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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/18376.txt b/18376.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..c866863 --- /dev/null +++ b/18376.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1639 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of A Lecture on the Preservation of Health, by +Thomas Garnett, M.D. + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: A Lecture on the Preservation of Health + +Author: Thomas Garnett, M.D. + +Release Date: May 11, 2006 [EBook #18376] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LECTURE ON HEALTH *** + + + + +Produced by R. L. Garnett + + + + +A LECTURE +ON THE +PRESERVATION +OF +_HEALTH_. + +BY T. GARNETT, M.D. +Professor of Natural Philosophy and Chemistry in the +Royal Institution of Great Britain &c. + +SECOND EDITION. + +[Figure] + + Such the reward of rude and sober life; + Of labour such. By _health_ the peasant's toil + Is well repaid; if _exercise_ were pain + Indeed, and _temperance_ pain. _Armstrong_. + + +_LONDON_: +PRINTED FOR T. CADELL, JUNIOR, AND +W. DAVIES, STRAND. 1800. +(R. NOBLE, Printer, Old Bailey.) + +_To ERASMUS DARWIN, M.D._ + +_Dear Sir,_ + +_THE first edition of this pamphlet having been introduced to the +world under the sanction of your name, I take the liberty of +prefixing it to the second; and am happy in having another public +opportunity of expressing my thanks for the high gratification and +instruction which I have received from the perusal of your medical +and philosophical works._ + +_I am,_ +_Dear Sir,_ +_With much esteem,_ +_Your very obedient servant,_ + +_THO. GARNETT._ + +_Royal Institution,_ +_April 8th, 1800._ + +_PREFACE._ + +_Most medical gentlemen will, it is supposed, agree that the greater +part of the numerous train of diseases to which their patients are +subject, have been brought on by improper conduct and imprudence. +That this conduct often proceeds from ignorance of its bad effects, +may be presumed; for though it cannot be denied that some persons +are perfectly regardless with respect to their health, yet the great +mass of mankind are too sensible of the enjoyment and loss of this +greatest of blessings, to run headlong into danger with their eyes +open._ + +_It was with the hope of making the laws of life more generally +known, and better understood, and from thence deducing such rules +for the preservation of health, as would be evident to every +capacity, that the author was induced to deliver this lecture. It +has been honoured with the attention of numerous audiences, in some +of the most populous towns in England, where it has generally been +read for the benefit of charitable institutions._ + +_The author flatters himself, that besides the benefit produced by +his humble endeavours to serve these institutions, those endeavours +have not totally failed in the grand object of preserving health; +and with the hope that the influence of the precepts here given, may +be farther extended, he has concurred in the ideas of those who have +advised the publication of this lecture._ + +_It is to be feared, that notwithstanding all which can be done, +disease will continue to be a heavy tax, which civilized society +must pay for its comforts; and the valetudinarian will often be +tempted to envy the savage the strength and soundness of his +constitution. Much however may be done towards the prevention of a +number of diseases. If this lecture should contribute to the +attainment of so desirable an end, it will afford the highest +gratification to the author._ + +_The first part of the lecture is the substance of an essay which was +read by the author before the Royal Medical Society of Edinburgh, +intended as a defence of the general principles of the system of Dr. +Brown, whose pupil he then was. It was, according to custom, +transcribed into the books of the society, and the public have now +an opportunity of judging how far Dr. Girtanner, in his first +essay published in the Journal de Physique, about two years after, +in which he gives the theory as his own, without the least +acknowledgment to the much injured and unfortunate author of the_ +Elementa Medicinae, _has borrowed from this essay._ + +_In public lectures, novelty is not to be expected, the principal +object of the lecturer being to place in a proper point of view, +what has been before discovered. The author has therefore freely +availed himself of the labours of others, particularly of the +popular publications of Dr. Beddoes, which he takes this opportunity +of acknowledging._ + +_This lecture is published almost_ verbatim _as it was delivered. On +this account the experiments mentioned are not minutely described, +the reader being supposed to see them performed._ + +* * * * * + +A LECTURE, +&c. + +THE greatest blessing we enjoy is health, without it, wealth, +honors, and every other consideration, would be insipid, and even +irksome; the preservation of this state therefore, naturally +concerns us all. In this lecture, I shall not attempt to teach you +to become your own physicians, for when the barriers of health are +once broken down, and disease has established itself, it requires +the deepest attention, and an accurate acquaintance with the +extensive science of medicine, to combat it; to attain this +knowledge demands the labour of years. But, a majority of the +diseases to which we are subject, are the effects of our own +ignorance or imprudence, and it is often very easy to prevent them; +mere precepts however, have seldom much effect, unless the reasoning +upon them be rendered evident; on this account, I shall first +endeavour, in as plain and easy a manner as possible, to explain to +you the laws by which life is governed; and when we see in what +health consists, we shall be better enabled to take such methods as +may preserve it. Health is the easy and pleasant exercise of all the +functions of the body and mind; and disease consists in the uneasy +and disproportioned exercise of all, or some of the functions. + +When dead matter acts upon dead matter, the only effects we perceive +are mechanical, or chemical; for though there may appear to be other +kinds of attraction, or repulsion, such as electric and magnetic, +yet these come under the head of mechanical attraction, as producing +motion; we may therefore lay it down as a law, that when dead, or +inanimate bodies act upon each other, no other than mechanical, or +chemical effects are produced; that is, either motion, or the +decomposition, and new combination of their parts. If one ball +strike another, it communicates to it a certain quantity of motion, +this is called mechanical action; and if a quantity of salt, or +sugar, be put into water, the particles of the salt or sugar will +separate from each other, and join themselves to the particles of +the water; the salt and water in these instances, are said to act on +each other chemically; and in all cases whatever, in which +inanimate, or dead bodies act on each other, the effects produced +are, motion, or chemical attraction. + +But, when dead matter acts on those bodies which we call living, the +effects are much different; let us take for example a very simple +instance.--Snakes, at least some species of them, pass the winter in +a torpid state, which has all the appearance of death; now heat, if +applied to dead matter, will only produce motion, or chemical +combination; but if it be applied to the snake, let us see what will +be the consequence; the reptile first begins to move, and opens its +eyes and mouth; when the heat has been applied for some time, it +crawls about in search of food, and performs all the functions of +life. Here then, dead matter, when applied to a living body, +produces living functions; for if the heat had not been applied, the +snake would have continued senseless, and apparently lifeless. In +more perfect animals, the effects produced by the action of dead +matter on them, are more numerous, and are different in different +living systems, but are in general the following--sense and motion +in almost all animals, and in many the power of thinking, and other +affections of the mind. The powers, or dead matters, which are +applied, and which produce these functions, are chiefly, heat, food, +and air. The proof that these powers do produce the living +functions, is in my opinion a very convincing one, namely, that when +their actions are suspended, the living functions cease; take away, +for instance, heat, air, and food from animals, and they soon become +dead matter, and it is not necessary