[]AN ESSAY OF Health and Long Life.

§. 1.

AIR being one of the moſt ne⯑ceſſary Things towards the Subſiſtence and Health of all Animals; 'tis a Wonder to me, that here in Eng⯑land, where Luxury and all the Arts of living well, are cultivated even to a Vice, the Choice of Air ſhould be ſo little conſidered.

§. 2.

From Obſervations on Bleeding in Rheumatiſms, and after catching Cold, 'tis evident, that the Air with its diffe⯑rent Qualities, can alter and quite vitiate the whole Texture of the Blood and ani⯑mal Juices: From the Palſies, Vertigoes, Vapours, and other nervous Affections, cauſed by Damps, Mines, and working on ſome Minerals, (^†particularly Mer⯑cury [7] and Antimony) 'tis plain Air ſo and ſo qualified, can relax and obſtruct the whole nervous Syſtem. From the Cho⯑lics, Fluxes, Coughs, and Conſumptions, produced by damp, moiſt and nitrous Air, 'tis manifeſt, that it can obſtruct and ſpoil the noble Organs. The Air is at⯑tracted and received into our Habit, and mixed with our Fluids every Inſtant of our Lives; ſo that any ill Quality in the Air ſo continually introduced, muſt in Time produce fatal Effects on the a⯑nimal OEconomy: And therefore it will be of the utmoſt Conſequence to every one, to take Care what kind of Air it is they ſleep and watch, breath and live in, and are perpetually receiving into the moſt intimate Union with the Prin⯑ciples of Life. I ſhall only take Notice of three Conditions of Air.

§. 3.

The firſt is, That when Gentlemen build Seats, they ought never to place them upon any high Hill, very near any great Confluence of Water, in the Neigh⯑bourhood of any great Mines, or Beds of Minerals, nor on any ſwamp, marſhy, or moſſy Foundation; but either in a cham⯑paign Country, or on the Side of a ſmall Eminence, ſheltered from the North and [8] Eaſt Winds, or upon a light gravelly Soil. The Nature of the Soil will be well known from the Plants and Herbs that grow on it, or rather more ſecurely from the Nature of the Waters that ſpring out of it, which ought always to be ſweet, clear, light, ſoft, and taſtleſs. All high Mountains are damp, as Dr. Halley obſerved at St. Helena, a moun⯑tainous Place, where Damps fell ſo per⯑petually in the Night time, that he was obliged to be every Moment wiping his Glaſſes, in making his Aſtronomical Obſervations. And where the Moun⯑tains are high, the Inhabitants of them are forced to ſend their Furniture, in Winter, to the Valley, leſt it ſhould rot. And 'tis common to have it rain or ſnow on Mountains, when the Valleys below are clear, ſcrene and dry. All great Hills are Neſts of Minerals, and Covers (made of the prominent Earth) for Reſervoirs of Rain-Water. The Clouds are but great Fleeces of rarified Water ſailing in the Air, ſometimes not many Yards above the champaign Country; and theſe high Hills intercepting them, they are com⯑preſſed into Dew and Rain, and are per⯑petually drilling down the Crannies of [9] the Mountains into theſe Baſins. Hence the Origin of Rivers, and freſh Water Springs. Beſides that, theſe mountain⯑ous Places, are always expos'd to high, and almoſt perpetual Winds. Where any great Concourſe of Water is, the Air muſt needs be perpetually damp, becauſe the Sun is perpetually ſtraining from theſe Waters, moiſt Dews and Vapours thro' it. All great Neſts of Minerals, or large Mines, muſt neceſſarily impregnate the Air, with their reſpective Qualities. And moſſy Blackneſs, is ſome Degree of Pu⯑trefaction, as ^*Sir Iſaac Newton ob⯑ſerves.

§ 4.

