horse bleed ; say to him, if you can speak, stay your hand ! and if you wish to move the circulation aright, put a bottle of hot water (if you can spare no more) to my feet. 122 ERRORS. If the case should appear so urgent, and the de- mand for a doctor so great, that an attempt should be made to raise Hippocrates from the grave, and if he should actually come forth with a lancet in his hand, just invite him to retire until you at least get warm. During the stage of prostration, while the surface is cold and bloodless, beware how you trifle with the precious fluid. Take not a drop until reaction comes on, and perhaps not then. But, some say that it is better to bleed early to prevent too much reaction. Not so. While in this state of prostration, which usually follows severe injuries, no living man can tell whether there will be reaction enough. This you must have or die ! You had better wait therefore until you see whether you are going to have reaction enough to keep you alive, before you quench the last vital spark ! But it is said, " there is a want of circulation" and so this is given as an excuse for bleeding. A miser- able excuse it is. True, there is very little blood moving in the veins at such a time, and would you therefore take away that ? What else will enable the system to rally, and push the stagnant flood into its appropriate channel ? But, very fortunately for the patient, nature is wiser than the doctor and often prevents him from robbing the sufferer of his last and only hope. It is generally difficult to obtain much blood during the cold stage. But instead of taking this plain hint from nature, the majority seem to think, that the more difficult it is to make the blood flow, the greater is the necessity for bleeding. The first great and important thing to be done after a serious ERRORS. 123 injury, is, to put the patient in a favorable position, and then get him warm as soon as possible, and in the mean time send for a physician. The above remarks are made, not only to correct a popular error, but because such cases require prompt action, and because it is necessary that every one should be prepared to act intelligently, from the spur of the moment. Perhaps it may be proper to notice, in connection with this subject, another error, though it might be placed under the suceeding head. I allude to the practice of giving cathartics. Now, in all cases where the injury has fallen UDon the trunk, it is bet- ter to avoid premature purging. If the patient is injured only externally, he will probably get well without physic. At least he will not require any for a few days. If there be an internal injury, the pro- bability is, that the physic will do more harm than good. The parts, in order to recover from the injury, ought to be kept quiet. The patient should also re- frain from eating. For painful parts, poultices and fomentations will be found valuable. If the patient is thirsty, he may drink toast-water, barley-water, or ice- water. But in the early stage, that is, soon after the injury, if re-action does not appear, stimulants, both externally and internally, will be required. l % the patient can swallow, give him small doses of brandy and water, oft repeated. If there are any wounds, of course they must be attended to, and hemorrhages arrested. These few general remarks are made, under the supposition that possibly the 124 ERRORS. reader may be so situated that surgical aid cannot readily be obtained. MEDICAL ERRORS. Some people, yea, many, commit a grave mistake by dosing themselves, their children, and their friends to death. They would not risk as many drugs in their horses, as they do in their own stomachs. This is an error which sustains more than half the drug- shops throughout the land, to say nothing about humbugs and nostrom-venders. I hope my friends, whose vocation it is to roll up the pills, and stir up the powders, an honorable and useful one to be sure will not charge me with unnecessarily endangering their craft. The truth must be told ; though I do not think there is much danger at present. For mothers and nurses (at least many of them) seem almost to think that infants ought to be born in a medicine-chest. Hence, as soon as they have sense enough to cry, and strength enough to swallow, down goes the castor-oil .and catnip, no matter what, or whether any thing is the matter or not ; down it goes ! If the little one is fortunate, or unfortunate enough to outlive this stage of medication, and happens to have a little colic and runs to mamma and says, " O, I have got a pain !" she says, " Run, Susan, run, hurry, hurry, and get the castor-oil quick, quick the child is sick !" If this passes off favorably, and the child is sub- sequently tempted to eat more trash than the stomach can possibly tolerate, and nature comes to its relief and unloads the organ, the moment the ERRORS. 125 little sufferer begins to vomit, the frightened mother exclaims, " Oh ! my dear husband, call the nurse, and speak to the cook, and ring for the waiter, and run for the doctor, the child is going to have a fit." Hence with all the evils to which they are exposed, many of which have been noticed already, it is not at all strange that so large a proportion of children die before they are five years old. The reader will perceive under the head of " longevity" that the bills of mortality show a frightful per cent, of deaths among this class, throughout the world. PATIENTS ERRORS. Perhaps I ought to notice an error, which is far more common than many are disposed to admit, and which is just as foolish as it is unsafe. While we condemn the habit of drugging for every little pain, and unpleasant sensation, we are well aware that there are many cases where remedial agents are not only indispensable, but require to be administered strictly according to the precise directions of the physician. Xow there is a certain class of patients, who, after they send for a physician, seem to think that they really do quite well if they listen to half the doctor says, and take half the medicine he prescribes. Of course they consider him half a doctor, and hence they ought to be but half cured, and this is more than they have any reason to expect ; and twice as much as they deserve ! They send for a physician, not simply to be bene- fitted by his knowledge, but to tell him how much 126 ERRORS. they know. But the doctor must come, whether con- venient, or even safe, or not, and come in haste ! Is he taking his dinner ? No matter for that ! Let him eat when he has nothing else to do, and if he has a cold dinner, that is his look out. Is he taking the first nap, after a sleepless week ? Wake him, wake him ! A sleepy doctor cannot be tolerated. He was never licensed to sleep ! Is he twice as sick as the patient ? No matter for that. What right has a doctor to be sick ? Well, when he arrives, the servant shows him into the parlor, and informs him that Mr. is taking his dinner, and will be ready to see him in less than half an hour. The. physician, if he does not leave at once, and go home and finish his turkey, or his nap, and charge the man for a visit made to his parlor^ sits down and tries to content himself by reading the news, or by calling to mind the pleasures and privi- leges of the profession. After the patient has eaten enough for two well men, he makes his appearance, and says, " Doctor, I have been very much afflicted with a severe pain in my foot for several days, and I thought I would con- sult you about it, though I know perfectly well that there is very, little use in doing any thing for these sprains, and I have pretty much made up my mind to let it alone altogether." " Well, let your opinion be what it may, your dis- ease is undoubtedly " " Doctor, I am one of the most temperate men in ERRORS. 127 the world, and it cannot be possible that I have got the gout" " It will be necessary for you to abstain from the use of" " No, sir, I am not going to starve myself at any rate." ki You will also find it necessary to take a little " " Not at all. I do not intend to make a drug-shop of my stomach, any how ! And, more than this, I should like to know how long it will take you to cure me, for I am not going to be long shut up here, dosing and dieting." *' I never warrant any man cured, without any re- gard to time." " Well, doctor, I think I had better try some new system. There is a great and wonderful baker down town who says that he can cure me with bran-bread" " Yes, this is undoubtedly far better for you, than the trash which you have been eating." " There is also a washerman up-town who makes remarkable cures with Croton water" " I can cheerfully recommend this treatment, for I always approve of cleanliness." " And there is living hard by, one of the improved sons of Hahnemann, who is altogether an extraordi- nary man, for he makes almost miraculous cures by letting his patients very cautiously breathe minute doses of the. air which has been wafted from the spice-hills of South America." " Well, such % treatment is admirably adapted to certain disorders of the liead" " Perhaps I ought to mention, also, that there is 6* 128 ERRORS. a man in town, of great celebrity, who says he can cure the worst cases of gout and dyspepsia, by keep- ing a man's bowels dancing eight-and-forty hours like a churn-dasher." Now, reader, there is more truth than poetry, in the above representation. Many, not only run after every novel remedy, and novel doctor, that ingenui- ty can invent, but while they have every reason to be, and are satisfied with their own medical adviser, do much to prevent his success in treating disease. I beg leave to call the reader's attention to one very fruitful source of evil, in this respect. It is generally the offspring of kindness and ignorance, and there- fore deserves the more attention. KIND ENOUGH TO KILL. It is a very common thing, I may say, an every- day occurrence, for some kind friend to enter the sick room, as soon as the doctor's back is turned, with a little well-meant, but ill-sent advice, saying, " Tako a little of this wonderful medicine which I always take when / am sick. I don't care what the doctor says, my doctor recommends it, and I know it is good, and will do you good, and that's enough. Down with it, it helps every body who takes it." Now, if a man should advise you immediately after taking a hearty dinner, to take another, saying, " Two dinners are better than one," he would be a wiser man to give advice, and a safer guide to follow. Now suppose the article recommended, to be as simple as its prescriber, if that were possible, it may nevertheless be sufficient to perfectly neutralize the ERRORS. 129 remedy which the physician has just given. That very remedy perhaps the practitioner expects to save his patient's life, but which might just as well be in the doctor's laboratory as in the patient's stomach, after being thus neutralized. On the other hand, although the article itself may be very simple and harmless while uncombined with any other agent, it may, notwithstanding, be the very thing to unite with the remedy just given, and form in the stomach a most deadly poison. In the former case, the kind friend kills the patient by diminishing the power of the remedy prescribed ; in the latter, by increasing it. Let it be understood, that, under certain circum- stances, the most disastrous consequences may fol- low the use of a simple dose of salts, a single glass of brandy, or even a small crust of bread, given con- trary to the wishes of the physician. Perhaps I have hardly given a hint of more impor- tance than the last. It is therefore to be hoped that the reader will bear it in mind. And whenever, and wherever an attempt shall be made in the sick room to set aside the physician's advice, or to modify his plain directions, treat it at once as the urgency and importance of the case demands, even if the medical adviser be a downright quack ! No matter who he is, or what he is ; either follow his directions or follow him, and, when he gets to the door, tell him frankly that he had better call on somebody else. 130 ERRORS. TOO FOND OF CHANGE. Don't be forever running after a new doctor. It is better for the profession, perhaps, and the apothe- v. caries too, but not for you. The physician who has long watched the development of various changes in your system, and the effect of remedies on the constitution, is far better prepared, other things being equal, to treat you successfully, than a stranger. And after you have employed a physician of your own choice, don't run five miles to give a lawyer fifty dollars to help you to cheat the doctor out of five ! Alas ! for our race, that such a hint as this should ever be needful. Put confidence in your doc- tor, follow his directions, and pay his bills, and then he will put confidence in you. But how can he confide in one whose mind is as flickering as a whirl- wind, and whose faith and practice are as wavering as a weather-cock. TOO MUCH CONFIDENCE. From the last hint given, perhaps the reader will hardly expect to be accused of trusting too implicitly to medical advisers. But there are those who seem to feel, judging from their habits of living, that if there is a good and skillful doctor living near by, who has a fast horse and plenty of medicine, there is little or no danger of dying, do what they will. Hence they seem to defy the "King of Terrors," as they plunge into all manner of excess and peril, and say, " Stand back, here's a doctor ?" But the reader will remember that ERRORS. 