that an animal should be +deprived of all these to put a stop to the living functions; if any +one of them be taken away, the body sooner or later becomes dead +matter: it is found by experience, that if a man be deprived of air, +he dies in about three or four minutes; for instance, if he be +immersed under water; if he be deprived of heat, or in other words, +exposed to a very severe degree of cold, he likewise soon dies; or +if he be deprived of food, his death is equally certain, though more +slow. It is sufficiently evident then, that the living functions are +owing to the action of these external powers upon the body. What I +have here said, is not confined to animals, but the living functions +of vegetables are likewise caused by the action of dead matter upon +them. The dead matters, which by their action produce these +functions, are principally heat, moisture, light, and air. It +clearly follows therefore, from what I have said, that living bodies +must have some property different from dead matter, which renders +them capable of being acted upon by these external powers, so as to +produce the living functions; for if they had not, the only effects +which these powers could produce, would be mechanical, or chemical. +Though we know not exactly in what this property consists, or in what +manner it is acted on, yet we see, that when bodies are possessed of +it, they become capable of being acted upon by external powers, and +thus the living functions are produced; we shall therefore call this +property _excitability_, and in using this term it is necessary to +mention, that I mean only to express a fact, without the least +intention of pointing out the nature of that property which +distinguishes living from dead matter, and in this we have the +example of the great Newton, who called the property which causes +bodies in certain situations to approach each other, _gravitation_, +without in the least hinting at its nature; yet, though he knew not +what gravitation was, he investigated the laws by which bodies were +acted on by it, in the same manner, though we are ignorant of +excitability, or the nature of that property which distinguishes +living from dead matter, we can investigate the laws by which dead +matter acts on living bodies through this medium. We know not what +magnetic attraction is, and yet we can investigate its laws; the +same holds good with regard to electricity; if we ever should attain +a knowledge of the nature of this property, it would make no +alteration in the laws which we had before discovered. + +I shall now proceed to the investigation of the laws by which the +excitability is acted on; but I must first define some terms which +it will be necessary to use, to avoid circumlocution, and at the +same time to give us more distinct ideas on the subject. + +When the excitability is in such a state as to be very susceptible of +the action of external powers, I shall call it _abundant_, or +_accumulated_; but when it is found not very capable of receiving +their action, I shall say, it is _deficient_, or _exhausted_. I +would not wish however, to have it thought, that by these terms I +mean in the least to hint at the _nature_ of excitability, nor that +it is _really_ one while increased, and at another diminished in +quantity, for the abstract question is in no shape considered; we +know not whether the excitability, or the vital principle, depends +on a particular arrangement of matter, or from whatever cause it may +originate; by the terms here used, I mean only to say, that the +excitability is easily acted on when I call it abundant, or +accumulated; at other times the living body is with more difficulty +excited, and then I say, the vital principle is deficient, or +exhausted. + +The laws by which external powers act on living bodies, will, on a +careful examination, be found to be the following-- + +First, when the powerful action of the exciting powers ceases for +some time, the excitability accumulates, or becomes more capable of +receiving their action, and is more powerfully affected by them. + +If we examine separately the different exciting powers, which act on +the body, we shall find abundant confirmation of this law. Let us +first consider Light; if a person be kept in darkness for some time, +and be then brought into a room in which there is only an ordinary +degree of light, it will be almost too oppressive for him, and appear +excessively bright; and if he have been kept for a considerable time +in a very dark place, the sensation will be very painful. In this +case, while the retina, or optic nerve, was deprived of light, its +excitability accumulated, or became more easily affected by light; +for if a person goes out of one room, into another which has an +equal degree of light, he will feel no effect. You may convince +yourselves of this law by a very simple experiment--shut your eyes, +and cover them for a minute or two with your hand, and endeavour not +to think of the light, or of what you are doing; then open them, and +the day-light will for a short time appear brighter. If you look +attentively at a window, for about two minutes, and then cast your +eyes upon a sheet of white paper, the shape of the window-frames +will be perfectly visible upon the paper; those parts which express +the wood-work, appearing brighter than the other parts. The parts of +the optic nerve on which the image of the frame falls, are covered +by the wood-work from the action of the light; the excitability of +these portions of the nerve will therefore accumulate, and the parts +of the paper which fall upon them, must of course appear brighter. +If a person be brought out of a dark room where he has been +confined, into a field covered with snow, when the sun shines, it +has been known to affect him so much, as to deprive him of sight +altogether. + +Let us next consider what happens with respect to heat; if heat be +for some time abstracted, the excitability accumulates; or in other +words, if the body be for some time exposed to cold, it is more +liable to be affected by heat, afterwards applied; of this also you +may be convinced by an easy experiment--put one of your hands into +cold water, and then put both into water which is considerably warm; +the hand which has been in cold water, will feel much warmer than +the other. If you handle some snow with one hand, while you keep the +other in your bosom, that it may be of the same heat as the body, +and then bring both within the same distance of the fire, the heat +will affect the cold hand infinitely more than the warm one. This is +a circumstance of the utmost importance, and ought always to be +carefully attended to. When a person has been exposed to a severe +degree of cold for some time, he ought to be cautious how he comes +near a fire, for his excitability will be so much accumulated, that +the heat will act violently; often producing a great degree of +inflammation, and even sometimes mortification. We may by the way +observe, that this is a very common cause of chilblains, and other +inflammations. When the hands, or any other parts of the body have +been exposed to violent cold, they ought first to be put into cold +water, or even rubbed with the snow, and exposed to warmth in the +gentlest manner possible. + +Exactly the same takes place with respect to food, if a person have +for some time been deprived of food, or have taken it in small +quantity, whether it be meat or drink; or if he have taken it of a +less stimulating quality, he will find, that when he returns to his +ordinary mode of living, it will have more effect upon him than +before he lived abstemiously. + +Persons who have been shut up in a coal-work from the falling in of +the pit, and have had nothing to eat for two or three days, have +been as much intoxicated by a bason of broth, as a person in common +circumstances with two or three bottles of wine; and we all know +that spirituous, or vinous liquors affect the head more in the +morning, than after dinner. + +This circumstance was particularly evident among the poor sailors +who were in the boat with Captain Bligh after the mutiny. The +captain was sent by government to convey some plants of the +bread-fruit tree from Otaheite, to the West-Indies; soon after he +left Otaheite, the crew mutinied, and put the captain and most of +the officers, with some of the men, on board the ship's boat, with a +very short allowance of provisions, and particularly of liquors, for +they had only six quarts of rum, and six bottles of wine, for +nineteen people, who were driven by storms about