Secondly, the Winds that are moſt frequent, and moſt pernicious in Eng⯑land, are the Eaſterly, eſpecially the North Eaſt Winds, which in the Win⯑ter are the moſt piercing cold, in Summer the moſt parching hot. In Win⯑ter they bring along with them, all the Nitre of the Northern and Scythian Snows, Mountains of Ice, and frozen Seas thro' which they come; and in [10] Summer, blow with all the fiery Parti⯑cles of the perpetual Day they paſs thro'. From the end of January, till towards the end of May, the Wind blows almoſt perpetually, from the Eaſtern and North⯑ern Points, if the Spring is dry; and from the Southern and Weſtern Points, if the Spring is wet, (and generally from the ſetting in of the Winds, on a New⯑Moon, you may predict the Weather of the Spring) and our Bodies moſt certain⯑ly attracting, the circumambient Air, and the Fumes of thoſe Bodies that are next to us, it will be very convenient for valetudinary, ſtudious, and contem⯑plative Perſons, in a dry Spring, or in Eaſterly Winds, to change their Bed⯑chambers into Rooms that have Weſtern or Southern Lights, or to ſhut cloſe up the Eaſtern and Northern Lights, or to have them but ſeldom opened; and in wet Seaſons, to take the contrary Courſe. And if any ſuch Perſon, has been much expoſed, or long abroad, in a Northerly or bleakiſh Eaſterly Wind, it will be very proper for him to drink down, going to Bed, a large Draught of warm Wa⯑ter-gruel, or of warm ſmall Mountain⯑wine Whey, as an Antidote againſt the [11] nitrous Effluvia, ſuck'd into the Body, and to open the Obſtructions of the Per⯑ſpiration made thereby.

§. 5.

Thirdly, from the beginning of November till towards the beginning of February, London is cover'd over with one univerſal nitrous and ſulphurous Smoak, from the Multitude of Coal Fires, the Abſence of that material Di⯑vinity the Sun, and the Conſequence thereof, the falling of the Dews, and Vapours of the Night. In ſuch a Sea⯑ſon, weak and tender People, and thoſe that are ſubject to nervous or pulmonick Diſtempers, ought either to go into the Country, or to be at home ſoon after Sun-ſet, and to diſpel the Damps with clear, warm Fires, and chearful Con⯑verſation, go early to Bed, and riſe pro⯑portionally ſooner in the Morning; for, as the Sun's Removal ſuffers the Vapours to fall and condenſe, in the Evening, ſo his Approach diſpels and raiſes them in the Morning. I need not add, that it will be very fit, for thoſe that are va⯑letudinary, to have their Servants, Chil⯑dren, Bedfellows, and all thoſe that ap⯑proach them, with whom they live con⯑ſtantly [12] and mix Atmoſpheres, to be as heal⯑thy, ſound and ſweet as poſſibly they can; and, for their own ſakes, to have them remov'd till they are made ſo, if they are otherwiſe. Nor ſhall I add any preſſing inſtances, to avoid wet Rooms, damp Beds, and foul Linnen, or to re⯑move Ordure and Nuſances; the Luxu⯑ry of England having run all theſe ra⯑ther into a Vice.

§. 6.