131 I have already said, that every one can do more to prevent disease, than the physician can to cure it. It is very well to have a medical adviser at hand, in case of emergency, but it is better to keep him lar off, by a judicious use of proper promotives of health. CLIMAX OP ALL ERRORS. To conclude the subject of errors, I beg leave to say, that a greater deviation from the path of safety can never be made in this " vale of tears," than to neglect a moment to make provision for the last great change. Therefore, whatever you do, and whatever you leave undone, fail not to prepare for the sick-bed, while in health. Depend upon it, the day will come, will surely come, when the physician and all his remedies will fail when heart and flesh, and earth, and friends, will fail when you will need the aid of the " Great Physician," who can kill, and who can make alive, and who alone can make you whole for time and for eternity. Never forget that the sick-bed is a poor place to rectify errors. And no man has any certainty of receiving even this privilege, for very many come "short of such an opportunity. If you defer this im- portant work, I tell you, fellow-traveller, the experi- ment will be made at your own peril. This is an error, the influence of which reaches far beyond the grave, and stretches onward forever and forever more. Perhaps the reader may think that I have dwelt too long on the subject of errors, though " the half 132 ERRORS. has not been told," and as I have very naturally point- ed out many, under other heads, such as diet, exercise, ventilation, &c., I will now direct his attention for a few moments to subjects of a different nature. RECIPES. In presenting a few recipes, I do not intend to con- fine myself to simply medical recipes, but shall offer such as it is supposed will interest the reader, and be found more or less practical in the various depart- ments of life, and also either directly or indirectly connected with the sanitary condition of the public. To arrest a Hemorrhage. If it be internal, take a tea-spoonful of table salt, dissolved in a little water, and repeat if necessary. If external, use compres- sion. It sometimes happens that a man bleeds to death before a surgeon can be obtained, by being accidentally wounded. If it happens on either df the extremities, take a cravat, suspender, strip of cloth, or any thing that can be obtained at the moment, tie it loosely round the limb, insert a stick, twist it up until the bleeding stops, and send for a doctor at once. If it occurs on the trunk, where such meas- ures cannot be adopted, perhaps the thumb firmly held upon the part may control the hemorrhage until surgical aid can be obtained. If not, a hard compress of cloth, firmly rolled up and pressed upon the part, may succeed. It is often a much more simple matter to arrest a hemorrhage than many seem to suppose. But, in consequence of not believing in simple reme- dies, some are left to bleed to death. Now just do as a genuine Yankee does, down in the old Bay State, when the plug flies out of the cider-barrel. If he cannot find it, he will of course hold his thumb over the hole until some one brings another. If you will 134 ' RECIPES. bear this in mind, you will perhaps save some man's life, if not his cider. To stop Vomiting. Either one or more of the fol- lowing remedies may be tried. Put a mustard plaster over the pit of the stomach. Take a little ice- water, or eat the ice. A tea-spoonful of Carb. of Magnesia and water, is often successful. Small do- ses of clear brandy, if the patient can swallow it, often works like a charm. Sometimes wheat flour, mixed with cold water, and frequently better than all is to do nothing. Let the stomach rest. To induce Vomiting. It is frequently necessary to produce instant vomiting after some poisonous article has been swallowed, and it is important for every family to know what can be effectually and safely given, in such cases. Every one knows that Ipecac and Tartar Emetic will speedily produce emesis. Bat the latter is unsafe in inexperienced hands. The former is safe but not always at hand. A table- spoonful of common salt in warm water will answer the purpose, and act kindly on the system. The same quantity of ground mustard is still more efficient. These articles are invaluable because always at hand. To check Diarrhoea. Almost any astringent, given in sufficient quantity, will check an ordinary diar- rhea a strong infusion of green tea may be effica- cious. But it is much more difficult to give a safe and suitable recipe, adapted to general use, in this case, than in those mentioned above. One form of diarrho3a may require a laxative another an astrin- gent the third a tonic and the fourth a sedative RECIPES. 135 treatment, &c. This makes it all important to con- sult a physician, and generally the urgency of the symptoms does not prevent recourse to the faculty before commencing upon any course of treatment. But this volume may reach some sufferer whose lot is cast beyond the reach of doctors, to whom it may not be amiss to give a word of advice. In all cases, first regulate the diet. Remove every offending agent as much as possible, and breathe a pure air. Use warm salt water bathing and friction. The diet should be simple and small in quantity. Say a little plain rice, thoroughly boiled, without butter, and first thin enough to drink it. Also small quantities of chicken broth. Gradually the food may be taken drier, and the quantity cautiously increased, after the discharge is checked. In a majority of cases, a mild dose of physic may be taken at the commencement, followed in six hours with 25 drops of laudanum, that is, for an adult, and let the patient drink lime-water freely through the day. Much other treatment may- be required which I need not notice. I have already spoken of the importance of regu- lating the diet. This will appear very obvious when it is remembered that some indigestible article of food taken into the stomach, is often the great pro- lific cause of the evil. Special pains should be ta- ken to prevent such an occurrence in young children, and more vigilance still is required in hot weather and especially in large towns where this affection is so apt to terminate in Cholera Infantum. 136 RECIPES. nently, it will he necessary to cure the disease. But great temporary relief may generally be obtained from the use of antacids, such as Potash, Soda, Mag- nesia, Lime-water, &c. The great thing is to pre- vent it by the use of a proper diet. Dispose of pastry as you would if you knew it to be half arsenic. Let others eat all the sweet things. Take a large pro- portion of animal food, though not salt or smoked meats. Salt and water, or vinegar and salt, over the stomach and bowels, with plenty of friction, should never be forgotten. To prevent Flatulence. This troublesome affection is only a symptom of derangement of the digestive organs, and frequently accompanies heart-burn, and requires the same treatment as the last noticed. All kinds of food which readily undergo acteous fermen- tation, should be avoided. In this process both gas and acid, are generated. The gas of course producing flatulence, and the acid producing heart-burn. To make Lime-Water. Take of fresh-burnt lime a piece the size of a butternut, and pour upon it a quart or two of pure soft water ; stir it well, cover the vessel, and set it aside for three hours. Then put it in a well-stopped bottle, shake it a few times, and keep it for future use. This is a valuable antacid, tonic, and astringent, and may be employed with great advantage in many cases, and especially in dyspepsia, attended with acid stomach. And mixed with milk, which completely covers its taste, it is one of the best remedies in our possession for those whose stomachs will not retain their food. Such persons ought to make it their principal aliment ; HECIPES. 1 37 that is, lime-water and milk, with bread, crackers, mush, &c. Say a wine-glassful to a pint of milk. To check vomiting, a tea- spoonful every fifteen minutes may be given. In diarrhoea and other complaints it is also useful. Liniment for Burns. Take equal parts of lime- water and linseed, or sweet oil, and mix. Liniment for Sprains, Bruises, Gouty and Rheumatic Affections, fyc. Take Camphor, half an ounce ; sweet oil, two ounces. Dissolve the camphor in the oil, apply it to the part, and rub it in. To make Wine Whey. Take good Teneriffe, Ma- deira, or Claret, from a gill to half a pint, and mix it with a pint of sweet milk, and boil, and strain, and sweeten the whey with loaf sugar. This is a grate- ful and nourishing stimulus in cases of great debility, and may be used frequently through the day, beginning with a table-spoonful, and increasing as the patient will bear it. If it should bring on headache, or flushed countenance, it should be diminished or sus- pended altogether until these symptoms disappear. To make Mustard Whey. Boil together one pint of milk, and half an ounce of bruised Mustard-seed, until the milk is curdled. Then strain. " This whey has been found to be a useful drink in dropsy. A tea-cupful at a time may be taken." To make Beef Tea. Take a piece of raw, lean, beef, chop it fine and immerse it in cold water ten min- utes, and then boil ten minutes, and flavor it with salt, perhaps a very little pepper, and gradually add rice, bread, &c., as the patient can bear it. 138 RECIPES. To make Tapioca Milk. Soak an ounce of Tapioca in a pint of cold water half an hour. Pour off the water, and add a pint and a half of milk, and boil slowly until the Tapioca is thoroughly incorporated with the milk. "No amylaceous substance," says Dr. Christison, "is so much relished by infants about the time of weaning, and in them it is less apt to become sour during digestion than any other fari- naceous food, even arrow-root not excepted." This is also one of the best forms of preparing Tapioca for adults, when they require this kind of diet. Of course the adult will prefer a little seasoning. To make Chocolate. Take of chocolate, for four persons, one ounce, (some say two ounces,) water, one part, milk, two parts, and boil together, and add sugar quantum sufficit. Of course sweet chocolate will not be selected, unless the purchaser prefers to buy his sugar at twenty-five cents per pound. To make Coffee. Take any given amount of coffee, Java or Mocha, being well prepared by roasting and grinding ; pour boiling water upon it, and filter with- out boiling. Don't omit the trimmings. But if milk be used, instead of cream, boil it, which greatly improves its flavor. To Boil Meat. First boil the water, and then in- troduce the meat, and it will retain its juices much more perfectly than when put into cold water. It will be recollected that, in making beef tea, we first put the meat in cold water, for the very reason that we want the juices of the meat in the water. But not so when we want to eat the meat instead of the water. RECIPES. 139 To Roast Meat. Roast it before an open fire, instead of smothering in the fumes of a stove. I am aware that this form of roasting is not conve- nient for many, and they must therefore be content to have it convenient to eat inferior roast beef, and turkies too. BREAD. As this is an article of food of so much importance to all, a few remarks upon its history, before notic- ing the different modes of preparing it, may be grati- fying to the reader. "Ovens were first invented in the East. Their construction was understood by the Jews, the Greeks, and the Asiatics, among whom baking was practiced as a distinct profession. In this art the Cappado- cians, Lydians, and Phoenicians, are said to have par- ticularly excelled. It was not till about 580 years after the foundation of Rome, that these artizans passed into Europe. The Roman armies, on their return from Macedonia, brought Grecian Bakers with them into Italy. As these bakers had hand- mills beside their ovens, they still continued to be called pistores, from the ancient practice of bruising the corn in a mortar; and their bake-houses were denominated pistoriae. In the time of Augustus, there were no fewer than 3*29 public bake houses in Rome : almost the whole of which were in the hands of Greeks, who long continued the only persons in that city acquainted with the art of baking good bread. "In nothing perhaps is this wise and cautious policy of the Roman government more remarkably displayed, than in the regulation which it imposed 140 RECIPES. on the bakers within the city. To the foreign bakers who came to Rome with the army from Macedonia, a number of freedmen were associated, forming together an incorporation from which nei- ther they nor their children could separate, and of which even those who married the daughters of bakers were obliged to become members. To this incorporation were entrusted all the mills, utensils, slaves, animals, every thing in short which belonged to former bake-houses. In addition to these, they re- ceived considerable portions of land ; and nothing was withheld which could assist them in pursuing to the best advantage, their highly prized labors and trade. " The practice of condemning criminals and slaves, for petty offences, to work in the bake-houses, was still continued ; and even the Judges of Africa were bound to send thither, every five years, such persons as had incurred that kind of chastisement. The bake-houses were distributed throughout the four- teen divisions of the city, and no baker could pass from one into another without special permission. The public granaries were committed to their care ; they paid nothing for the corn employed in baking bread that was to be given in largess to the citizens ; and the price of the rest was to be regulated by the magistrates. No corn was given out of these gra- naries, except for the bake-houses and the private use of the Prince. The bakers had besides, private granaries, in which they deposited the grain which they had taken from the public granaries for imme- diate use ; and if any of them happened to be con- victed of having diverted any portion of the grain RECIPES. 141 to another purpose, he was condemned to a ruinous fine of five hundred pounds weight of gold. " Most of these regulations were soon introduced among the Gauls ; but it was long before they found their way into the more northern countries of Europe. Borrichius informs us that in Sweden and Norway the only bread known, so late as the middle of the sixteenth century, was unleavened cakes, kneeded by the women. At what period in our own history the art of baking became a separate profession, we have not been able to ascertain ; but this profession is now common to all the countries m Europe, and the process of baking is also nearly the same. " The principal improvement which has been made on bread in modern times, is the substitution of yeast in the place of common leaven. This yeast is the viscid froth which rises to the surface of beer in the first stage of fermentation. When mixed with the dough, it makes it rise much more speedily and effectually than ordinary leaven." Ure's Dic- tionary of the Arts, Manufactures and Mines. To make Fermented Bread. The first and most important rule to be observed, is, to obtain good materials. And good yeast is no less important than good flour. Take water, blood warm, and add the required amount of yeast, say nearly a gill to a large loaf, stir in a little salt, and flour enough to make a stiff batter, and set it aside where it will maintain about the same temperature, and in due time the mass will expand in every direction, until it bursts and begins to fall. After this process is completed, 142 RECIPES. add the necessary amount of flour, salt and water, and incorporate the whole by a long and thorough kneed- ing. Don't forget this. Then set aside in a warm place to raise, after which, kneed the second time, though less than the first, and when light, say double the size of the original, put it into a quick oven, and bake thoroughly, but not burn it. In making so important an article as the " staff of life," it seems a pity that any should be deficient in the art. But go where you will, from house to house, you will hardly find two places where domes- 'tic bread is alike, and not once in a month will you find it just right. How many mix up barrelful after barrelful of flour, and yet never, in all their life time, make a good loaf. And yet I believe that those who know the least, or make the worst, have the best opinion of their bread. Said a distin- guished Professor to me while writing these pages, " Tell them how to make good bread, for not one in a hundred understands the art." To make Unfermented Bread. Take two pounds of flour, one tea-spoonful (heaping) of Bi Carbonate of Soda, mix them thoroughly with a wooden spoon. Then take one pint of cold water, or as much as may be needed, and mix with about one and a half tea- spoonfuls of Muriatic Acid. Measure it in a wooden spoon, or some glass or other vessel that will not corrode. Gradually add this to the flour, stirring con- stantly, and form it into loaves as quickly as possible, and thrust it into a hot oven at once. It will require no salt, as the union of the acid and the soda forms common salt in the dough, and at the same time RECIPES. 