the south-sea, +exposed to wet and cold all the time, for nearly a month; each man +was allowed only a tea-spoon full of rum a-day, but this tea-spoon +full refreshed the poor men, benumbed as they were with cold, and +faint with hunger, more than twenty times the quantity would have +done those who were warm, and well fed; and had it not been for the +spirit having such power to act upon men, in their condition, they +never could have outlived the hardships they experienced. All these +facts, and many others which might be brought, establish beyond a +doubt the truth of the law I have mentioned, namely, that when the +powerful action of the exciting powers ceases for some time, the +excitability accumulates, or becomes more capable of receiving their +actions. + +The second law is, that when the exciting powers have acted with +violence, or for a considerable time, the excitability becomes +exhausted, or less fit to be acted on, and this we shall be able to +prove by a similar induction. Let us take the effects of light upon +the eye; when it has acted violently for some time upon the optic +nerve, it diminishes the excitability of that nerve, and renders it +incapable of being affected by a quantity of light that would at +other times affect it. When you have been walking out in the snow, +if you come into your room, you will scarcely be able to see any +thing for some minutes. Look stedfastly at a candle for a minute or +two, and you will with difficulty discern the letters of a book, +which you were before reading distinctly; and if you happen to cast +your eyes upon the sun, you will not see any thing distinctly for +some time afterwards. + +Let us next consider the matter of heat: suppose water to be heated +lukewarm, if you put one hand into it, it will feel warm; if you now +put the other hand into water, heated for instance to 120 degrees or +130 degrees, and keep it there some time, we will say, two minutes; +if then you take it out, and put it into the lukewarm water, that +water will feel cold, though still it will seem warm to the other +hand; for, the hand which had been in the heated water, has had its +excitability exhausted by the application of heat. Before you go +into a warm bath, the temperature of the air may seem warm and +agreeable to you, but after you have remained for some time in a +bath that is rather hot, when you come out, you feel the air +uncommonly cool and chilling. + +Let us now examine the effects of substances taken into the stomach; +and as the effects of spirituous, and vinous liquors, are a little +more remarkable than food, we shall make our observations upon them. + +A person who is unaccustomed to drink these liquors, will be +intoxicated by a quantity that will produce no effect upon one who +has been for some time accustomed to take them; and when a person +has used himself to these stimulants for some time, the ordinary +powers which in common support life, will not have their proper +effects upon him, because his excitability has been in some measure +exhausted by the stimulants. + +The same holds good with respect to tobacco and opium; a person +accustomed to take opium will not be affected by a quantity that +would completely intoxicate one not used to it; because the +excitability has been so far exhausted by the use of that drug, that +it cannot be acted on by a small quantity. + +These facts, with innumerable others, which will easily suggest +themselves to you, prove the truth of our second proposition, +namely, that when the exciting powers have acted violently, or for a +considerable time, the excitability is exhausted, or less fit to be +acted on. + +This exhaustion of the excitability, may, however, be either finite, +or temporary; we see animals, while the exciting powers continue to +act, at first appear in their greatest vigour, then gradually decay, +and at last come into that state, in which, from the long continued +action of the exciting powers, the excitability is entirely +exhausted, and death takes place. + +We likewise see plants in the spring, while the exciting powers have +acted on them, moderately, and for a short time, arrayed in their +verdant robes, and adorned with flowers of "many mingling hues;" +but, as the exciting powers which support the life of the plant, +continue to be applied, and some of them, for instance heat, as the +summer advances become increased, they first lose their verdure, +then grow brown, and at the end of summer cease to live; because +their excitability is exhausted by the long continued action of the +exciting powers; and this does not happen merely in consequence of +the heat of summer decreasing, for they grow brown and die, even in +a greater degree of heat than that which in spring made them grow +luxuriantly. + +These are examples of the finite, or irreparable exhaustion of the +excitability, but we find also, that it may be exhausted for a time, +and accumulated again. Though the eye has been so dazzled by the +splendour of light, that it cannot see an object moderately +illuminated, yet, if it be shut for some time, the excitability of +the optic nerve accumulates again, and we are again capable of +seeing with an ordinary light. + +We find, that we are not always equally capable of performing the +functions of life. When we have been engaged in any exertion, either +mental or corporeal, for some hours only, we find ourselves +fatigued, and unfit to pursue our labours much longer; if in this +state, several of the exciting powers, particularly light and noise, +be withdrawn; and if we are laid in a posture which does not require +much muscular exertion, we soon fall into that state which nature +intended for the accumulation of the excitability, and which we call +Sleep. In this state, many of the exciting powers cannot act upon us, +unless applied with some violence, for we are insensible to their +moderate action. A moderate light, or a moderate noise, does not +affect us, and the power of thinking, which exhausts the +excitability very much, is in a great measure suspended. When the +action of these powers has been suspended for six or eight hours, +the excitability is again capable of being acted on, and we rise +fresh, and vigorous, and fit to engage in our occupations. + +Sleep then, is the method which nature has provided to repair the +exhausted constitution, and restore the vital energy; without its +refreshing aid, our worn-out habits would scarcely be able to drag +on a few days, or at most a few weeks, before the vital spring was +quite run down; how properly therefore has the great poet of nature +called sleep the chief nourisher in life's feast.-- + + 'Sleep, that knits up the ravell'd sleeve of care, + 'the death of each day's life, sore labour's bath, + 'balm of hurt minds, great Nature's second course, + 'chief nourisher in life's feast.' + +From the internal sensations often excited, it is natural to +conclude that the nerves of sense are not torpid during sleep; but +that they are only precluded from the perception of external +objects, by the external organs being rendered unfit to transmit to +them the impulses of bodies, during the suspension of the power of +volition; thus, the eye-lids are closed in sleep, to prevent the +impulse of the light from acting on the optic nerve; and it is very +probable that the drum of the ear is not stretched; it is likewise +probable that something similar happens to the external apparatus of +all our organs of sense, which may make them unfit for their office +of perception during sleep. + +The more violently the exciting powers have acted, the sooner is +sleep brought on; because the excitability is sooner exhausted, and +therefore, sooner requires the means of renewing it; and on the +contrary, the more weakly the exciting powers have acted, the less +is a person inclined to sleep. Instances of the first are, excess of +exercise, strong liquors, or study, and of the latter, an under +proportion of these. + +A person who has been daily accustomed to much exercise, whether +mental or corporeal, if he omit it, will find little or no +inclination to sleep; he may however be made to sleep by taking a +little diffusible stimulus; for instance, a little warm punch, or +opium: these act entirely by exhausting the excitability to that +degree which is compatible with sleep; and when their stimulant +effect is over, the person soon falls into that state. + +But though the excitability may have been sufficiently exhausted, +and the action of the external powers considerably moderated, yet +there are some things within ourselves, which