The Air is a Fluid, wherein Parts of all Kinds of Bodies ſwim as in Wa⯑ter. But Air differs from Water in this, that the firſt is compreſſible into a leſſer Compaſs, and ſmaller Volume, like a Fleece of Wool, either by its own Weight, or any other Force, which Weight or Force being removed, the Air imme⯑diately recovers its former Bulk and Di⯑menſions again, whereas no Force what⯑ever can bring Water into narrower Bounds; that is, Air is extreamly ela⯑ſtick and ſpringy, but Water is not at all ſo. Yet the Parts of Air would ſeem to be groſſer than the Parts of Water: For Water will get through a Bladder, and may be forced through the Pores of Gold; but Air will paſs through neither. By this its elaſtick Force, the Air inſi⯑nuates [13] itſelf into the patent Cavities of all animal Bodies; and the Infant, which never breathed before, aſſoon as it is expoſed to this Element, has the little Bladders, whereof the Lungs conſiſt, blown up into a perpendicular Erection on the Branches of the Wind-pipe; where⯑by the Obſtruction, from the Preſſure of theſe Veſicles (ariſing from their being compreſſed together, and lying upon one another) being in ſome Meaſure taken off, the muſcular Action of the right Ventricle of the Heart is able to force the Blood through the Lungs into the left Ventricle. But theſe little Bladders, being thus inflated by an elaſtick Fluid, ſtill preſs ſo far upon, and grind the groſſer Particles of the Blood into more ſizeable ones, that they may become ſmall enough to circulate through the other capillary Veſſels of the Body. This ela⯑ſtick Air, preſſing equally every Way round, by its Weight and Spring, ſhuts cloſe the Scales of the Scarf-skin of healthy and ſtrong Perſons; ſo that it denies all Entrance to the nitrous and watry Mixture, contained in it, and thus becomes a Kind of Cold Bath, to them, and defends them from catching Cold: But in ſickly, ſtudious, and ſedentary Peo⯑ple, [14] and thoſe of weak Nerves, where the Spring of the Coverlets and Scales, that defend the Mouths of the perſpira⯑tory Ducts is weak, the Perſpiration lit⯑tle or next to none at all, and the Blood poor and ſizey; the nitrous and watry Particles of the Air get a ready and free Entrance, by theſe Ducts into the Blood, and by breaking the Globules thereof, coagulating and fixing its Fluidity, quite ſtop the Perſpiration, and obſtruct all the capillary Veſſels, the cutaneous Glands, and thoſe of the Lungs and alimentary Paſſages, when ſuch Bodies are long ex⯑poſed to ſuch an Air: And thus begets all theſe Diſorders in the Body, that Air thus and thus poiſoned, was ſhewn capa⯑ble to produce. So long as the Perſpi⯑ration is ſtrong, brisk, and full, 'tis im⯑poſſible any of theſe Diſorders ſhould hap⯑pen; becauſe the Force of the perſpira⯑tory Steams outward, is greater than the Force whereby theſe noxious Mixtures enter; unleſs the Body be indiſcreetly too long expoſed, or the Action of the nitrous and watry Mixtures be extreme⯑ly violent. Hence it comes to paſs, that thoſe who are very ſtrong and healthy, and thoſe who have drank ſtrong Liquors ſo plentifully, as to have thereby a brisk [15] Circulation and full Perſpiration, ſeldom or never catch Cold. And this is the Reaſon why rich Foods and generous Wines, moderately uſed, become ſo ex⯑cellent an Antidote in infectious and e⯑pidemick Diſtempers; not only as they baniſh Fear and Terror, but as they make ſo full and free a Stream of Perſpiration, and maintain ſo active and brisk an At⯑moſphere, as ſuffers no noxious Steams or Mixtures in the Air to come within it; but drives and beats off the Enemy to a Diſtance. But Perſons of viſcous, heavy Fluids, of poor and ſizey Juices, of little or no Perſpiration, ſuch as ge⯑nerally all ſtudious, ſedentary and ſickly Perſons are, but eſpecially thoſe that are ſubject to nervous Diſorders, muſt neceſ⯑ſarily ſuffer under theſe poiſonous Mixtures in the Air, if they do not cautiouſly and carefully fence againſt them, or take not a preſent Remedy and Antidote, when tainted. For beſides the Air that gets through the perſpiratory Ducts into the Blood, whenever we Eat, Drink, or Breath, we are taking into our Bodies, ſuch Air as is about us. And when the concoctive Powers are weak, as in ſuch Perſons, and the Quantity of the Food is too great, or its Quality too ſtrong for [16] them, the Chyle is too groſs, and the per⯑ſpiratory Matter is ſtopped, becauſe too large for theſe ſmall Ducts; and this whole Maſs, which in common Health is more than double of the groſs Evacua⯑tions, recoils in upon the Bowels, and becomes, as it were, Spears, and Darts, and Armour to the Air received from without; which being thus ſharpened with the Salts of the unconcocted Food, to⯑gether with its own elaſtick Force, pierces the Sides of the Veſſels, and gets into all the Cavities of the Body, and be⯑tween the Muſcles and their Membranes, and there, in Time, brings forth hypo⯑chondriack, hyſterick, nervous, and va⯑pouriſh Diſorders, and all that black Train of Evils ſuch Conſtitutions ſuffer under.

§. 1.

TO have our Food, that is, our Meat and Drink, as to Quan⯑tity and Quality duly regulated, and pre⯑ciſely adjuſted to our concoctive Powers, would be of the utmoſt Conſequence to Health and Long Life. Our Bodies re⯑quire only a determinate Quantity there⯑of, to ſupply the Expences of living: and a juſt Proportion of that to theſe would very probably preſerve us from acute, moſt certainly from chronical Diſtempers, and enable us to live, without much Sick⯑neſs and Pain, ſo long as our Conſtitu⯑tions were originally made to laſt. The Sources of chronical Diſtempers are firſt Viſcidity in the Juices, or the Over⯑largeneſs of their conſtituent Particles, which not being ſufficiently broken by the concoctive Powers, ſtop or retard the Circulation; or, ſecondly, too great abun⯑dance of ſharp and acrimonious Salts, [20] whereby the Juices themſelves are ren⯑dered ſo corroſive, as to burſt or wear out the Solids; or, thirdly, a Relaxa⯑tion, or Want of a due Force and Sprin⯑gineſs, in the Solids themſelves. An Ex⯑ceſs in Quantity begets the firſt, the ill Condition of our Meat and Drink the ſecond, and both together, with Want of due Labour, the third.