143 gives off carbonic acid gas, which distends the doughy mass in every direction. This bread often agrees well with the dyspeptic, and, by the same process, cakes, pies, puddings, apple-dumplings, &c., may be made. To make Buck-Wheat Cakes. Take four parts of good buck-wheat flour, Oat and Barley meal each one part. Make a batter, add a little salt, and a sufficient quantity of yeast, and, when light, bake well. The addition of the oat and barley meal is an improvement so far as health is concerned, and many think that the compound improves the flavor. But, whether it does or not, we had better learn to love the modification which least disturbs the health, for all hot cakes, for weak stomachs, are little better than Kidnappers, and especially if they float down the acsophagus in a flood of butter and honey. To make a good Oven. To make good bread it is necessary to have a good oven. The reader will pardon a little egotism, as almost every body likes to tell of some great thing that / have done. At any rate no man can tell how soon he may find himself in some ovenless place, where a few hints on oven- making may not come amiss. Well, being once in such a place myself, the truth of the old adage, " necessity is the mother of inven- tion," was fully realized. I had flour, but no oven. How 1 should get such an apparatus in the wilder- ness, was the question. I resolved to try my skill in oven-making and set about it accordingly. As for bricks they were out of the question, and stones suitable for such a purpose were as scarce. About 144 RECIPES. one rod from my cabin stood a mammoth hemlock stump, a little more than two feet high, and very flat on the top. For the want of a better, I selected this for the foundation of my Bakery. Fortunately, not far off there was a mixture of sand and clay of about the right proportion for bricks This I made into mortar, and spread a layer of it three inches thick, over the stumpy foundation, and left it to dry. In due time, I placed upon this founda- tion a pile of chips and other combustibles, of the size and form which I desired my oven to possess. But as it was difficult to make this ragged mass, or wooden loaf, sufficiently smooth, I finished the pat- tern or core with a covering of sand. And then a lay- er of mortar, three or four inches thick, spread over all, except a space for a door at the end, completed the masonry. After letting the whole dry, I set fire to the wood and burned out the interior. This hardened the clay ; and, as far as good baking is concerned, I have never yet seen a better oven than that. Perhaps others have done the same thing. How that may be I know not. At any rate the reader has the recipe, and, if he has plenty of flour and fuel, he need not starve. A man can have far more comforts, even in the wilder- ness, than many suppose, if it is not his own fault. To make a Miniature Ice-House. Take a large hogshead, or any large cask, and knock out one head and set it on the end, and put inside of this, another as large as it will admit. Fill the space between the two with any non-conductor, like saw- dust, charcoal dust, dried -tan-bark, &c. Insert a RECIPES. 145 small tube into the bottom, running through both casks to carry off the water. Let the lower end of the tube turn up a little, so that a small quantity of water will remain in it, which will prevent a circu- lation of air through the tube. Then filj the cask with ice, and put on the lid, and cover this with old flannel, or damaged cotton-batting which costs but a trifle. The same principle may be applied also to boxes. The writer has tried the casks and found them to answer a good purpose, and the article used for filling the space, was damaged cotton, and it is doubtful whether any thing better can be -found. Of course the farmer and those who have plenty of room, should build on a better and larger scale. Ice is not only a great luxury, but it is a remedial agent of no little importance. Hence every family should have a constant supply by night and by day, especially in hot weather. But it is not only conve- nient and desirable to be always well-supplied with this article, but the plan suggested will be found a matter of economy. The price paid for ice, as it is served from the carts daily in small quantities, will average from fifty cents to one dollar per hundred pounds. The waste as it lies at our doors is often very considerable. The apparatus spoken of can be filled for 18 to 25 cents per hundred pounds in ordinary seasons. Now it will be objected to perhaps, on the ground of waste. I admit that there is a greater waste in two vessels than in one. But no greater waste whore the quantity of ice is large, than where it is small. And the waste in any apparatus, well con- 146 RECIPES. structed, and seldom opened, is very small. The ordinary refrigerator would still be needed for con- venience sake, and, with it, the other need not be opened oftener than once in two days, if the refriger- ator is of large size. Many have adopted an erroneous conclusion in regard to the waste of ice, supposing that it is econo- my to buy a small quantity at a time. It would be a wrong conclusion, even if we could buy it as cheap by the 10 Ibs. as by the 500 Ibs. But let me explain this. Suppose that an ordinary refrigerator will require ten pounds of ice per day, to maintain a temperature sufficiently low to preserve its edibles. With only this amount there would be none to spare for other purposes. But if we add another ten pounds, there will be no extra waste, but the balance can be used as may be desired. In other words, ten pounds will not give us for our tables, one pound ; whereas twenty pounds will give us ten ! To preserve Fruit, Vegetables, <$-c. I hardly need say that all kinds of fruit and vegetables, as well as animal food, may be kept in an ice-house where the temperature is constantly near the freezing point, and not undergo any material change for ages. True the ordinary refrigerator is not sufficient for a very prolonged preservation, as it usually contains too little ice, and is too often exposed to the warm air. But how easy it is for every farmer to have an ice- house, and he will soon find out that it is for his interest to attend to it. Stores will yet be made with immense underground rooms for ice-houses, from whence the merchant will RECIPES. 147 bring out the blushing cherry, the refreshing melon, the luscious peach, the delicious grape, and the uuri- valed strawberry, as a Christmas luxury and New- Year's temptation. Here we may have " new laid eggs," at all seasons, and green pease as fresh in Janua- ry as in June, and green corn and cucumbers as perfect and as cool out of a snow-bank in winter, as out of a garden in dog-days. And last, but not least, pota- toes as palatable in seed time as in harvest. In this way the farmer, too, can take the advantage of good prices. Let him fill his icy store-house with green pease, corn and cucumbers, grapes, peaches, melons, &c., and keep them till holidays, then let him empty his fruit-preserver, and fill it with potatoes, and his pockets with the proceeds. Indeed he has every thing to encourage it. He can have at any favora- ble moment, the lightning jobbers to whisper, Come ! And with the steam to speed him in, how can he labor in vain ? To make Soda-Water. Take about one-fourth of a tea-spoonful of Bi Carbonate of Soda, and nearly the same quantity of Tartaric Acid, dissolve each sep- arately in a glass one-third full of water, sweeten with loaf sugar, mix and drink quickly. This makes a refreshing, healthful drink, and, when the materials are purchased by the pound, costs but a trifle. Though less palatable, it is more healthful when used without sugar, and especially for the dys- peptic. To make Tooth-Powder. Burn a crust of bread to a coal, finely pulverize it, and keep it in well -stopped bottles. For the teeth and the breath there is no 148 RECIPES. better powder than this. A little castile-soap on the brush, is also good. It helps to keep both the teeth and the brush, clean. To Polish Metals. As some people seem to be more anxious to polish their brass, than their ivory, I shall hardly be excused for failing to give directions for cleaning door-knobs, teapots, spoons, &c. Well, take a little Camphene, (spirits of turpentine,) on a woolen rag, with a little rotten-stone, rub the article smartly, and finish with dry rotten-stone. There are no better polishing materials known than these. And they are both cheap and safe. Oxalic acid, so often used for polishing brass, copper, &c., is not half as good, and is moreover quite too dangerous an agent to be kept on the premises. (See Poisons.) Substitute for hard work, or " Washing Liquor" As the wash-tub is an excellent gymnastic appara- tus, perhaps it will be thought a little strange that any one so much in favor of exercise, should point out any way for dodging it. But it will be remem- bered that I have already spoken of the evil of excess, and for the benefit of those who frequently find it necessary to exert themselves too much for health, I copy the following recipe. It may be said that this has nothing to do with health. Cleanliness however has as much to do with health as filthiness has with disease. I should be very unwilling to have the read- er suppose that he has nothing to do in preserving his health, but to run after doctors, and pills, and plasters, and powders. But, to come to the point, I must give Mr. Twelvetree's famous recipe for wash- ing, which he has sold, to how many thousands I RECIPES. 149 know not. It is taken from the "Liverpool Stand- ard." " Dissolve \ Ib. of lime in boiling water, straining twice through a flannel bag; dissolve separately \ Ib. brown soap, and J Ib. Sal Soda boil the three together. Put six gallons of water into the boiler, and, when boiling, add the mixture. The !' which must have been steeped in cold water for 12 hours, are wrung out, any stains rubbed' with soap, and put into the boiler, where they must boil for 35 minutes. They are then drawn, (the liquor being pre- served as it can be used three times,) placed in a tub, and clear boiling water poured over them. Rub them out, rinse them well in cold water, and they are ready for drying. By this process two-thirds of the ordi- nary labor of washing is saved ; bleaching is entire- ly dispensed with ; the clothes are much cleaner, and are less worn than by the ordinary mode of washing, and the mixture in no way damages the fabric." Now this will be found cheap washing, according to the above statement, as all the materials will not cost more than would a sufficient quantity of simple soap. And as Mr. Twelvetree asks one dollar for this recipe, it is to be hoped that the reader will not complain of a bad bargain, even if this should be considered the only receipt in the list of any value, although the writer does not pretend that it is worth half the money. And, lest such should be the fact, I will give another. 150 RECIPES. WASHING MADE EASY. ** To the Editor of the Massachusetts Cataract. " For the benefit of the sisterhood I wish to com- municate the following receipt for a washing mix- ture, which I have thoroughly tested, and find it to save fully one-half of the labor of washing to say nothing of the saving in other matters, such as * strained backs,' * cross words/ ' short dinners,' &c., so common to washing days. " Take one pint of spirits of turpentine, one pint of alcohol, two ounces of Hartshorn, one ounce of gum Camphor shake well together ; then, to one qt. of soft soap, add three table-spoonfuls of this mix- ture. Wet the clothes first, then soap them with this mixture, lay them in a tub and pour warm water on them ; let them remain half an hour or more, then squeeze them well out of the water soap them again and put on to boil, then finish as usual by rinsing them, &c. " I say to all housewives, try the above ; and, my word for it, you will soon consign the wash-boards and patent washing machines to the flames. " ANNA J. L." To Cure Hams. Having given hints on food, fuel, fear, and physic, and directions for cleaning teeth, teapots, and tapestry ; and recipes for making bread, overfls, and ice-houses, and as the reader may be Gentile enough, by nature and practice, to esteem nothing unclean that tastes good, I beg leave to present a borrowed hint, in relation to curing hams, hoping that I am not addressing a dyspeptic, RECIPES. 151 as all smoked meats generally disagree so much with, those whose organs of digestion are impaired, that they may as well dispense with both curing and eating them. " The Prize Ham at the last Maryland Cattle- Show" " Mrs. Horsey's ham was cured by the fol- lowing recipe. For twelve hams of common size, take eight Ibs. of brown sugar, Jib. crystallized saltpe- tre, and five Ibs. fine Liverpool salt. Rub well with the mixture, and let them be a week in a cask with the skins down. Then make a brine, strong enough to bear an egg, and add two or three quarts of ley from hickory ashes, refined by boiling and skimming cover the hams with the brine, and keep them down with a weight, and let them remain in three or four weeks. Then hang them up in a smoke-house, and, after 24 hours, smoke with hickory wood until cured, say six weeks. This ham was wrapped thickly with timothy hay before being boiled." The Plough, the Loom, and the Anril. Since copying the above, I noticed in the " Ameri- can Artisan" the following method of preserving this important edible. " To Preserve Hams: 1 " The Southern Cultivator notices some hams exhibited at the Georgia State Fair, which were one, two, three, and four years old. The writer says the owner refused to divulge his se- cret, but as we have fortunately become possessed of it, we here give it. Procure some good, clean, hicko- ry ashes, have them perfectly dry ; draw your meat from the pickle on a dry day ; sprinkle the ashes over the meat pretty thick, being careful not to 7* 152 RECIPES. knock off more salt than what must fall off ; then hang up your meat as high as possible ; smoke it with cool smoke, made by hickory wood ; be sure to take it down before the skipper-fly makes its appear- ance, being generally, in this climate, the first of March ; pack it away on a dry day in casks ; first, a layer of hams in perfectly dry hickory ashes ; se- cond, a course of corn-cobs, &c., cover your cask snug and tight, and you may rest easy about your hams." Let the meat be good, to start with, and let it be well cured, well smoked, and well cooked ; and let there be withal, a sprinkling of good fresh eggs, and a few good healthy empty stomachs, and the hickory ashes and corn-cobs can be soon dispensed with. To Preserve Fresh Meat. Strew on the bottom of a vessel a mixture of iron-filings and flowers of sul- phur. Pour over these, fresh water which has been previously boiled, to exclude the air. Immerse the meat, and it will keep for months, if the water is covered with a layer of oil half an inch thick. So says Dr. Ure, who is good authority. To make Pot-Cheese. Take two parts of thicken- ed sour milk, and one part of butter-milk heat scalding hot, then take out the curd with a skimmer and hang it up in a bag to drain. Then salt it, and moisten it with sweet cream, make it into balls, press- ing them hard in the hand and keep them in a cool place. To Preserve Eggs. Take new-laid eggs, and im- merse them in a solution of Gum Arabic, let them dry, and pack them with the large end down, in new- RECIPES. 