stimulate violently, +and prevent sleep; such as pain, thirst, and strong passions and +emotions of the mind. These all tend to drive away sleep, but it may +be induced, by withdrawing the mind from these impressions; +particularly from uneasy emotions, and employing it on something +which makes a less impression; sleep, in such cases, is frequently +brought on by listening to the humming of bees, [1] or the murmuring +of a rivulet; by employing the mind on subjects which do not require +much exertion, nor produce too much commotion; such as counting to a +thousand, or counting drops of water which fall slowly. + +It sometimes happens, as has been well observed by Dr. Franklin, +that an uneasy heat of the skin, from a want of perspiration, +occasioned by the heat of the bed-cloaths, will prevent sleep; in +this case, he recommends a method, which I believe will often +succeed--namely, to get up and walk about the room till you are +considerably cooled; when you get into bed again, the heat of the +skin will be diminished, and perspiration become more free, and you +will probably sleep in a very few minutes. [2] + +By induction we have discovered two of the principal laws by which +living bodies are governed; the first is, that when the ordinary +powers which support life have been suspended, or their action +lessened for a time, the excitability, or vital principle +accumulates, or becomes more fit to receive their actions; and +secondly, when these powers have been acted upon violently, or for a +considerable time, the excitability is exhausted, or becomes less +fit to receive their actions. There are therefore three states in +which living bodies exist.-- + +First, a state of accumulated excitability. + +Second, a state of exhausted excitability. + +Third, when it is in such a state as to produce the strongest and +most healthy actions, when acted upon by the external powers. + +From what I have said, it must appear, that life is a forced state, +depending on the action of external powers upon the excitability; +and that, by their continued action, if they are properly regulated, +the excitability will be gradually and insensibly exhausted; and +life will be resigned into the hands of him who gave it, without a +struggle, and without a groan. + +We see then, that nature operates in supporting the living part of +the creation, by laws as simple and beautiful as those by which the +inanimate world is governed. In the latter we see the order and +harmony which is observed by the planets, and their satellites, in +their revolution round the great source of heat and light. + + '-----All combin'd + 'and ruled unerring, by that single power + 'which draws the stone projected, to the ground.' + +In the animated part of the creation, we observe those beautiful +phenomena which are exhibited by an almost infinite variety of +individuals, all depending upon one simple law, the action of the +exciting powers on the excitability. + +I cannot express my admiration of the wisdom of the creator better +than in the words of Thomson. + + 'O unprofuse magnificence divine! + 'O wisdom truly perfect! thus to call + 'from a few causes, such a scheme of things; + 'effects so various, beautiful, and great.' + +Life then, or those functions which we call living, are the effects +of certain exciting powers, acting on the excitability, or property +distinguishing living from dead matter. When those effects, namely, +the functions, flow easily, pleasantly, and completely, from the +action of the exciting powers, they indicate that state which we +call Health. + +I have detained you a long time on this subject, but it is of +importance to make you acquainted with these laws; for it is from a +knowledge of them, that the rules for preserving health must be +deduced; and having rendered them, as I hope, intelligible to you, I +shall proceed to point out such necessary cautions for your conduct, +as are easily deduced from them; and which experience confirms; and +I shall follow an arrangement in the consideration of the subject, +which naturally presents itself to us. The chief exciting powers +which act upon us are, air and food; these I shall respectively +consider, and afterwards make a few remarks on exercise. + +The air is the main-spring in the animal machine; the source of heat +and activity, without which our blood would soon become a black and +stagnant mass, and life would soon stop. + +It is now known, that only a part of atmospheric air, is necessary +for respiration: the atmosphere near the surface of the earth, +consists of two kinds of air; one, which is highly proper for +respiration, and combustion, and in which, an animal immersed, will +live much longer than in the same quantity of common air; and one, +which is perfectly improper for supporting respiration, or +combustion, for an instant. + +The first of these airs, has been called vital air, from its +property of supporting life, and constitutes about one fourth of the +atmosphere. [3] The other, from its property of destroying life, is +called azote, and forms of course the remaining three fourths of the +atmosphere. + +These two airs may be separated from each other by various methods. +If a candle be inclosed in a given quantity of atmospheric air, it +will burn only for a certain time, and then be extinguished; and +from the rising of the water in the vessel in which it is inclosed, +it is evident that a quantity of air has been absorbed. What has +been absorbed is the vital air, and what remains, the azote, which +is incapable of supporting flame. If an animal be immersed in a +given quantity of common air, it will live only a certain time; at +the end of this time, the air will be found diminished, about one +fourth being extracted from it, and the remainder will neither +support flame nor animal life; this experiment might easily be made, +but it seems a piece of unnecessary cruelty. + +By similar experiments to those I have mentioned, we get the azote +pure; here is some, in which a candle has burnt out, and in which +nothing but azote, or the impure part of the atmosphere is left. [4] I +shall plunge a lighted match into it, and you see it is instantly +extinguished. + +Some metals, and particularly manganese, when exposed to the +atmosphere, attract the vital air from it, without touching the +azote; and it may be procured from these metals by the application +of heat, in very great purity. Here is a bottle of that kind of air, +which I have expelled by heat from manganese; I shall plunge a taper +into it, and you will perceive that it burns with great brilliancy. +An animal shut up in it, would live about four times as long as if +shut up in an equal quantity of atmospheric air. + +If I take three parts of azote, and one of vital air, I shall form a +compound which is similar to the atmosphere, and which is the +mixture best suited to support the health of the body; for if there +were a much greater proportion of vital air, it would act too +powerfully upon the system, and bring on inflammatory diseases; it +would likewise by its stimulus exhaust the excitability, and bring +us sooner to death; and in the same manner that a candle burns +brighter in vital air, and would therefore be sooner exhausted, so +would the flame of life be sooner burnt out. + +On the contrary, if the atmosphere contained a much less proportion +of vital air, it would not stimulate the body sufficiently; the +excitability would morbidly accumulate, and diseases of debility +would occur. + +Combustion, putrefaction, and the breathing of animals, are +processes which are continually diminishing the quantity of vital +air contained in the atmosphere; and if the all-wise author of +nature had not provided for its continual re-production, the +atmosphere would in all probability have long since become too +impure to support life; but this is guarded against in a most +beautiful manner. + +Water is not a simple element, as has been supposed, but is composed +of vital air, and a particular kind of air which is called +_inflammable_; the same that is used to fill balloons. It has been +found by experiment, that one hundred pounds of water, are composed +of eighty-five pounds of vital air, and fifteen of inflammable +air. [5] + +Water may be decompounded by a variety of means, and its component +parts separated from each other. + +Vegetables effect this decomposition; they absorb water, and +decompose it in their glands; and taking the inflammable air for +their nourishment, breathe out the vital air in a state of very +great purity; this may be ascertained by a very easy