§. 2.

The Meat of England is gene⯑rally animal Subſtances. The Animals themſelves, from epidemick Cauſes, bad Food, Age, or other Infirmities, have their Diſeaſes as well as human Crea⯑tures: and theſe diſeaſed Animals can never be proper or ſound Food for Men. Adult Animals abound more in urinous Salts than young ones: Their Parts are more cloſely compacted, becauſe more forcibly united; and ſo harder of Dige⯑ſtion. 'Tis true, the great Diſtinction of the Fitneſs or Unfitneſs of the ſeveral Sorts of Animals and Vegetables for hu⯑man Food, depends upon their original Make, Frame, and Nature (and that can be found out only by Experience) as alſo upon the ſpecial Taſte, Complexion, Tem⯑perament, and Habits of the Perſon that feeds on them. But by the Help of theſe [21] Three Principles, viz. Firſt, That the Strength or Weakneſs of Coheſion of the Particles of fluid Bodies, depends up⯑on their Bigneſs or Smallneſs; that is, the biggeſt Particles cohere more firmly, than the ſmaller, becauſe more Parts come into Contact in large Bodies than ſmall, and ſo their Union is greater. Secondly, That the greater the Force [Momentum] is, with which two Bodies meet, the ſtronger is their Coheſion, and the more difficult their Separation. Thirdly, that Salts, being comprehended by plain Sur⯑faces, being hard, and in all Changes recovering their Figure, unite the moſt firmly of any Bodies whatſoever: Their plain Surfaces bring many Points into Contact and Union: Their Hardneſs and conſtant Figure make them durable and unalterable; and thereby the active Prin⯑ciples, and the Origin of the Qualities of Bodies; and when they approach with⯑in the Sphere of one another's Activity, they firmly unite in Cluſters; all which make the Separation of their original Particles the more difficult. I ſay, from theſe three Principles, we may in gene⯑ral compare the Eaſineſs or Difficulty of digeſting (that is, breaking into ſmall Parts) the ſeveral Sorts of Vegetables [22] and Animals, one with another; and ſo diſcover their Fitneſs or Unfitneſs for becoming Food for tender and valetudi⯑nary Perſons.