153 ly burnt charcoal, finely pulverized, and they will keep a year. They may also be kept in good condi- tion, and for a long time, in lime-water. To make Jenny Lind Cake. Take of flour and sugar each one pound, good sweet butter, half pound, four fresh eggs, thoroughly beaten, one lemon, grate in the peel, and strain in the juice, half a cup of milk in which a small lump of saleratus is dissolved. Add raisins or currants, if desired. Thoroughly in- corporate the whole, and bake. With the Nightingale's sweet voice to sharpen the appetite and aid digestion, the above cake, if well made, will probably be very acceptable to all but the dyspeptic : but we think the condiment will eclipse the cake. However this may be, we will not trouble the reader with any more cookery, tak- ing it for granted that every house- wife, either has, or will of course obtain at once, the ** AMERICAN LADY'S COOK BOOK." To Prevent Disease. Eat plain food drink pure water breathe good air live a stirring life retire and rise early avoid all extremes keep the mind cheerful the body clean, and sufficiently clad the conscience void of offence, and temptations at bay. POISONS AND THEIR ANTIDOTES. It often happens that poisons are accidentally or designedly swallowed, whose influence should be neutralized instantly. And hence the importance of being prepared to administer understandingly and promptly an antidote, if any be known. ACIDS. In the majority of cases of poisoning, the leading indication is free vomiting as soon as possible. But there are some articles whose action is so rapid that it might be fatal to wait for emetics. Such are all the powerful acids. Poisoning by the following mineral acids, Nitric Acid (Aqua Fortis), Hydro- chloric Acid (Muriatic Acid), and Sulphuric Acid (Oil of Vitriol), may be treated with Magnesia, chalk, or whiting mixed with water, and swallowed imme- diately. After this, much treatment may be required to subdue the inflammation in the throat and stomach, which will naturally follow. Vegetable acids will be noticed when we speak of vegetable poisons. ARSENIC. This agent has long been used for sending man to an untimely grave. But although an active poison, which should be narrowly watched, yet its fatal effects are less rapid than those which follow the use of either of the articles above named, and less cer- tain. A man may take at a single dose, enough to POISONS AND THEIR ANTIDOTES. 155 kill a dozen men, and not be injured in the legist. These large doses often operate as an emetic, which saves the man's life. Whenever taken in a danger- ous quantity, it is important to induce instant vomit- ing. The antidote is Hydrated Per Oxide of Iron. But as a physician will be required, and can gene- rally be obtained as soon as the remedy, I need not give a detail of the necessary proceedings. CORROSIVE SUBLIMATE. This is another active poison, which not unfre- quently produces fatal effects. But it has a certain antidote : and, what is still more important, a reme- dy that is easily and safely administered, and almost always at hand. There is nothing better than the white of an egg. Take two or three and mix them with water and drink them. But it should be known that common wheat flour will answer the same pur- pose, mixed with cold water. COPPER. Although harmless in a metallic state, yet nearly all the compounds of copper are poisonous. And it sometimes happens that whole families are severely affected by an improper use of copper vessels ; and it is frequently done by eating pickles which have been kept in such vessels to give them a rich green color. It may be well to remember that, the greener the color the more poisonous the pickle ! It is copper in solution which enters into the cucumber that gives it the fresh green tinge. One would suppose that pickles were bad enough for the digestive organs 156 POISONS AND THEIR ANTIDOTES. without being poisoned! But the eye must be gratified, let it cost what it will, as well as the palate. Whenever it is suspected that a poisonous dose of any of the compounds of copper has been taken, the antidotes for corrosive sublimate, which have been named, will be the proper remedies in such cases also. LEAD. The preparations of Lead, are also for the most part energetic poisons. It is well known that painters often suffer from that disease called Painter's Colic (Colica Pictonum), which is produced by the poison- ous exhalations of Lead. As this disease comes on gradually and requires the aid of the physician, I will not trouble the reader with any remarks upon it. And especially as it is more my object to fortify him against the necessity of any medical treatment, than to present remedies and antidotes. But the remedy for poisonous doses of Lead may be either Glauber Salts (Sulphate of Soda), or Epsom Salts (Sulphate of Magnesia), or Sulphate of Potash. A double decomposition will immediately follow. For example, if Sugar of Lead (Acetate of Lead) be the poisonous compound, and Glauber Salts (Sulph. of Soda), be the antidote, the Sulphuric Acid will leave the Soda and go over to the Lead, and at the same time, the acetic acid will leave the Lead and unite with the Soda. And hence, we shall have formed in the living laboratory, Sulphate of Lead, which is insoluble, and therefore inert, and Acetate of Soda, POISONS AND THEIR ANTIDOTES. 157 which is a mild laxative, and just what the patient needs. House-keepers should bear in mind, that the glazing of ordinary brown earthen-ware contains a preparation of Lead, which is affected by acids, and consequently these vessels are unfit for milk-pans, preserve-pots, and almost every thing else. It is often common to put shot into glass bottles, to clean them ; and they are shaken about until the bottle is almost glazed with lead ; and, when emptied, some of the shot frequently remain within. Now, if people would bear in mind, that shot contain arsenic as well as lead, perhaps they would be a little more cautious in such operations. We will now turn our attention for a moment to vegetable poisons, and one of the most important and useful, if not abused is OPIUM. Of all the poisons which are used for self-destruction, this, in its various forms, probably stands at the head of the catalogue. Strictly speaking, this article has no antidote yet discovered. The first and great thing to be done is, to get it out of the stomach, if a poisonous dose has been swallowed. In domestic practice, a dessert-spoonful of flour of mustard in a glass of water may be given at once, arid vomiting promoted by tickling the throat with the end of the finger or with a feather. If the patient becomes stupid, rouse him by exercising him up and down the room between two men. Pour a steady stream of cold water from a pail or pitcher upon his head 158 POISONS AND THEIR ANTIDOTES. and chest, and let it fall four or five feet. This is of great service and should never be neglected. It helps materially to rouse the patient and promotes the operation of the emetic, which it is often im- possible to effect. Mustard may be applied to the legs and feet, and artificial respiration should be vigorously kept up if necessary. To effect this, make firm pressure with both hands on the front part of the chest, and remove the pressure about as fre- quently as we naturally breathe. Strong coffee is of some service after the patient begins to recover. But a physician should be obtained as soon as pos- sible. Nux Vomica, Tobacco, Henbane (Hyoscyamus Niger), Foxglove (Digitalis Purpurea), Deadly Nightshade (Atropa Belladonna), Common Thorn Apple (Datura Stramonium), Wolf's Bane (Aconite) Hemlock (Conium Maculatum), and Indian Tobacco (Lobelia Inflata), are all active poisons, taken in large doses, for which no antidote has been discovered. The treatment should be very much the same as the last described ; except that Lobelia and Tobacco will need no emetic, as they have a powerful nau- seating quality and may produce too much vomit- ing. After the stomach has been sufficiently evacu- ated, let the patient drink freely of a strong infusion of Green Tea, and use friction over the chest and spine, &c. PRUSSIC ACID (HYDROCYANIC ACID). It is well known that this is one of the most ener- getic poisons which has yet been discovered, and POISONS AND THEIR ANTIDOTES. 159 more rapidly fatal in its effects than either of the agents which have been noticed. Indeed, so prompt is its action, that patients are often supposed to be dead before any thing can be done. But this is, however, frequently more apparent than real. Its effects seem to be somewhat analogous to the effects of electricity or lightning, and the treatment which is found to be adapted to one case, is also more or less proper in the other. Pouring cold water upon the head and chest, as noticed under the head of Opium, and artificial respiration must never be neglected. OXALIC ACID. This agent which is found both in the animal and vegetable kingdom, is more prompt in its action on the system than any which has been noticed, except the last. Indeed, patients seldom survive an hour after taking a poisonous dose. Although so destruc- tive in its operation, it is often kept about the house by domestics and others for cleaning brass, copper, &c. Its strong resemblance to Epsom Salts, has often led to fatal mistakes. If it were suspected, however, it is easily detected as it is intensely sour, while Salts are rather bitter. But people do not always stop to test the article which they swallow. Its antidotes are Magnesia, w r hich is the best ; also Chalk and Whiting. Mix with water and drink in- stantly. After this, use some bland drink, like flax- seed-tea, gum- water, slippery-elm, &c. t 160 POISONS AND THEIR ANTIDOTES. CARBONIC ACID GAS. Many are suddenly, unexpectedly, and uncon- sciously poisoned by inhaling this gas. It fre- quently exists in dry wells, in caves, in mines, and other places. It is often called by miners, " Choke damp? and is also known by the name of "fixed air." To a very limited extent it is a constitutent of the atmosphere ; and is often evolved from the earth in, large quantities; especially in volcanic countries. It is generally a product of combustion, always of respiration, and frequently of decomposition, as in fermentation, &c., and is the essential agent which distends the doughy mass, giving us light bread, whether leaven, or yeast, or sour-milk and saleratus, or any other acid and alkali be used. It is also the principal agent which gives value to the well known and highly esteemed " Soda Water" One cubic yard of Marble (Carbonate of Lime) contains according to Mr. De la Beche, 16,000 cubic feet of this gas : enough to poison a regiment of men if set free in a proper place. It is an interesting fact and worthy of notice, that this agent is perfectly harmless and even healthful when taken into the stomach, and yet when inhaled in any considerable quantity will destroy life quicker than would a rifle- ball to pass through any part of your body, with very few exceptions. This gas is heavier than the atmosphere, and consequently may remain a long time in deep cavi- ties ; and hence the danger of descending into deep POISONS AND THEIR ANTIDOTES. 161 wells and caverns, where any cause has operated to set it free. UPAS. The celebrated " Valley of Poison," in Java, des- cribed by Loudon, is a spot where it escapes from the earth on a large scale. " It is a cavity of an oval form, about three quarters of a mile in circum- ference, and from thirty to thirty-five feet deep; filled to the height of about eighteen feet with car- bonic acid gas. The bottom of it is covered with the skeletons of men and various other animals who have fallen victims to its destructive operation. If a traveller should be so unfortunate as to enter it, he cannot be sensible of his danger until too late to return. Mr. Loudon thrust a dog in ; he fell in four- teen seconds. A fowl thrown in, appeared to be dead before it reached the ground !" (Pereira's Mat. Med. Vol. L p. 301.) PRECAUTION. To avoid the risk of suffering from this agent, all persons before they descend into low and untried places, such as dry wells, vaults, mines, brewer's vats, and all doubtful places, should first let down a lighted candle. If it burns brightly on the bottom, for any considerable time, you may safely enter. If it goes out, you will do well to keep out, until the candle says go ! It will tell no lies. Neither do I say any more than is strictly true, when I affirm that if you venture and stay long, where the candle will not burn, you don't come out altve without help i 162 POISONS AND THEIR ANTIDOTES. And if any man descends to help you out, he will probably stay there too ! WORSE THAN VIPERS. Let it be borne in mind, that not a few cease to breathe under the influence of this treacherous poison, while they never suspect their danger, by burning charcoal in their sleeping apartments in cold weather. A man had better sleep in a den of vipers. It is far enough from being safe when one is awake, and perfectly aware of its effects. A case to the point which once happened in a certain town, and which was known to the writer, I beg leave to pre- sent, as an illustration of the fact which I wish to enforce. A WARNING VOICE. A man who was a mason by trade, had in his house, in which he lived, an unfinished room, which he undertook to lath and plaster in very cold wea- ther. Having neither fireplace nor stove in said room, he took in a kettle of ignited charcoal to keep the walls from freezing. He was perfectly aware that the consequences of remaining long in the room might be serious, yet he thought he could safely work on, till he felt some unpleasant symptom. On the approach ef the first unusual sensation, he started for the door, but fell senseless on the floor before he reached it, and would have been a dead man in less than five minutes, if his family had not heard him fall, and rushed in and dragged him out. POISONS AND THEIR ANTIDOTES. 163 TREATMENT. Nothing can be done to any advantage, in a case of poisoning from this gas, unless it is done quickly. Yet it has happened that valuable lives might have been saved, if the proper means for resuscitation had been used. The same thing may happen again. The first thing to be done after bringing the patient into good air, is, to pour cold water on his head and chest, as before described, and keep up artificial respiration until the patient revives, or hope dies. SUFFOCATION OR STRANGULATION. In all cases of suspended respiration, whether from hanging, drowning, or any cause whatsoever, which prevents the air from passing to and from the lungs, very much the same effects are produced, as those above noticed. The latter persons may with as much propriety be said to be poisoned, as the for- mer, and need the same treatment. It will be re- membered that this poisonous gas is a product of respiration, and is the same deadly agent in essence, as that found in the fumes of burning charcoal, and when sufficiently accumulated, will produce the same results. IMPORTANT CHANGE. The blood, which is the circulating medium of all nourishment to the body, undergoes a two- fold and vitally important change as it passes through the lungs, at every breath. It is there changed from venous or black blood, 164 POISONS AND THETR ANTIDOTES. to arterial or red blood, by giving off a portion of carbon, and receiving an equal amount of oxygen. Hence, whatever suspends the function of respira- tion, prevents the escape of this carbonic acid, which remains in the blood, and acts upon the brain like a narcotic poison ; so that we may say when a man cannot breathe, he is poisoned from within and when he inhales impure air, he is poisoned from without. In either case, the treatment is very much the same, except that a drowned man will not need the cold douche. He has had too much of that already. Therefore give him artificial heat as soon as possible, to promote the circulation of the blood, and artificial respiration to promote the purification of that fluid. MISTAKEN VIEW. But away with that miserable practice of rolling and tumbling the patient about on barrels and tubs. But it is said that this must be done " to get the water out of him." Let Ihe water alone, after you pull the man out of it, and wipe him dry. The man is poisoned ! Not by water, but by one of the consti- tuents of the atmosphere. Therefore drive out the bad air, and drive in the good, as fast as possible, until the man is able to breathe without your h'elp, and then he will take care of the water himself, and probably keep out of it next time, if he can. POISONING FROM DECOMPOSITION. Most of the diseases which affect our race, may with great propriety be said to be only the effects POISONS AND THEIR ANTIDOTES. 