experiment. + +This vital air is received by animals into their lungs, gives them +their heat, and communicates a red colour to their blood; when +animals die for want of vital air, their blood is always found +black. + +From what I have said, it is evident, that in large and populous +towns, where combustion and respiration are continually performed on +a large scale, the air must be much less pure than in the country, +where there are few of these causes to contaminate the atmosphere, +and where vegetables are continually tending to render it more pure; +and if it was not for the winds which agitate this element, and +constantly occasion its change of place, the air of large towns +would probably soon become unfit for respiration. Winds bring us the +pure air of the country, and take away that from which the vital air +has been in a great measure extracted; but still, from the immense +quantity of fuel which is daily burnt, and the number of people +breathing in large towns, the air very soon becomes impure. + +From the greater purity of the air in the country, proceeds the rosy +bloom found in the rural cottage, which we in vain look for in the +stately palace, or the splendid drawing room. Here then are reasons +for preferring the country, which no one will dispute, and whenever +it can be done, such a situation ought always to be chosen in +preference to a large town: this cannot be better enforced than in +the words of Dr. Armstrong.-- + + 'Ye, who amid the feverish world would wear + 'a body free of pain, of cares a mind; + 'fly the rank city, shun its turbid air; + 'breathe not the chaos of eternal smoke, + 'and volatile corruption, from the dead, + 'the dying, sick'ning, and the living world + 'exhaled, to sully heaven's transparent dome + 'with dim mortality. + + 'While yet you breathe, away; the rural wilds + 'invite; the mountains call you, and the vales; + 'the woods, the streams, and each ambrosial breeze + 'that fans the ever undulating sky.' + +But there are many whose occupations oblige them to reside in large +towns; they, therefore, should make frequent excursions into the +country, or to such situations as will enable them to enjoy, and to +breathe air of a little more purity. I say _enjoy_, for who that has +been for some time shut up in the town, without breathing the pure +air of the country, does not feel his spirits revived the moment he +emerges from the azote of the town. Let not therefore, if possible, +a single day pass, without enjoying, if but for an hour, the pure +air of the country. Doing this, only for a short time _every_ day, +would be much more effectual than spending whole days, or even weeks +in the country, and then returning into the corrupt atmosphere of +the town; for when you have for a long time breathed an impure air, +the excitability becomes so morbidly accumulated, from the want of +the stimulus of pure air, that the air of the country will have too +great an effect upon you; it will frequently, in the course of a day +or two, bring on an inflammatory fever, attended with stuffing of +the nose, hoarseness, a great degree of heat, and dryness of the +skin, with other symptoms of a violent cold. + +Large towns are the graves of the human species; they would perish +in a few generations, if not constantly recruited from the country. +The confined, putrid air, which most of their inhabitants breathe, +their want of natural exercise, but above all their dissipation, +shorten their lives, and ruin their constitutions. + +Children particularly, require a pure air; every circumstance points +out the country as the proper place for their education; the purity +of the air, the variety of rustic sports, the plainness of diet, the +simplicity and innocence of manners, all concur to recommend it. It +is a melancholy fact, that above half the children born in London, +die before they are two years old. + +To shew how indispensable fresh air is to children, I shall mention +one example which sets the fact in the clearest light. In the +lying-in hospital at Dublin, 2944 infants, out of 7650, died in the +year 1782, within the first fortnight after their birth, which is +nearly every third child; they almost all died in convulsions; many +of them foamed at the mouth, their thumbs were drawn into the palms +of their hands, their jaws were locked, the face was swelled and +looked blue, as though they were choaked. This last circumstance led +the physicians to conclude that the rooms in the hospital were too +close, and hence, that the infants had not a sufficient quantity of +good air to breathe; they therefore set about ventilating them +better, which was done very completely. The consequence has been, +that not one child dies now where three used to die. + +Fewer children indeed die convulsed now, than formerly; this is +because the rich learn, either from books, or conversation with +physicians, how necessary fresh air is to life and health; hence +they keep their houses well aired; but the poor, and servants, are +not made to comprehend this matter properly; and therefore from +neglecting to open their windows, and breathing a foul, tainted air, +the greatest part of their time, many disorders are brought on, and +others rendered worse than they naturally would be. [6] + +Having considered the purity of the air, let us next take a view of +the changes in temperature which it undergoes, and the effects which +these have upon the constitution. + +We find the air sometimes considerably below the freezing point; +nay, even so much as 20 or 30 degrees; it is then intensely cold; +and on the other hand, the thermometer sometimes indicates a great +degree of heat. We then find ourselves much relaxed, and our +constitutions exhausted. + +To understand how this happens, let us consider for a moment the +nature of heat, and cold.--Heat is one of those stimuli which act +upon the excitability, and support life: for if it was totally +withdrawn, we should not be able to exist even a few minutes; and +cold is only a diminution of heat. When heat is present, in a proper +degree, or the atmosphere is about that degree of heat which we call +temperate, it just gives such a stimulus, and keeps the excitability +exhausted to such a degree, as to preserve the body in health; but +if it continue for a considerable time to be much warmer than this +temperature, the consequence must be, from the laws already laid +down, an exhaustion of the excitability, and a consequent relaxation +and debility; for, when the excitability has been exhausted by the +violent application of heat, long continued, the common stimulant +powers which support life, cannot produce a sufficient effect upon +it, to give to the body that tone which is compatible with health. +On the contrary, when the heat of the air falls below what we call +temperate, or when cold is applied to the body, from the accustomed +stimulus of heat being diminished, the excitability must accumulate, +or become more liable to be affected by the action of the external +powers. + +This, however, very seldom produces bad effects, unless the exciting +powers be improperly or quickly applied; for we can bear a +considerable diminution of heat without any bad consequences; and in +all cases I hope I shall be able to make it appear, that much more +mischief arises from the too great action of heat, than from the +diminution of it. Nature never made any country too cold for its +inhabitants. In cold climates, she has made exercise, and even +fatigue habitual to them, not only from the necessity of their +situation, but from choice; their natural diversions being all of +the athletic or violent kind. But the softness and effeminacy of +modern manners, has both deprived us of our natural defence against +the diseases most incident to our climate, and subjected us to all +the inconveniencies of a warm one. + +People are afraid of going out into the cold air; but if they +conduct themselves properly afterwards, they will never be in the +least danger from it. Indeed the action of cold, unless it be +excessive, never produces any bad effects. + +Many of you will, no doubt, think me here in an error; but I hope +you will not long entertain that opinion. You will say that you have +had frequent experience to the contrary; that you have often gone +out into the cold air, and have caught dreadful colds. That this is +owing to the action of cold, I will deny; nay, I will assert, +that if a person go out into air which is very cold, _and remain in +it_ for a very long time, he will never perceive any symptoms of +what is called a cold so long as he remains there. + +A common cold is attended with a running of the nose, hoarseness, +and cough, with a considerable degree of feverish heat, an dryness +of the skin.