• 1. All other Things being ſuppoſed equal, thoſe Vegetables and Animals, that come to Maturity the ſooneſt, are lighteſt of Digeſtion. Thus the Spring Vegetables, as Aſparagus, Straw-berries, and ſome Sorts of Sallading, are more eaſily digeſted than Pears, Apples, Pea⯑ches, and Nectarines; becauſe they have leſs of the ſolar Fire in them; their Parts are united by a weaker Heat; that is, with leſs Velocity, and abound leſs in, nay ſcarce have any ſtrong and fixed Salts. Among the Animals, the com⯑mon Poultry, Hares, Sheep, Kids, Rab⯑bets, &c. who in the ſame, or a few Years come to their Maturity (that is, to propagate their Species) are much more tender and readily digeſted than Cows, Horſes, or Aſſes, (were theſe laſt in uſe for Food, as they have been in Famine) &c. for the Reaſon already given, be⯑cauſe their Parts cohere leſs firmly. And it is obſervable, of the Vegetables, which are longeſt a ripening, that is, whoſe Juices have moſt of the ſolar Rays [23] in them, that their fermented Juices yield the ſtrongeſt vinous Spirits; as Grapes, Elder-berries, and the like: and of the Animals that are longeſt in coming to Maturity, that their Juices yield the moſt rank and moſt foetid urinous Salts.
• 2. Other Things ſuppoſed equal, the larger and bigger the Vegetable or Ani⯑mal is, in its Kind, the ſtronger and the harder to digeſt is the Food made thereof. Thus a large Onion, Apple, or Pear, and large Beef and Mutton are harder to di⯑geſt than the leſſer ones, of the ſame Kind; not only, as their Veſſels being ſtronger and more elaſtick, their Parts are brought together with a greater Force; but alſo, becauſe the Qualities are pro⯑portionably more intenſe in great Bodies of the ſame Kind: Thus, other Things being equal, a greater Fire is proportion⯑ably more intenſely hot, than a leſſer one; and the Wine contained in a larger Veſſel becomes ſtronger than that con⯑tained in a leſſer; and conſequently the Juices of larger Animals and Vegetables are more rank than the Juices of ſmaller ones of the ſame Kind.
• [24]3. Other Things being equal, The pro⯑per Food appointed for Animals by Na⯑ture, is eaſier digeſted than the Animals themſelves; thoſe Animals that live on Vegetables, than thoſe that live on Ani⯑mals; thoſe that live on Vegetables or Animals, that ſooneſt come to Maturi⯑ty, than thoſe that live on ſuch as are longer a ripening. Thus Milk and Eggs are lighter of Digeſtion than the Fleſh of Beaſts or Birds; Pullets and Turkies, than Ducks and Geeſe; and Partridge, and Pheaſant are lighter than Woodcock or Snipe; becauſe theſe laſt, being long-bil⯑led, ſuck only animal Juices; and for the Reaſons already given, Graſs Beef and Mutton are lighter than ſtall-fed Ox⯑en and Sheep.
• 4. All Things elſe being alike, Fiſh and Sea-Animals are harder to digeſt than Land-Animals; becauſe univerſal⯑ly their Food is other Animals, and the Salt Element in which they live compacts their Parts more firmly; Salts having a ſtronger Power of Coheſion than other Bodies. And for the ſame Reaſon, Salt Water Fiſh is harder to digeſt than freſh Water. Thus the Sea Tortoiſe is harder [25] to digeſt than the Land Tortoiſe; and Sturgeon and Turbit, than Trout or Perch.
• 5. Other Things being equal, Vegeta⯑bles and Animals that abound in an oily, fat, and glutinous Subſtance, are harder to digeſt, than thoſe of a dry, fleſhy, fibrous Subſtance; becauſe oily and fat Subſtan⯑ces clude the Force and Action of the concoctive Powers; and their Parts at⯑tract one another, and unite more ſtrong⯑ly than other Subſtances do, (except Salts) as Sir Iſaac Newton ^* obſerves. Their Softneſs and Humidity relaxes and weak⯑ens the Force of the Stomach, and the Fat and Oil itſelf is ſhut up in little Bladders, that are with Difficulty broken. Thus Nuts of all kinds paſs through the Guts, almoſt untouched: Olives are har⯑der to digeſt than Peaſe; fat fleſh Meat, than the lean of the ſame. Carp, Tench, Salmon, Eel, and Turbit, are much harder to digeſt than Whiting, Perch, Trout, or Haddock.
• 6. Vegetables and Animals, all Things elſe being alike, whoſe Subſtance is white, [26] or inclining to the lighter Colours, are lighter to digeſt, than thoſe whoſe Subſtance is redder, browner, or inclining towards the more flaming Colours; not only be⯑cauſe the Parts that reflect white, and the lighter Colours are leſſer in Bulk than thoſe that reflect the more flaming Colours^†; but alſo becauſe thoſe of the more flaming Colours abound more with urinious Salts. Thus Turnips, Parſnips, and Potatoes, are lighter than Carrots, Skirrets, and Beet-Raves. Pullet, Tur⯑key, Pheaſant, and Rabbet, are lighter than Duck, Geeſe, Woodcock, and Snipe. Whiting, Flounder, Perch, and Soal, are lighter than Salmon, Sturgeon, Herring, and Mackarel. Veal and Lamb is lighter than Red or Fallow Deer.
• 7. Laſtly, All other Things being e⯑qual, Vegetables and Animals of a ſtrong, poignant, aromatick and hot Taſte, are harder to digeſt than thoſe of a milder, ſofter, and more inſipid Taſte. High Re⯑liſh comes from abundance of Salts: A⯑bundance of Salts ſuppoſes adult Ani⯑mals, and ſuch as are long a coming to [27] Maturity; and where Salts abound, the Parts are more difficultly ſeparated, and harder to be digeſted. Strong and aro⯑matick Plants imbibe and retain moſt of the ſolar Rays, and become ſolid Spirits, or fixed Flames. And they that deal much in them ſwallow ſo much live⯑Coals, which will at laſt inflame the Fluids and burn up the Solids.

§. 3.