165 of poisoning. If a man has Small Pox, Mumps, Measles, Scrofula, Consumption, Dysentery, Cholera, Plague Typhus, Yellow, Scarlet, or any other fever, he has been poisoned. Some are poisoned by the food they eat, others by the water they drink ; but more by the air they breathe. I have spoken of the importance of pure air in another place. (See Vent.) I wish here to say a word respecting the danger and disastrous consequences which may and do arise from the decomposition of a few simple vegetables in our dwellings. A striking and melancholy illustration of the doc- trine now under consideration is found in a case which happened a few years since in one of our country towns. LOOK WELL TO YOUR CELLAR. A physician was called to see a patient who appeared to be prostrated with a fever of no ordi- nary malignancy. He failed not to bring into requi- sition every remedy which the case seemed to indi- cate. And with the utmost solicitude and care did he exert himself to stay the ravages of the disease. But all in vain. The physician who spent his life to lengthen out the lives of others (a fact not half appreciated by the community), was in pain to know the cause of such a terrible calamity. And as there was no disease in the neighborhood that resembled it, and being a man of common sense, he naturally suspected that there was some hidden manufactory of death about the premises. But on making inquiry, was told 166 POISONS AND THEIR ANTfDOTES. that all was right, and for a time, the case remained a mystery. Soon however, one and another were stricken down, producing the most alarming appre- hensions, and threatening the destruction of the entire household. The medical gentleman now de- termined to search the premises from top to bottom, as for a deadly viper, and with candle in hand com- menced in the cellar, (the most suspicious spot,) and there he soon found stowed away in some dark cor- ner, a few rotten potatoes ! On removing these and ventilating the house, the survivors escaped the jaws of death. BE NOT DECEIVED. Before dismissing this subject, I would remark, that in all cases of Epidemics, no matter what the disease, nor what the pestiferous agent ; it becomes doubly important that every dwelling should be kept as pure as possible ; for with an infected air without, and a poisoned air within, we can hardly expect to escape sudden destruction. ALWAYS NEEDFUL. But let none suppose that because it is a general time of health, no caution in this respect is needful. A greater error could not well exist. What ! is it not just as bad to rush madly into the jaws of death at a time of great salubrity, as to become a victim of some terrible pestilence ? POISONS AN THEIR AUTTIDOTES. 167 VEGETABLE WORSE THAN ANIMAL POISON. What sighs and sufferings, what tears and groans, what agony and death, might have been prevented, if, in the case above, the physician had early pointed out the enemy and his warning had been fully heeded. But had he thus fully exposed the pestilen- tial agent, such is the tendency to indifference, and incredulity, that, ten chances to one, if he had not been forgotten in two hours, or his warning voice considered more as the offspring of superstition than the fruits of scientific investigation, and a sincere regard for the welfare of his fellow-men. What say you, reader, will you ever drive from your dwell- ing, a single rotten potatoe in consequence of this hint ? If not, remember, still that I tell you one thing, that you have more to fear from a peck of vegetables in a state of decomposition in an ill-venti- lated apartment, than from the rotten carcase of the largest Elephant on the face of the earth. The subject of poisons, being full of interest, demands a much more perfect examination than the limits of this work will admit. The eye poisons some. The hand poisons others. But the palate and the pocket poisons more than alt. One man assumes * the right to poison himself and others. And another is licensed to poison a whole nation at once. The remedy for those who scatter the bane, is a good conscience. The antidote for those who are exposed to its destructive influence, total abstinence. And for those who legalize it, a little more common MENTAL POISON. Under this head might be presented many forms and phases of mental poisoning of great interest and importance ; bringing to light the bane, por- traying the disastrous effects ; and proclaiming the safe and proper antidote. But on this point, the wri- ter begs leave to say little ; for the time has not yet come, when the multitude will endure sound doctrine. Nevertheless, a disordered imagination may work out both goo d and bad results physically. PERKINISM. To illustrate the truth of the former result, I will for a moment call the attention of the reader to " Perkinism" The influence of this wonderful dis- covery, may be regarded as a pretty fair type of that which is produced by the introduction of other modern- " isms" and model-" knocking s" Although an indigenous plant, yet in the fertile soil of a disordered imagination, it flourished for a time in other climes. Professor Dunglison in his " Phy- siology," gives a brief and interesting sketch of its "marvelous history as follows : " Perkinism, it is well known, is the product of our own soil. Its proposer, Dr. Elisha Perkins of Connec- ticut, is represented to have been a man of strict honor and integrity ; but manifestly of an ardent" (better said disordered) " imagination, and unbounded cre- dulity. Impressed with the idea that metallic sub- stances might exert some agency on the muscles and DISORDERED IMAGINATION. 169 nerves of animals, and be inservient to useful pur- poses as external agents, in the treatment of disease, he professed to institute various experiments until he ultimately fancied he had discovered a composition, which would serve his purpose, and of which he formed his * Metallic Tractors. 1 " These consisted of two instruments ; one having the appearance of steel, and the other of brass. They were about three inches long, and pointed at one extremity ; and the mode of their application was to draw the points over the affected parts, in a down- ward direction, for about twenty-five minutes each time. The effects seemed to be miraculous. The whole class of diseases on which the imagination is known to exert its efficacy ; rheumatism ; local pains of various kinds, and in various parts; paroxysms of intermittents, &c. &c., yielded as if by magic. The operation was termed Perkinism, by the Faculty of Copenhegan, in honor of the discoverer ; and insti- tutions were formed in Great Britain, and elsewhere, which were, for a time, regarded as sources for the dispensation of health to multitudes of wretched sufferers. " Yet in a very brief space of time, the enthusiasm and the institutions died away ; and no one at the present day believes that the effect was any thing more than an additional case showing the success that must ever follow for a time, the efforts of quacke- ry ; and exhibiting the total failure of the same agen's when deprived of the mystery that had pre- viously enthralled them." Pity that their credui : ty was ever disturbed* 170 DISORDERED IMAGINATION. " While the delusion regarding Perkinism or ' Tracto 'atiorf was at its height, DR. HAYGARTH, de- termined to ascertain how far the effects could be ascribed to the power of the imagination. He ac- cordingly formed pieces of wood into the shape of Tractors, and with much assumed pomp and cere- mony, applied them to a number of sick persons who had been previously prepared to expect something ex- traordinary. He not only employed them in nervous diseases, but in all kinds of cases ; and the effects were found to be most astonishing. Obstinate pains of the limbs were suddenly cured. Joints that had long been immovable, were restored to motion, and, in short, says DR. BOSTOCK, except the renewal of lost parts, or the change of mechanical structure, nothing seemed beyond their power to accomplish." DISASTROUS INNOVATION. Although here is a statement of undeniable facts, yet I hope the reader will be so good as not to ask me whether I suppose that the doctor was ever as successful in the administration of remedies inter- nally, however potent. Don't be too inquisitive. At any rate, it would seem that a disordered imagi- nation had a most happy effect on the body, and it is a pity that Dr. Haygarth ever thought of venturing upon an innovation. CHOKED BY FANCY, CURED BY RIDICULE. " A lady once fancied that she had stricture of the apsophagus," (partial closure of the pipe leading to the stomach,) " which rendered it very difficult for her DISORDERED IMAGINATION. 171 to swallow her food. The difficulty went on, increa- sing from day to day, until she was altogether unable to swallow any solid food, and was obliged to confine herself to broths and other liquid nourishment. In pro- cess of time, the stricture became so close that she could swallow nothing but water, and even that with the greatest difficulty. She had of course become greatly emaciated for want of nourishment, and she al- most despaired of her life. Every physician of the neighborhood had been consulted. Some ridiculed her complaint as being entirely imaginary. Others had proposed various plans of treatment which she had faithfully followed, but they were all ineffectual. At last she had an opportunity of consulting a phy- sician of great eminence, and in whom she was led to place implicit confidence. She told him that she was entirely well in every respect but in the closure of her throat ; and if it were possible to find any nu- tritive substance as thin as water, or thinner than water, so that she could swallow it, she thought she might ultimately recover. If not, she must infallibly die of starvation. The doctor, after a moment's de- liberation, told her that he thought he could propose a kind of food which would be exactly suited to her case. The directions were given as follows : IMPORTANT PRESCRIPTION. "Take a large kettle which holds at least ten gal- lons ; fill it brim-full of water, and hang it over the fire in such a position that the rays of the sun en- tering at the window may fall upon the surface of the water. Then hang in the window a lean, starved 172 DISORDERED IMAGINATION. crow, so that the shadow may fall on the water in the kettle. Boil for four hours and make soup of the shadow. The lady immediately burst into a loud fit of immoderate laughter, called for a beef steak, which she ate with avidity, and was no more troubled with stricture of the aesophagus !" Another case which I now present, to show physi- cal effect from mental agency, more fully prevents the supposition of deception on the part of the pa- tient, than either of those which have been named. NOVEL SURGERY. " Doctor Warren of Boston," says a writer, " re- lates the case of a lady who had a tumor of the glands of the neck, of the size of an egg, which had lasted two years, and had resisted all the efforts for its removal, so that an operation was proposed. To this the patient objected, but asked whether it would be safe to make an application which had been re- commended to her, viz.: touching the part three times with a dead man's hand. Dr. W. assured her that she might make the trial without apprehending any serious consequences. After a time, she again presented herself, and, smiling, informing him that she had used this remedy, and no other, and on ex- amining the part, he found the tumor had disappear- ed." A LITTLE DEFICIENT. Well, doctor, we never for a moment doubted your veracity ; and as to your surgical skill, almost all the civilized world knows that it is not surpassed. DISORDERED IMAGINATION. 173 Still, we cannot help calling to mind that Solomon , " A living dog, is better than a dead lion." So we can hardly avoid the conclusion that the hand of a living surgeon ought to be more successful in re- moving tumors from a living body, than a hand from the grave yard. Such, we hope will be the good fortune in future, of all those who practice the heal- ing art, lest some novel practicioner should take the pa 1 !!!, by advising the sick to consult ghosts, instead of doctors ! With the opposite effect, or the unhappy influence of great mental depression, almost every one is fa- miliar. Many examples might be given, but it is considered unecessary. VENTILATION. Pure air, is so indispensable to health, that no wonder there are so many pale, sickly, ghastly, faces ; flabby, crooked, rickety bodies ; crazy, dreamy, fidge- ty intellects; wretched, crippled, ruined constitu- tions. When we see how people live, both in the lower and higher classes ; we naturally conclude that doctors, apothecaries, and undertakers, will not be likely to complain for want of business. Some smother themselves by day, and others by night. Many when they retire, shut up their lodging-rooms as they did in old times to shut out the witches, lest they enter through the cracks. But modern witches are far more likely to enter irorn want of cracks. The size of the room, however, modifies the necessi- ty for a free opening. Some fancy that if a room has a door open, or a window raised, one hour in twenty-four, it is thoroughly ventilated. A sad mis- take ! No room can be said to be well ventilated, which has not a provision for a continued circulation of air, by night and by day. The great, cry against basements, on the score of dampness, is half of it moonshine. They may be too damp, and often are, in summer. And why ? Mainly because they lack ventilation. But when this is the case, the moisture of the air is by no means its worst quality. Let there be a sufficient circula- tion throughout our entire basements to give us a pure atmosphere, and if the moisture remains as great as ever, we shall not have much cause to com- plain. Of course I have reference to dwellings VEXTILATION. 