--Now it is universally agreed, that this disorder is an +inflammation, or is of an inflammatory nature; it is an inflammation +of the smooth, moist skin which lines the nostrils, and goes down +the wind-pipe into the lungs; but as cold is only a diminution of +heat, or a diminution of a stimulus acting upon the body, it is +impossible that such a diminution can cause a greater action or +excitement; we might as well expect to fill a vessel by taking water +out of it. But let us see how a cold, as it is commonly called, is +usually produced. When a person in cold weather goes out into the +air, every time he draws in his breath, the cold air passes through +his nostrils and windpipe into the lungs, and in thus diminishing +the heat of the parts, allows their excitability to accumulate, and +renders them more liable to be affected by the succeeding heat. So +long as that person continues in the cold air, he feels no bad +effects; but if he come into a warm room, he first perceives a glow +within his nostrils and breast, as well as all over the surface of +the body. Soon afterwards, a disagreeable dryness and huskiness will +be felt in the nostrils and breast. By and by a short, dry, tickling +cough comes on. He feels a shivering, which makes him draw nearer to +the fire, but all to no purpose; the more he tries to heat himself, +the more chill he becomes. All the mischief is here caused by the +violent action of the heat on the accumulated excitability. For want +of a knowledge of this law, these disagreeable, and often dangerous +complaints are brought on; when they might be avoided with the +greatest ease. + +When you take a ride into the country on a cold day, you find +yourselves very cold; as soon as you go into a house, you are +invited to come to the fire, and warm yourselves; and what is still +worse, to drink something warm and comfortable, to keep out the +cold, as the saying is. The inevitable consequence of this, is, to +bring on the complaints which I have just described, which might +with more propriety be called, heats than colds. But how easily +might these complaints have been avoided! When you come out of a +very cold atmosphere, you should not at first go into a room that +has a fire in it, or if you cannot avoid that, you should keep for a +considerable time at as great a distance from the fire as possible, +that the accumulated excitability may be gradually exhausted, by the +moderate and gentle action of heat; and then you may bear the heat +of the fire without any danger: but, above all, refrain from taking +warm or strong liquors while you are cold. If a person have his +hands or feet exposed to a very severe cold, the excitability of +those parts will be so much accumulated, that if they should be +brought suddenly near the fire, a violent inflammation, and even a +mortification will take place, which has often happened; or, at any +rate, that inflammation called Chilblains will be produced, from the +violent action of the heat upon the accumulated excitability of +those parts; but, if a person so circumstanced, was to put his hands +or feet into cold water, very little warmer than the atmosphere to +which he had been exposed, or rub them with snow, which is not often +colder than 32 or 30 degrees, the morbid excitability will be +gradually exhausted, and no bad consequences will ensue. + +When a part of the body only has been exposed to the action of cold, +and the rest kept heated; if, for instance, a person in a warm room +sits so that a current of air coming through a broken pane, should +fall upon any part of the body, that part will be soon affected with +an inflammation, which is usually called a rheumatic inflammation. +From what has been said, it will be easy to account for this +circumstance. The excitability of the part is accumulated by the +diminution of its heat; but at the same time, the rest of the body +and blood is warm; and this warm blood acting upon a part where the +excitability is accumulated, will cause an inflammation; to which, +the more you apply heat, the worse you make it.--From these +considerations, we may lay it down as a fact, and experience +supports us in so doing, that you may in general go out of warm into +cold air without much danger; but, that you can never return +suddenly from the cold into the warm air with perfect impunity. + +Hence, we may lay down the following rule, which, if strictly +observed, would prevent the frequent colds we meet with in winter. +_When the whole body, or any part of it, is chilled, bring it to its +natural feeling and warmth by degrees._ + +But if, for want of observing this necessary caution, a cold, as it +is called, should have seized a person, let us consider what is +proper to be done. + +It will, from the preceding reasoning, appear very improper to make +the room where you sit warmer than usual, to increase the quantity +of bed-clothes, to wrap yourself up in flannel, or particularly to +drink a large quantity of barley-water, gruel, or tea, almost +boiling hot, by way of diluting, as it is called, and forcing a +perspiration; this will infallibly make the disorder worse, in the +same manner as confining inoculated persons in warm rooms would make +their small-pox more violent. + +Perhaps there would be scarcely such a thing as a bad cold, if +people, when they found it coming on, were to keep cool, and avoid +wine and strong liquors, and confine themselves for a short time to +a simple diet of vegetable food, drinking only toast and water. +Instances are by no means uncommon, where a heat of the nostrils, +difficulty of breathing, a short, tickling cough, and other +symptoms, threatening a violent cold, have gone off entirely in +consequence of this plan being pursued. + +Colds would be much less frequent, were we to take more pains to +accommodate our dress to the season: if we were warmly clothed in +cold weather, our excitability would not be accumulated by the +action of the cold. If a greater proportion of females fall victims +to this disease, is it not because, losing sight, more than men, of +its primary purpose, they regulate their dress solely by fantastic +ideas of elegance? If happily, as is observed by Dr. Beddoes, our +regret should recall the age of chivalry, to break the spell of +fashion would be an atchievement worthy the most gallant of our +future knights. Common sense has always failed in the adventure; and +our ladies, alas! are still compelled, whenever the enchantress +waves her wand, to expose themselves half undressed, to the fogs and +frosts of our climate. + +Besides the effects of the air, we ought by no means to be +indifferent with regard to what we take into the stomach as food and +drink; since these have even a greater influence on our health, than +the circumstances I have already mentioned. Among the causes which +excite the body, and support life, I have formerly mentioned food, +or the matters taken into the stomach. It is from these matters that +all the animal solids and fluids are formed; these are stimuli, +which if totally withdrawn, we could not exist many days. These +stimuli are subject to the same laws with all the others which act +upon the body. When they act properly in concert with the other +powers, they produce the healthy state; but if they act in an undue +degree, whether that action be too great or too little, disease will +be the consequence. When they act too feebly, the excitability will +accumulate; and diseases of debility, attended with a very great +degree of irritability, will take place: this has been instanced in +those who have been without food for some time. Persons who have +been shut up in a coal-work by the falling-in of the pit, and have +consequently been without food for some days, have had their +excitability so much accumulated, as to be intoxicated with a bason +of broth. + +To this source we may attribute many of the diseases with which the +poor are afflicted; but they are by no means so common as diseases +of an opposite nature, which arise from a too free use of food. I +shall confine myself here to the consideration of what is more +strictly called food, and afterwards consider the effects of strong +liquors. + +When we take food in too great quantity, or of too nourishing a +quality, it will either produce inflammatory diseases, such as +pleurisy; or by exhausting the excitability, it will bring on +stomach complaints, gout, and all the symptoms of