1 75 built upon soil, free from water. Moreover the air, instead of being too damp, in ordinary base- ments during the winter, is too dry in every room that has a fire. Every man can easily satisfy him- self with a few moment's investigation, that the dry- ing power of the air in cold weather is really greater in his basement (where artificial heat is in- troduced,) than it is oat of doors. Are not seamen and fishermen a healthy class of men ? And do we not even send those who are already sick, to sea nay, those who are almost given up to die, that they may regain their health ? And do they not have by day and by night, the mighty deep beneath them, the ever-rolling waves around them, and the spray and humid atmosphere above them ? Now if a little dampness of the air is so bad a thing as many contend that it is, why do they not all die ? The truth is, they get pure air, whether wet or dry, (es- pecially if they go much upon deck,) and that is just what \ve all want, and for which we earnestly contend while we battle stagnation, and let moisture alone, or rather take measures to obtain more instead of less, as the air in our entire dwellings is alto- gether too dry for health during cold weather, as I shall soon attempt to show. But beware of an ill-ventilated dwelling, and shun it as you would a den of vipers ; for the deadly fumes of such an abode, which flap their silent wings about your senseless nostrils, are far more to be feared than all the ancient plagues of Egypt, and " fiery flying serpents" of the wilderness ! 8* 176 VENTILATION. Much is said of late against small bed-rooms, as being far less healthful than large rooms. This is often true. And why ? Simply because the vitally important subject of ventilation is too often over- looked, to the peril of those who lodge therein. A room sixteen feet square is of course preferable to one half the size, because it is much more conve- nient, but let those who do not find it convenient to occupy such capacious apartments as they may desire, remember this, for it is a fact of practical importance, that they may make their little seven- by-nine bed-room as healthful as if it were large enough for a church, if they will. If nothing is done to secure a free circulation, then of course a man might almost as well take up lodgings in a molasses hogshead. Under such circumstances the large room has the advantage most decidedly ; because it may perhaps contain air enough to supply the sleeper through the night. .But it will be remembered that the air in any room, no matter how large, is no purer, to say the least, than the air without ; and generally far less so : and consequently a small apartment supplied afresh, is preferable to a large one, with the air half stagnant. Now if a man can breathe tolerably well through a rye-straw, it is a pity, if with a suitable provision, he cannot draw a plentiful supply from a salubrious atmosphere without, notwithstanding he occupies a small room. Some people bar and bolt their doors against fresh air without, as if every breeze was a thief, while they cherish robbers and thieves within. Now, although I do not intend to drive any one VENTILATION. 17? to extremes, yet a man had better sleep with his head out of one window, and his feet out of another, than in a poisoned atmosphere. The truth is, earth herself has not a room large enough for a single individual to inhabit, with an immunity from stagnation, without her system of ventilation by whirlwinds and refrigerants. And not only should every man imitate nature, and provide means for a free circulation through his entire dwelling, in which he spends at least one-third of his entire life, but those who build cities and towns, should lay out the streets in reference to venti- lation, as well as to other important objects. Long, straight streets running through an entire city, have the advantage of those which are short and curved. Now if any man considers this a matter of mere fancy, touching the importance of a sufficient circu- lation through our streets, or supposes that I have given this hint to add another page to the volume, let him go into any narrow confined street about twelve o'clock in dog-days, and take one good long snuff, and he will probably come to the conclusion that it is not extravagantly ventilated. Let our motto be, pure air, and plenty of it. Before dismissing the subject of Ventilation, I beg leave to quote a few paragraphs from " A Practical Treatise on Ventilation, by MorriU Wyman, M. Z).," one of the best works on this subject ever published. And first, to show the value of Ventilation, as illus- trated by an interesting experiment, he observes '* In a weaving-mill near Manchester, where the ventilation was bad. the proprietor caused a fan to be 178 VENTILATION. mounted. The consequence soon became apparent in a curious manner. The operatives, little remarkable for olfactory refinement, instead of thanking their em- ployer for his attention to their comfort and health, made a formal complaint to him that the ventilator had increased their appetite, and therefore entitled them to a corresponding increase of wages ! By stopping the fan a part of the day the ventilation and voracity of the establishment were brought to a medium standard, and complaints ceased. The operatives' wages would but just support them ; any additional demands by their stomachs could only be answered by draughts upon their backs which were by no means in a condition to answer them." Now while we are proud of our productions and privileges, let us thank a bountiful Providence for giving us a land that will not starve us into stagnation ! " Dr. Arnott relates a case of some lace-makers in Buckinghamshire, who, to the number of twenty or thirty, assembled in a small room in winter, and kept themselves warm by their breaths, that they might save fuel. The odor of the room, although unperceived by themselves, soon became to a stran- ger exceedingly offensive. They became pale, their health was broken, and some of them died. Although the cause of these results was so obvious to a well- informed observer, it was difficult to convince them of their folly." Ye, let us also think more than ever of our country, that it does not even freeze us into stag- nation. VENTILATION. 179 "A free change of air is one of the best preventives of taking cold, as it is called. When all the crevices are carefully closed, and the atmosphere becomes stagnant, we become susceptible to very slight changes, against which we cannot always guard. To protect ourselves from their injurious effects, experience has shown that the frequent renewal of the air is exceedingly important : and the more we accustom ourselves to it, the less susceptible do we become." This explains the reason why our mothers, at least our grand-mothers, were not such nervous, puny, fidgety shadows, as their descendants at the present day claim to be. They inhaled the pure una- dulterated atmosphere, which their open, airy houses, with cracks large enough to let the birds fly through, and mammoth chimneys abundantly furnished. Although it may not be good policy to ventilate our habitations in a similar way, yet ventilation or suffocation we must have ; and not a few choose the latter, to save the expense of a little extra fuel. Does any one say, I cannot afford to have a stream of pure air in cold weather, constantly rush- ing into my dwelling, while the warm air escapes ? Then let me ask, can you afford to die ? Settle this question first. But, if you should find that you have nothing more to do or suffer nothing more to gain or shun nothing more for which to live or die ; still the question returns, what right have you to shut out this vital agent, and poison the fountain of animal life with your own hand ? 180 VENTILATION. " Experiments have been made in a room pre- pared expressly for the purpose upon many persons, varying in number at each experiment, from three to two hundred and thirty-four, of every variety of constitution, and in the House of Commons every day of the Session for two years, and the results show that it was rare to meet with a person who was not sensible of the deterioration of the air when supplied with Jess than ten cubic feet per minute. In sultry weather it was always found that from twenty to sixty cubic feet were required to sustain a refreshing and agreeable atmosphere, when no artificial refrigeration was employed; and in the House of Commons, for three weeks successively, each member was supplied with sixty cubic feet per minute. " If we consider for a moment, that the lungs at each expiration are expelling a fluid, four per cent, of which is a deadly poison, tending rapidly to diffuse itself in the atmosphere : that this same poison is constantly exhaling from our skins ; that these or- gans, too, are yielding a quantity (twenty grains per minute) of aqueous vapor, increasing with the tempe- rature; we shall not be surprised, that in an ordinary ventilated room, we miss that refreshing influence a free and adequete supply of air alone can give. "We would not have it supposed that in our private houses, ten cubic feet of fresh air per minute should enter the room for each person in it. As we have just remarked, these rooms are not con- stantly occupied; they sometimes contain several thousand cubic feet, besides what must unavoidably VENTILATION. 181 enter on opening the doors or through the various crevices about the doors and windows. " In ventilating dwelling-houses, it is to be observed, 1st. "That each room, fifteen feet square, for the accommodation of six or eight individuals, should have a flue for the escape of foul air, either in the chimney or elsewhere, of at least one hundred inches area. A bed-room should have an outlet of nearly the same dimensions. 2nd. " An inlet for fresh air should be provided for each room and bed-room. 3rd. " That fresh air in winter should always be moderately warmed before it is introduced into apartments. 4th. " That all apertures for the admission or exit of air should be provided with valves. 5th. " In summer nearly all the ventilation will be produced by the opening of doors and widows." "In apartments warmed by an open fire, the smoke- flue should be considered as the ventilating-fl ue." In such rooms as have no fire-places, other provision, should be made, and, for all practical purposes, the upper sash (where both are moveable) may be let down a very little from the top. But in a cold frosty night, I think the reader will hardly tolerate an opening three inches wide, which in an ordinary window would give about the above named area, vi/., one hundred inches. Nay, a crack half an inch will be abundantly sufficient under such circum- stances, with an adequate opening under the bottom of the door, or some other suitable place for the ad- 182 VENTILATION. mission of fresh air. But in warm weather, the case will be entirely different. As to warming the air before it is introduced into the several apartments in our dwellings, it will frequently be inconvenient. Those who warm their houses with heated air from furnaces, can do it very effectually. The same excellent work speaks of accomplishing the same thing to some extent, where an ordinary fire is used, by having a double back to the fire-place, with an air chamber between the two, communicating with the room, to be warmed and supplied with air from without.. This, I believe, if properly constructed, is an excellent arrangement ; for it will not only modify the temperature and thus prevent an unpleasant draught of cold air in the room, but will actually conduct more heat, than will radiate from the back of an ordinary fire-place. He also speaks of doing very much the same thing where stoves are used, by having air-pipes pass through them, &c. &c. But as I designed the few brief remarks which I proposed to offer on the subject of ventilation, merely to stimulate the reader to open his mouth a little wider, and breathe a little faster, or at least a better atmosphere, I will leave him to do it in his own way, and on his own hook ; while I proceed to redeem my pledge, touching the hygromeric state of the air in our dwellings in cold weather, and notice the defi- ciency of moisture both within and without, through- out all cold countries. IMPORTANCE OF ARTIFICIAL MOISTURE. Many complain of stoves on account of their diminishing the moisture in the air. This is altoge- ther a wrong conclusion, unless they mean that warm air is more drying than cold air. This we admit, and if they raise the temperature 10 higher when they burn their fuel in a stove, than when they use an open fire-place, the drying power is of course 10 greater, and this increased tem- perature constitutes all the difference, whatever be the source of caloric. Others lay great stress on fuel, as though certain combustibles have a tendency to modify the dryness of the air, no matter where they are consumed. This is another erroneous opinion, for there is no difference in combustibles, in this respect, except that which has already been pointed out in speaking of the influence of stoves. That the air is too dry, we frankly admit. But the difficulty begins without. It is too dry before it enters our dwellings. It has all the moisture after it enters your abode that it had before, and might contain far more within a rediiot stove, than it is possible for it to contain in the centre of an iceberg. So that neither the stove, grate, furnace, nor fuel affect the actual moisture in the air in the slightest degree, and only modify the drying power of the atmosphere as its temperature is increased or dimi- nished. Let there be as much moisture in the air. in winter, as it sometimes contains in summer, and we may have anthracite in our grates, turpentine in our 184 IMPORTANCE OP ARTIFICIAL MOISTURE. furnaces, and brimstone in our stoves, and yet if it is not too warm for comfort, we shall see the water trickling down our walls, and our sheets damp enough for Priessnitz, and all his followers. But this can never occur in cold weather without artifi- cial vapor. When cool weather first begins in the fall, we are very apt to suppose the air to be more damp than it was in summer ; whereas it always contains less moisture, instead of more, and the deficiency contin- ually increases as the temperature becomes lower. Yet, so far as certain effects are concerned, it may be said to be as damp as at other seasons, when twice as much moisture is present. We must always bear in mind that the capacity of the air for moisture is in proportion to its temperature. This is illustrated in the case of fog, which occurs in the region of large bodies of water, when the atmosphere becomes suddenly cooler than the water, and is most frequent early in the fall, during the night. The atmosphere at a given temperature can hold a given amount of insensible vapor, and no more ; so that if the equilibrium be disturbed by an increase of vapor, or a deficiency of caloric, the result is the same. The excess falls to the earth in dew, fog, rain, snow, &c. Now, suppose the temperature of the river to be 50, and that of the air but 40, it will be easy to see that with such a degree of heat, the water will throw off more vapor than the atmosphere can hold, and the consequence is, a portion is necessarily con- densed. The same effect is produced in boiling the IMPORTANCE OP ARTIFICIAL MOISTURE. 185 tea-kettle. The instant that the vapor rushes out into an atmosphere below 212 (Fah.) it becomes condensed. But let the same amount of sleam pass into a red hot flame, and it will appear as if there were no moisture there. And yet it is there, and not a particle of it destroyed, and if after passing through the flame it be conducted through a pipe surrounded with ice- water, the fluid will quickly appear. That point where the moisture of the air first be- comes visible, is called the "dew-point? and is gene- rally several degrees below the temperature, whatever that may be, and never above it. Consequently, whenever the temperature is down to freezing point (32), we know at once that the amount of moisture in the air must be small. It occasionall3 r happens that the temperature and the dew-point meet at the same degree, and the air is then said to be saturated. At such a time all evaporation ceases from all wet substances, no matter what the temperature may be, whether it is as cold as Greenland, or as hot as an oven. But fortunately for us, this seldom continues long. And as the dew-point is usually below the temperature, no matter how cold, evaporation still continues, and wet clothes hung out in a cold day, will frequently dry as quickly as in a suffocating atmosphere of " dog-days." It is well known that ice evaporates, and it is said in the work on Ventila- tion, to which I have already alluded, that an acre of snow exposed to a smart breeze, will lose in " one night about one thousand gallons of water." But I 186 IMPORTANCE OP ARTIFICIAL MOISTURE. think the air thus sweeping over the snow, would require to be pretty dry to produce such a result. Now, to satisfy the reader that the air in cold weather, in our climate, is altogether too dry for health, I will briefly advert to a small part of the testimony which might be brought to bear upon this point. But how much drying power should the air \vhich we breathe possess ? In other words, what is a healthful standard of humidity ? I believe this question has never been perfectly settled, neither has it received the attention which it deserves. The climate of Washington is generally considered salubrious; and in the year 1840, during the months of June, July, August, and September, from 9, A. M. to 3, P. M., the average temperature and dew-point were found to be as follows : Temperature, 74 , dew-point, 68 ; difference, or drying-power only 6 .* This we may consider a very high dew-point, and probably exceeds the record of any other year, if not of every other place in our country. But I am not aware that this was a sickly season at Washington, and as I have statistics before me which show conclusively that this very year at Baltimore, a distance of only thirty-eight miles from the former place, was more healthful than any year from 1836 to 1848, I suppose that I shall hardly be considered extravagant when T fix the standard at 18. This would be giving the air three times the " The within mode of expressing the drying power of the air, has been adopted, supposing tint the general reader would under stand it better than one more strictly scientific. IMPORTANCE OF ARTIFICIAL MOISTURE. 187 drying power that it possessed in Washington. And will any one contend that it should have more? Now we see that nature warmed up the atmos- phere to 74, and raised the dew-point to 68, mak- ing the difference but 6, and if we raise the tempe- rature in our dwellings in winter to 70, and do not raise the dew-point to at least 50, one would be inclined to suppose that we either do not wish to imitate nature, or that we do not know how. But I hesitate not to say, that not a single dwel- ling can be found in this city, (Xew- York,) and I will include all our sister cities at the North, that has such an atmosphere in winter. And we suffer in consequence of it. Why are the English people so proverbial for their plump bodies and ruddy faces? Very much because they are not Kiln-dried! I have no doubt that the favorable hygrometric state of their atmosphere in winter, contributes largely to their advantage over us poor withered Yankees. And if we would avoid a dry hacking cough, an irritable nervous system, deranged secretions, con- stant head-ache, torpid bowels, morbid appetite, and fretful temper, we must make up by artificial eva- poration, the moisture naturally lacking in our win- try atmosphere. Otherwise we must be content to wear a dry skin, rough enough for a nutmeg-grater, over a real living, lank, American Mummy ! But what is the difference in favor of England, per- haps the reader may ask ? The mean dew-point in England from the first of November to the last of 188 IMPORTANCE OF ARTIFICIAL MOISTURE. March is about 35. Whereas, in our Northern States, taking Albany for a type, it is about 17. Now we must bear in mind, that as we increase the temperature of the air, we increase its affinity for moisture. The dew-point in London, being 35, and the temperature of their houses, being 70, would give them even an atmosphere of great drying power, but how would it stand at Albany ? Instead of being 6 as in the summer of 1840 at Washington, or even 35 as found iri England, we perceive it to be 53! Now we can hardly expect so great a contrast, without unpleasant effects. These we see and feel. We see it in the warping, shrinking, and cracking of our furniture, and in its shrivelling, withering influ- ence on our green-house plants. It will be remem- bered, that our furniture always suffers most in win- ter, and its injury is usually attributed to heat. Whereas, the temperature is always higher in the summer. Our own sensations, to which I have already hinted, also bear testimony to the excessive drying power of the air in our dwellings during the cold season. When the dew-point is above 32, it is very easy to ascertain the hygrometric condition of the air in a very few minutes with a glass of water, a little ice, and a thermometer. Add the ice, a little at a time, and carefully watch for the first appearance of dew on the outside of the glass, and when this is visible, look at your thermometer which must be in the wa- ter, and the dew-point will be obvious. But when you have no provision for artificial moisture within, aad with a temperature below freez- IMPORTANCE OF ARTIFICIAL MOISTURE. 189 ing point without, your glass of ice- water may stand on your table from morning till night, and remain on the outside as dry as a tinder-box. In other words, you will find the dew-point in your parlor, nay in your oven, red hot, just where it is in the street ; and when it freezes without, and you have a temperature of 70 within, you may always know, without any hygrometer, that the drying power is 40 or 50, which is more than twice as much as it should be for health and comfort. I have been more particular to explain this mat- ter, because of an erroneous opinion which has long prevailed, and among many too who ought to know better. EVAPORATOR. The question may now be asked, how shall we modify the air in our apartments, to a healthful standard of humidity, while it is too dry without? This is indeed a subject of more importance than many seem willing to believe. And I would invite the man who is at all skeptical, to visit a well-con- structed Green-House, if convenient for him to do so, and there spend an hour or two on a cold day in ; . mid-winter, in the refreshing, balmy air of such a delightful resort. It is sometimes said that the pecu- liarly agreeable state of the atmosphere in such a place, is all owing to an extra supply of oxygen which the plants throw off in breathing. But it is easy for 1 any one to satisfy himself that this is a mistake, by visiting said place in the evening; for it is well 190 IMPORTANCE OF ARTIFICIAL MOISTURE. known that plants then absorb oxygen and exhale carbonic .acid gas. To render the air agreeable, we are often directed to put some metallic vessel containing water upon the top of a stove. But this does not amount to a drop in the bucket. I have an evaporator attached to my office stove, viz. a copper boiler which reaches down into the stove about four inches. This will evaporate from two to three gallons per day, when the weather is sufficiently cold to require a brisk fire. And yet, with all this evaporation for a single room, I have found the dew-point at 40 when the tempe- rature without was only down to the freezing point. This gave me the drying power of 30, the tempe- rature within being 70, and without this artificial moisture, it would probably have been 50. An apparatus better calculated to effect the desired object than a pan set upon the top of a stove, is, an evaporator which is now usually attached to a fur- nace. Still, this generally comes short of meeting the demand, though it might easily be so constructed as to give us the bland atmosphere of June. The difficulty, however, lies in the fact, that the public is not aware of more than half the truth on this important subject. The amount of artificial moisture required, will be modified by the state of the atmosphere without, as it contains much more moisture in a mild day, than when the temperature is low, and varies more or less while the thermom- eter is stationary ; and in places situated near large bodies of water, the direction of the wind has IMPORTANCE OF ARTIFICIAL MOISTURE. 191 an important influence in modifying the humidity of the atmosphere. Should any one be fearful of having too much moisture, the question is easily settled. Turn your eye to the window, and if it is cold enough without to freeze, and you have half as much moisture within as you ought to have, you will see it coming down on the glass in showers, unless you have dou- ble windows, just what every body should have. When you see no such effect produced on the glass of sin- gle windows, at any time when it is cold enough to have a brisk fire, put on the steam. I need not tell you how to do this, for it can hardly be expected, that in this steaming age, artists have not tact enough to give you a little vapor. Don't let them cheat you out of it I 9 LONGEVITY. Most men when about to make choice of a vocation for life, either for themselves, or for their sons, keep prominently before the mind two questions, viz.: In pursuing this business, will it command honor and respect, and, above all, will it lead to wealth ? But more important questions than these, can and should be settled first. What will be the probabilities of health and life, of happiness and usefulness in prosecuting this calling! Here are weighty consider- ations which should be carefully revolved in every parent's mind. In importance they infinitely trans- cend all possible success in getting gold. It should never be forgotten, that a man's occupa- tion affects him more or less, physically, mentally, and morally. But its effects upon the body and the mind, may be more appropriately noticed on the present occasion, yet, as has already been shown, even morals have more influence over health than many seem to suppose. But it may be said, that all the important avoca- tions of life must be sustained and filled, though some are less healthful than others, both to body and mind. This is true, but it does not follow that pa- rents should crowd their sons into such professions and pursuits, as are known to be more prejudicial to health than many others, simply because such pur- suits are considered honorable, while, at the same time, these posts are already occupied by more men than can thus earn their bread. This very circum- LONGEVITY. 193 stance is sufficient to render the pursuit insalubrious. But, after all, is it more honorable to wield a lancet, than to swing an axe to tie an artery, than to build an engine to prepare a brief, than to prevent a fa- mine, to secure the acquittal of a villain, than to construct a prison for the safety of the innocent ? Although the opinion that the human constitution formerly possessed more vigor than it does at the pre- sent day, generally prevails, and may to some extent be correct, yet the chances now for life, contrast so favorably with centuries past, that it is interesting to compare the bills of mortality of different periods. Accordingly I have thought proper to collect a few brief statistics, hoping to interest the reader, while the writer is happy to acknowledge his indebtedness to Drs.. A. W. White, City Inspector, J. M. Smith and H. D. Bulkley, of New-York ; C. W. Parsons, Provi- dence, R. I. ; G. Emerson, Philadelphia, Pa. ; and C. B. Coventry, Utica, N. Y. for their kind assistance. ** Without going back to more ancient periods, we may affirm, that within the last century particu- larly, the value of life has gone on progressively, and rapidly improving. The experience of the United States would, we are satisfied, exhibit the truth of this assertion, were the requisite data attainable." (Dunglisorfs Human Health, p. 117.) Some facts may be presented to show that the Professor's opinion, in relation to our own country, is not strictly correct, as respects certain locations. But we are greatly in want of information respecting the proportion of deaths throughout the United States. The state of Massachusetts has thus far taken the lead 194 LONGEVITY. in this important matter. In the old world, however, more has been done to collect statistics, and the changes in favor of longevity in many parts are of the most gratifying character. The writer, just quoted, says, " The annual mortality of London in 1 700, was 1 in 25; in 1751, 1 in 21 ; in 1801, and the four years preceding, 1 in 35; in 1811, 1 in 38; in 1821, 1 in 40 : the value of life having doubled in Lon- don within the last eighty years. " In Paris, about the middle of the last century, the mortality was 1 in 25 ; a few years ago, about 1 in 32 ; and it has been estimated that in the four- teenth century it was 1 in 16 or 17." "At Geneva, good bills of mortality have been kept since 1549, and the results are in the highest degree gratifying to the philanthropist. It seems, that at the time of the reformation, half the children born, did not reach six years of age. In the seventeenth century the probability of life was about 1 1 J years ; in the eighteenth century it increased to above twen- ty-seven years. The probability of life to a citizen of Geneva has consequently become five times greater in the space of about three hundred years." The following table, says Dr. Dunglison, has been formed by Mr. Edward Maltet, from the Genevese Registers : LONGEVITY. 195 Probabilities of life, were to every individual born towards the close of the 16th Century, 17th " 1701 to 1750, 1750 to 1SOO, 1SOO to 1813, 1814 to 1833, YEARS. MONTHS. DATS. 8 13 27 31 40 45 7 3 9 3 8 26 16 13 5 29 From this gratifying representation, the reader will almost expect the days of "Methuselah" to re- turn, but eight years later, the same writer has put down the probabilities of life at forty- three instead of forty-five years in Geneva. Let us now turn our attention for a moment to our own country. In a very valuable paper by Dr. J. Curtis, published in the u Transactions of .the American Medical Association," we find the average age of all whose deaths are re- corded in the following places to be as follows : 1842, 34 years and 9 months. " 10 " 20 41 with shopkeepers,) ) Mechanics, laborers, and their families,.... 17 38 With the exception of the first class, the difference is more than 2 to 1, but as Manchester and Rutland- shire are so far from our own domicils, that their bills of mortality produce little or no effect upon our faith or works, we will again leave the old world to adopt such habits of living as may there be thought LONGEVITY. 