premature old age. +This follows so evidently from the laws we have investigated, that +it is scarcely necessary to say more on the subject; and I am sure +there are few who have not seen examples of it. + +Be therefore temperate in eating, and eat only of such foods as are +the plainest; and let a proper quantity of vegetable food be mixed +with animal. If you value the preservation of health, never satiate +yourselves with eating; but let it be a rule from which you ought +never to depart, always to rise from table with some remains of +appetite: for, when the stomach is loaded with more food than it can +easily digest, a crude and unassimilated chyle is taken into the +blood, pregnant with diseases. Nor is the quantity the only object +of attention; the quality of the food is to be carefully studied; +made dishes, enriched with hot sauces, stimulate infinitely more +than plain food, and therefore exhaust the excitability, bringing on +diseases of indirect debility; such as the worst kind of gout, +apoplexy, and paralytic complaints. "For my part," says an elegant +writer, "when I behold a fashionable table set out in all its +magnificence, I fancy that I see gouts and dropsies, fevers and +lethargies, with other innumerable distempers, lying in ambuscade +among the dishes." Let it be therefore laid down as a rule by those +who wish to preserve their health, and I have nothing to say to +those who are indifferent on that head, to make their chief repast +on one plain dish, and trifle with the rest. + +It is by no means uncommon for a medical man to have patients, +chiefly among people of fashion and fortune, who complain of being +hot and restless all night, and having a foul taste in the mouth +every morning: on examination it is found, that in nineteen cases +out of twenty, it has arisen from their having overloaded their +stomachs, and at the same time neglected to take proper exercise; +for it must always be observed, that more may be eaten with safety, +nay, more is even necessary, when a person takes a good deal of +exercise. + +When people take little exercise, and overload their stomachs, there +lies within them a fermenting mass of undigested aliment; and it is +not surprizing that this should irritate and heat the body during +the night. This is likewise the foundation of stomach complaints, +flatulencies, and all other symptoms of indigestion; which more +frequently proceed from intemperance in eating and drinking than any +other cause. The benefits arising from temperance are set in a +striking light in the following allegory, which may be found in the +Adventurer. + +Esculapius, after his deification or admittance among the gods, +having revisited his native country, and being one day (as curiosity +led him a rambling,) in danger of being benighted, made the best of +his way to a house he saw at some distance, where he was hospitably +received by the master of it. Cremes, for that was the master's +name, though but a young man, was infirm and sickly. Of several +dishes served up to supper, Cremes observed that his guest ate but +of one, and that the most simple; nor could all his intreaties +prevail upon him to do otherwise. He was, notwithstanding, highly +delighted with Esculapius's conversation, in which he observed a +cheerfulness and knowledge superior to any thing he had hitherto met +with. + +The next morning, Esculapius took his leave, but not till he had +engaged his good-natured host to pay him a visit at a small villa, a +few miles from thence. Cremes came accordingly, and was most kindly +received; but how great was his amazement when supper was served up, +to see nothing but milk, honey, and a few roots, dressed in the +plainest, but neatest manner, to which hunger, cheerfulness, and +good sense, were the only sauces. Esculapius seemed to eat with +pleasure, while Cremes scarcely tasted of them. On which a repast +was ordered more suitable to the taste of our guest. Immediately +there succeeded a banquet composed of the most artful dishes that +luxury could invent, with great plenty and variety of the richest +and most intoxicating wines. These too were accompanied by damsels +of the most bewitching beauty. Cremes now gave a loose to his +appetites, and every thing he tasted raised ecstasies beyond what he +had ever known. During the repast, the damsels sung and danced to +entertain them; their charms enchanted the enraptured guest, already +flushed with what he had drank; his senses were lost in ecstatic +confusion. Every thing around him seemed Elysium, and he was on the +point of indulging the most boundless freedoms, when on a sudden +their beauty, which was but a vizard, fell off, and discovered forms +the most hideous and forbidding imaginable. Lust, revenge, folly, +murder, meagre poverty, and despair, now appeared in the most odious +shapes, and the place instantly became a most dire scene of misery +and confusion. How often did Cremes wish himself far distant from +such a diabolical company, and now dreaded the fatal consequence +which threatened him. His blood ran chill at his heart, and joy and +rapture were perverted to amazement and horror!--When Esculapius +perceived it had made a sufficient impression on his guest, he thus +addressed him: "Know, Cremes, it is Esculapius who has thus +entertained you, and what you have beheld is a true image of the +deceitfulness and misery inseparable from luxury and intemperance. +Would you be happy, be temperate: temperance is the parent of +health, virtue, wisdom, plenty, and every thing that can make you +happy in this or the world to come. It is indeed the true luxury of +life, for without it life cannot be enjoyed." This said, he +disappeared, and left Cremes (instead of an elegant apartment) in an +open plain, full of ideas quite different from those he had brought +with him. + +On his return home, from the most luxurious, he became one of the +most temperate men, by which wise method he soon regained health. +Frugality produced riches, and from an infirm and crazy +constitution, and almost ruined estate, by virtue of this infallible +elixir, he became one of the happiest men breathing, and lived to +a healthy old age, revered as an oracle for his wisdom throughout +all Greece. + +If temperance be necessary with regard to food, it is still more so +with respect to strong liquors; these diffusible stimuli, by quickly +exhausting the excitability, soon blast the vigour, and sap the +foundation of the strongest constitution. Their immediate effects +you know are stimulant; they raise the animal spirits, produce a +cheerful state of mind, and if taken in greater quantity, cause +intoxication, or that temporary derangement of the thinking powers +which arises from too great a degree of excitement: but let us see +what happens the next day; the animal spirits are exhausted, and the +person thus situated, finds himself languid and enervated to a great +degree; for it seems a law of the human body, that the spirits are +never artificially raised, without being afterwards proportionably +depressed; and to shew clearly that in this state the excitability +is exhausted, the ordinary powers which in general support life, +will not have their due effect; and a person thus situated finds +most relief the next day, from taking some of the same stimulus +which occasioned the exhaustion; because the common exciting powers +can scarcely act upon his exhausted excitability. + +But though the excitability be in this way exhausted, it will in the +course of a day or two be again accumulated, and it may, perhaps, be +suspected that this exhaustion can do no harm to the constitution; +but this is a premature conclusion, and quite contrary to fact and +experience, as well as to reason; for, just in the same manner that +a pendulum, made to vibrate in the arc of a circle, will never +return exactly to the same height, but fall a little short of it +every time; so, though the excitability may be again accumulated, it +never can be brought back to what it was before; and every fresh +debauch will shorten life, probably two or three weeks at least, +besides debilitating the body, and bringing on a variety of +diseases, with premature old age. + +Those who drink only a moderate quantity of wine, so as to make them +cheerful, as they call it, but not absolutely to intoxicate, may +imagine that it will do them no harm. The strong and robust may +enjoy the pleasures of the bottle and table with seeming impunity, +and sometimes for many years may not find any bad effects from them; +but depend upon it, if a full diet of animal food be every day +indulged in, with only a moderate portion of wine, its baneful +influence will blast the vigour of the strongest constitution. + +While we are eating, water is the best beverage. The custom of +drinking fermented liquors, and particularly wine, during dinner, is +a very pernicious one. The idea that it assists digestion, is false; +those who are acquainted with chemistry know, that food is hardened, +and rendered less digestible by these means, and the stimulus which +wine gives to the stomach is not necessary, excepting to those who +have exhausted the excitability of that organ by the excessive use +of strong liquors. In these. The stomach can scarcely be excited to +any action without the assistance of such a stimulus. If food wants +diluting, water is the best diluent, and will prevent the rising, as +it is called, of strong food, much better than wine or spirits. + +Before I finish this subject, I shall say a few words on the +pernicious custom of suffering children to drink wine, or other +fermented liquors. Nothing is more common than to see, even very +young children come to the table after dinner, to drink a glass of +wine. The least quantity produces violent effects on their +accumulated excitability, and by quickly exhausting it, ruins their +constitutions through life, and often renders them habitual +drinkers. + +I can scarcely help attributing in some degree the many stomach +complaints we meet with, among young people in the present age, and +which were unknown to our forefathers, to the abominable practice of +suffering children to drink fermented, or spirituous liquors. You +must all have observed how soon children are intoxicated and +inflamed by spirituous liquors; you may judge then, that if these +liquors be only a slow poison to us, they are a very quick one to +them. A glass of wine, on account of the accumulated excitability of +children, will have more effect upon them, than a bottle will have +upon an adult accustomed to drink wine. If therefore, the health of +a child, and its happiness through life be an object, never suffer +it to taste fermented, or spirituous liquors, till it be fifteen or +sixteen years of age, unless a little wine be necessary as a +medicine. + +It now only remains for me to take some notice of exercise. Of all +the various methods of preserving health, and of preventing +diseases, which nature has suggested, there is none more efficacious +than exercise; it puts the fluids all in motion, strengthens the +solids, promotes perspiration, and occasions the decomposition of a +larger quantity of atmospheric air in the lungs. Hence, in order to +preserve the health of the body, the author of nature has made +exercise absolutely necessary to the greater part of mankind for +obtaining the means of existence.--Had not exercise been absolutely +necessary for our well-being, says the elegant Addison, nature would +not have made the body so proper for it, by giving such an activity +to the limbs, and such a pliancy to every part, as necessarily +produce those compressions, extensions, contortions, dilatations, and +all other kinds of motions, that are necessary for the preservation +of such a system of tubes and glands.--And that we might not want +inducement to engage us in such exercise of the body as is proper +for its welfare, it is so ordered, that nothing valuable can be +procured without it. Not to mention riches and honors, even food and +raiment are not to be come at without the toil of the hands and +sweat of the brow. Providence furnishes materials, but expects that +we should work them up ourselves. The earth must be laboured before +it gives its increase, and when it is forced into its several +products, how many hands must they pass through before they are fit +for use? Manufactures, trade, and agriculture, naturally employ more +than nineteen parts of the species out of twenty; and as for those +who are not obliged to labour by the condition in which they are +born, they are more miserable than the rest of mankind, unless they +indulge themselves in that voluntary labour which goes by the name +of exercise. + +Of all the different kinds of exercise, there is none that conduces +so much to health as riding; it is not attended with the fatigue of +walking, and the free air is more enjoyed in this way than by any +other mode of exercise. Where it cannot be used, walking, or +exercise in a carriage, ought to be substituted. + +The best time for taking exercise is before dinner, for the body is +then more vigorous and alert, and the mind more cheerful, and better +disposed to enjoy the pleasure of a ride or walk. Exercise after a +full meal disturbs digestion, and causes painful sensations in the +stomach and bowels, with heart-burn, and acid eructations. + +But whatever mode of exercise you use, it ought not at first to be +too violent. Dr. Armstrong has given us an excellent rule-- + +'Begin with gentle toils, and as your nerves +'grow firm, to hardier, by just steps aspire. +'The prudent, even in every moderate walk, +'at first but saunter, and by slow degrees +'increase their pace.' + +THE END. + +R. NOBLE. Printer, + Old Bailey. + +NOTES. + +[1] Hinc tibi, quae semper vicino ab limine sepes +Hyblaeis apibus florem depasta salicti, +Saepe levi _somnum_ suadebit inire susurro. + VIRG. + +[2] May not the heat, and want of perspiration, depend on an +exhausted irritability of the subcutaneous vessels, which will be +accumulated by the method here recommended? + +[3] Oxygen gas, according to the new Nomenclature. + +[4] The fixed air, or carbonic acid gas, formed during the +combustion, having been separated by agitation in contact with lime +water. + +[5] Strictly speaking, water is composed of the bases of these airs, +the greatest part of the caloric being given out on their union. + +[6] Where manufactures are carried on to a great extent, the air is +rendered still worse, and every precaution ought to be used to +preserve the health of the inhabitants. Places where manufactures are +carried on, ought, therefore, to be constructed in such a manner as +to be very lofty, and capable of being easily ventilated. +Night-working is undoubtedly a perversion of the laws of nature, +renders the constitution feeble, and lays a foundation for bad health +and disease: for it not only gives no time for ventilation, and in +consequence the quantity of oxygen becomes more and more exhausted; +but the number of candles used, contributes very much to contaminate +the air. It has been found by experiment that a candle contaminates +more air than a man. By persons who are interested in the welfare of +the succeeding generations, night-work will never be urged, and it +will be right to ventilate the manufactories every night, as well as +during breakfast and dinner. + +* * * * * + +_Lately published,_ +Elegantly printed in Two Volumes Quarto, and illustrated by a Map +and Fifty-two Plates, from Drawings taken on the Spot by W. H. +Watts, who accompanied the Author in the Tour, Price 2l. 12s. 6d. in +Boards, + +OBSERVATIONS on a TOUR through the HIGHLANDS and Part of the WESTERN +ISLES of SCOTLAND, particularly STAFFA and ICOLMKILL: To which are +added, a Description of the Falls of the Clyde, of the Country round +Moffat, and an Analysis of its Mineral Waters. + +By T. GARNETT, M.D. + +Member of the Royal Medical, Physical, and Natural History Societies +of Edinburgh; the Literary and Philosophical Society of Manchester; +the Medical Society of London; the Royal Irish Academy; and +Professor of Natural Philosophy and Chemistry in the Royal +Institution of Great Britain. + +Printed for T. Cadell, jun. and W. Davies, Strand. + +* * * * + +Transcriber's Notes. + +The frontispiece contains the following text, and a portrait of the +author: + +Engraved by J. Hopwood, from a picture by J. R. Smith. +THOMAS GARNETT, M.D. +Published March 25th 1800, by Cadell & Davies, Strand. + +In line 241 of this text, the word transcribed as too appears as o in +the original text, with blank space indicating the omission of the +first two letters of the word. In Lecture IX of Dr. Garnett's +_Zoonomia_, where the same example of the reaction of the eye to light +is given, the word appears as too. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A Lecture on the Preservation of Health, by +Thomas Garnett, M.D. + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LECTURE ON HEALTH *** + +***** This file should be named 18376.txt or 18376.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/1/8/3/7/18376/ + +Produced by R. L. 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