201 ________________ _ ^__ ^ __ __ _ _ advisable, and see what we can find at fawie, in fa- vor of rural life. The average duration of life in Franklin county, Massachusetts, in the valley of the Connecticut River, as shown by Dr. Curtis, is about 39 years, while in the city of Boston it is but 22.75. This gives a dif- ference of 70 per cent, in favor of the country dis- trict, or an average addition of 16 years for each individual. Hence the question stands, whether it is better to live twenty-three years in Boston, than to live thirty-nine years in the valley of the Connecticut. Now the reader must not forget to make much allow- ance for that tide of immigration which is rolling in upon our shores, whose waves swell the " ghastly bills of mortality" vastly more in our large cities than in the country. The average age of those buried in Catho- lic burying-grounds in Boston is but 1 3 J years ! Still it cannot be denied that the difference in sa- lubrity between civic and rural life, is greatly in favor of the latter. Some people are very unwilling to believe this, or if they are thoroughly convinced of the fact, prefer clinging to the city, though they do not live out half their days ! I do not mean to say that men cannot live to a good old age even in the city. With proper care, many can, and do. But the chances are, I believe, as I have stated. Especially in hot weather, and a crowded city, do people run a greater risk of losing their health, than in the win- ter. It is often said that those who leave the city for the summer, are as liable to disease, as those who remain. That many who thus leave are frequently 202 LONGEVITY. on the sicj: Kst, cannot be denied ; and that others escape, is somewhat remarkable, for many seem to suppose that if they can only get to the country, the particular ground on which they tread, and the air which they are permitted to breathe, ought to atone for every error which they can well commit. But let the inhabitants of our goodly cities, in leaving town for their health, take a wise course to aid na- ture in her work of reparation, and if they do not return with better health, and happier hearts, and brighter heads, and ruddier faces, and prettier chil- dren, and fatter babies, the author is no prophet. But I desire to have the reader keep in mind one practical thought, viz. : that we can have far better health than we have, and see more days, both in town, and out, if we will. It is quite time that some- thing more was done to promote the health of our race. " The United States may be considered," says a writer, " as a country in which no legislative enact- ments exist, regulating its sanitary condition, for, with the exception of some municipal regulations, forced from the necessity of circumstances upon the large cities, and a few of the first steps of legislation in one or two of the States of the Union, each indi- vidual is permitted to exercise his own free will in regard to hygienic measures, too frequently either from ignorance of its laws, or cupidity, at the expense of great sacrifices of human life." Dr. Guy, of Kings College, London, &c., says, <*I do not fear the charge of exaggeration, when I claim for the sanitary question, the right to be regarded TUP, LONGEVITY. 203 great question of the day. Look at it as a question of humanity, and it will not suffer by comparison with the highest efforts of the philanthropist ; regard it as a great act of Justice, and here, too, you will acknowledge it prefers peculiar claims to considera- tion ; measure it by the rule of economy, and I hesi- tate not to affirm that it stands without a rival ; or view it in its moral relations and reactions, and I know not whether even the great question of edu- cation will take rank before it." (Transactions of the American Med. Association, Vol. 11, p. 534. The three following tables show the influence of age on mortality. The proportion of deaths at different periods of life in London has been stated as follows : Of 23.525 deaths there were Under 2 years 6.710 Between 2 and 5 2.347 " 5 and 10 1.019 " 10 and 20 949 ' 20 and 30 1.563 " 30 and 40 1.902 " 40 and 50 2.093 50 and 60 2.094 60 and 70 2.153 " 70 and 80 1.843 80 and 90 749 " 90 andlOO 95 101 1 108.... 2 or 28.32 per cent. " 9.97 " 4.33 " 4.03 ' 6.64 8. OS 8.89 8.89 9.15 7.83 3.18 0.40 " 0.0042 " O.OOS4 The following table exhibits the average propor- tion of deaths at different ages, compared with the total number of deaths in the cities of Philadelphia and Baltimore ; the former city embracing a period of 204 LONGEVITY. ten 3'ears, and the latter four years, between 1820 and 1330. Ages. Philadelphia. Per Cent. Under 1 year From 1 to 2 22.7 8.6 te 2 5 7.3 5 " 10 4. c< 10 20 5. ts 20 30 12. ft 30 " 40 12. 40 e 50 10. 50 60 7.2 <( 60 " 70 5. 70 " 80 3.5 < 80 " 90 1.9 ' 90 " 100 0.5 100 " 110 0.9 C( 110 " 120 0.013 Baltimore. Per Cent. ...24.11 ... 8.55 ...11.18 ...5. ... 6. 3 ... 9.87 ...10.58 ... 8.88 ... 5.78 ... 4. 5 ...3. ... 1.67 ... 0.26 ,. 0.18 In Manchester the proportion of deaths under 5 years is about 50 per cent " London, " " " 3S " " Massachusetts, (state,) " " 34 c? From Del. B. to Savan 271 ,.-, 32 :: 155 126 27 370 181 3. Southwestern Stations. 290 .- 52 ; 597 112 25 747 ISO 4. e ( Posts on the lower Mis. Posts in Florida. 218 43 .'2 16 2- j inn 195 90 119 66 18 .is.-, ion 5-20102 13. .7 LONGEVITY. 21 7 The above table contains statistics highly interesting to the medical philosopher, and all others. Contrary to common opinion we perceive that consumption actiuilly prevails more at the south than it does at the north, while it falls the most heavily upon the inhabitants of the middle division. But this is not all. It is an interesting fact to see how little influ- ence colds have, in producing consumption. A per- son suffering with this disease, can hardly be found who does not attribute the attack to such a cause. It is the almost universal impression that colds lead to consumption, and an erroneous one undoubtedly ; that is, in the sense in which it is understood. If an individual has a consumptive diathesis, or strong pre- disposition to this scourge of our race, with more or ubercles in the lungs in a latent state, a cold may, and does frequently cause the germs to sprout, and the disease to be rapidly developed ; and so may any other malady do the same thing. Inflammation of the lungs often does it, and fevers far more fre- quently than colds, although we hear little complaint from this source. INTERESTING COMPARISONS. Now turn your eye to the table, and you will see as in a mirror, the subject presented in a clear light. In that section of the northern division of the United States which is remote from the ocean and inland seas, we find reported 552 cases of colds and influ- enza to each 1000 men, while the number of con- sumptives on the list is but 5. Again, turn your eye to that portion of the middle 218 LONGEVITY. division from Delaware Bay to Savannah, and you behold at once, that catarrhal affections, or colds, have diminished to the number of 271, whereas the cases of consumption have increased to 13. In this division, we find colds a little less than half as fre- quent as in the other division, while consumption is increased nearly three-fold. This may be consider- ed a remarkable fact. Moreover on the New Eng- land coast in the northern division, we find the cases of colds reported, to be less than half as numerous as those noticed in another section of this division, and yet consumption is nearly twice as frequent. But a safer criterion will be found in the compari- son of the entire northern with the southern and mid- dle divisions, which stands as follows : The average number of colds and influenza (another name for colds) is for the northern, 362 ; for the southern and middle divisions, 255. The average ratio of con- sumptive cases for the former section, is 7|, and for the latter 10$. TWO QUESTIONS SETTLED. These facts seem to settle two important questions viz. : that colds have little to do in producing consump- tion, as to being the prime cause, and, that this dis- ease is obviously more fatal in the southern than in the northern portions of our country. Yet bronchitis, as before remarked, and many throat affections, are often greatly relieved or entirely cured, by a resi- dence in a warm climate during the cold season. But I remarked that fevers more frequently than colds, develop consumption. Now, if this is a true statement, we ought to find consumption the most fre- LONGEVITY. 219 quent where fevers most prevail, as we have already found it most unfrequent where colds most prevail ; and this we find to be the fact, notwithstanding the long defended doctrine, that a malarial region is the proper residence for a consumptive patient. Of the four different forms of fever named in the last table, we find the average number of cases to be for the North and the South respectively as follows : For the former, 192 per 1000 men; while the list of the latter is found to embrace the enormous number of 708. And this, it will be remembered, does not in- clude yellow-fever, which every one knows to be almost exclusively confined to the South. We further find the average number of cases of diarrhoea and dysentery in the southern and middle districts to be, 500 per 1000 men; w r hereas, in the northern division, the number is but 243. Hence we may safely infer that, whatever tends to impair the constitution, tends to develop consumption in every class who are predisposed, and in all climates and countries. This view of the subject ought to stimulate all to religiously adopt such measures, select such pur- suits, choose such climates, and practice such habits, as seem best adapted to secure a vigorous constitu- tion. There are several other points of interests in the foregoing table which might be examined with pro- fit, did time permit. It is somewhat surprising to find that there are more cases of rheumatism report- ed at Key West, than on the New Engand Coast, inasmuch as this disease has generally been consi- 220 LONGEVITY. dered as the very offspring of cold and moist cli- mates. Persons afflicted with this complaint, do often find great relief in visiting a mild climate, but they generally return to be more affected than ever. And, indeed, some who never suspected any danger from this form of disease previous to a residence in a warm climate, find themselves peculiarly obnoxious to an attack on returning. Such was the case with the author of the work from which I have drawn so many interesting facts. The following table exhibits the ratio of mortality in the armies of different nations. Per Cent, United States Troops Northern Division, < *< Middle and Southern Divisions, European Troops in the East Indies, - Native Troops in Madras, - French Army on the Home Station, - Prussian Army, ------ British Troops serving at home, - British Troops in the West Indies (White), (Colored), - " in the Bermudas, - " Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, - " Canada, New Foundiand, - " Gibralter, " * Malta, Ionian Islands, at Ceylon, - Mauritius, - Cape of Good Hope, - at Bombay, - - - - at, Madras, - New South Wales, - Australian Colonies, - Western Coast of Africa, - 1.5 4.2 5.7 1.4 2.0 1.1 1 7 9.5 3-8 2.9 1.4 1.5 3.3 2.1 1.1 2 4 4.3 3.5 1.8 3.8 5.2 1.4 1.4 40.0 LONGEVITY. . 221 TABLE OP AXXUAL DEATHS IX XEYP-YORK. d 1 .2 "5 o +s c, u ~_, Ci 1 1* I 2,297 75,770 1 in 35 4,734 2,174 202,589 I in 39 5,991 ISO 1 ,9-50 'J.975 5,354 ChoPa. 96,373 1 in 46 6,bOS Chora. 270,069.1 in 41 -172 7,503 2,207 100,619 1 in 42 7,314 312,710 1 in 40 184! 123,700 lin 37 154--) 371,223 I in 33 3,026 10,079 1^ 1" 14,441 fir 1? ly. t 1 /? 1 iGG,nsc 1 in 34 1849 23,77;. I in 19 Chol'a. t ,u i i 1,890 190,67(i ,S43 71,518 Total 2G2,19i It is interesting to observe in, the above table, that the ratio of deaths at the last census (1845) is the mean mortality of the nine preceding quinquennial periods, viz.: 1 in 38. During the period which the table enbraces, more than three times as many inhabi- have died as the city contained in thft year 1805, and nearly as many as the whole town embraced in 1835. But notwitli ; that wo have L more inhabitants within this short period than any other city in the Union now contains, with one 222 LONGEVITY. exception, yet it is interesting to observe the con- tinued and rapid growth of the Metropolis. It is, however, a melancholy reflection to call to mind, that many of our fellow-citizens, beyond the shadow of a doubt, might now be with us, rejoicing in health, and in the prosperity of our city, (who now have no part in all that pertains to time,) if proper attention had been paid to sanitary measures. The importance of this subject deeply affects the physician, who would gladly induce the living to awake and banish those pestiferous agents which call so loudly and so fre- quently for drugs and doctors, shrouds and coffins. But what can he do, if the multitude sleep on and give no heed to his counsels ? To see my neighbor's house on fire, while all with- in remain in a sound sleep, and refuse to give the alarm, would be to exhibit the spirit of a demon. But what better spirit would that father exhibit, who, after being warned, would deliberately let his chil- dren perish in the flames, without an effort to save them? TOO DILATORY. So when the community are warned of their dan- ger when the city and state authorities are conjured to act the part of safety and wisdom when means and measures are pointed out which cannot be neg- lected with impunity, and when fatal consequences, of inattention and delay, so frequently overwhelm perishing immortals, the conclusion is naturally forced upon us, that something, yea, much, is wrong ! that nothing less than criminal indifference lie? at the doors LONGEVITY; 223 of those who are clothed with authority to banish those dens of filth and sources of pestilence, which so often convert a town or portion thereof, into a pest- house, while these guardians of health perhaps move on with as much unconcern, as though the edict had never gone forth, " Dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return." SANITARY COMMITTEE. But let not the reader for a moment suppose that this matter of self-preservation belongs exclusively to doctors, or jurors, or boards of health, or corporations, or state authorities but to his own conscience and to community, must every one account for the amount of effort which he has put forth for his own, or his neighbor's weal or woe. It is time that fathers and mothers fully realize that they are largely responsi- ble for the health of their children. Let parents re- member that they are expected to constitute a " sani- tary committee? for each household. " In the very able Report of the Hon. Horace Mann, as Secretary of the Board of Education, in 1843, the Hon. Secretary says, '* The study of the laws of life and hygiene, or the rules and observances by which health can be preserved and promoted, has claims so superior to every other ; and, at the same time, so little regarded or understood by the community, that I shall ask the indulgence of the board, while I en- deavor to vindicate its title to the first rank in our schools, after the elementary branches ;" and this he tloes in a very eloquent and convincing manner. Here he aims at a most important principle, that of 10* 224 LONGEVITY. teaching our children and youth those essential mat- ters, which, if observed, will prevent much sickness, enlarge capacities for happiness and usefulness, and prolong life. " The cardinal reason why the laws of health and life are so little regarded at present, is found in the great prevalence of an ignorance of them through- out the community, or, as the writer above quoted has it, " Sheer ignorance of facts and principles which every parent, b