There is nothing more certain, than that the greater Superiority the con⯑coctive Powers have, over the Food, or the ſtronger the concoctive Powers are, in regard of the Things to be concocted; the finer the Chyle will be, the Circula⯑tion the more free, and the Spirits more lightſome; that is, the better will the Health be. Now from theſe general Propoſitions, taking in their own parti⯑cular Complexion and Habits, vale⯑tudinary, ſtudious, or contemplative Per⯑ſons may eaſily fix upon theſe particular vegetable or animal Foods, that are fit⯑teſt for them. And if any Error ſhould be committed, 'tis beſt to err on the ſafeſt Side, and rather chuſe thoſe Things that are under our concoctive Powers, than thoſe that are above them. And in the Choice of Animals for our Food, we [28] muſt not paſs over the Manner of fatten⯑ing and fitting them up for the Table. About London we can ſcarce have any, but cramm'd Poultry, or ſtall-fed Butche⯑ry Meat. It were ſufficient to diſguſt the ſtouteſt Stomach, to ſee the foul, groſs, and naſty Manner, in which, and the fetid, putrid and unwholeſome Ma⯑terials, with which they are fed. Perpe⯑tual Foulneſs and Cramming, groſs Food and Naſtineſs, we know, will putrify the Juices and mortify the muſcular Subſtance of human Creatures; and ſure they can do no leſs in Brute Animals, and thus make even our Food Poiſon. The ſame may be ſaid of hot Beds, and forcing Plants and Vegetables. The only Way of having ſound and healthful animal Food, is to leave them to their own na⯑tural Liberty, in the free Air, and their own proper Element, with Plenty of Food, and due Cleanneſs, and a Shelter from the Injuries of the Weather, when they have a Mind to retire to it. I add nothing about Cookery: Plain Roaſting and Boiling is as high, as valetudinary, tender, ſtudious, and contemplative Per⯑ſons, or thoſe who would preſerve their Health, and lengthen out their Days, ought to preſume on. Made Diſhes, rich [29] Soop, high Sauces, Baking, Smoaking, Salting, and Pickling, are the Inventions of Luxury, to force an unnatural Appe⯑tite, and encreaſe the Load, which Na⯑ture, without Incentives from ill Habits, and a vicious Palate, will of itſelf make more than ſufficient for Health and long Life. Abſtinence and proper Evacua⯑tions, due Labour and Exerciſe, will al⯑ways recover a decayed Appetite, ſo long as there is any Strength and Fund in Na⯑ture to go upon. And 'tis ſcarce allow⯑ble to provoke an Appetite, with medi⯑cinal Helps, but where the digeſtive Fa⯑culties have been ſpoiled and ruined by acute or tedious chronical Diſtempers. And as ſoon as 'tis recovered to any to⯑lerable Degree, Nature is to be left to its own Work, without any Spurs from Cookery or Phyſick.

§. 4.

The next Conſideration is the Quantity of Food that is neceſſary to ſupport Nature, without overloading it, in a due Plight: That is indeed various, according to the Age, Sex, Nature, Strength, and Country the Party is of, and the Exerciſe he uſes. In theſe Nor⯑thern Countries, the Coldneſs of the Air, the Strength and large Stature of [30] People, demand larger Supplies than in the Eaſtern and warmer Countries. Young growing Perſons, and thoſe of great Strength and large Stature, require more than the Aged, Weak, and Slender. But Perſons of all Sorts will live more heal⯑thy and longer by univerſal Temperance, than otherwiſe. And ſome general Ob⯑ſervations on the Quantity Perſons of different Nations and Conditions, have lived on, healthy, and to a great Age, may give ſome Aſſiſtance to valetudina⯑ry and tender Perſons, to adjuſt the due Quantity neceſſary for them.

§ 5.

It is ſurpriſing, to what a great Age the eaſtern Chriſtians, who retir'd from the Perſecutions into the Deſarts of Egypt and Arabia, lived healthful on a very little Food. We are inform'd by Caſſian, that the common Meaſure in twenty four Hours, was about twelve Ounces or a Pound, (for the eaſtern Pound was but twelve Ounces) with mere Element for Drink. St. Antho⯑ny liv'd to 105 Years, on mere Bread and Water, adding only a few Herbs at laſt. James the Hermit, to 104. Arſe⯑nius, the Tutor of the Emperor Arcadi⯑us, to 120: 65 in the world, and 55 in [31] the Deſart. St. Epiphanus, to 115. St. Je⯑rome, to about 100. Simeon Stylites, 109. And Romualdus, 120. And Lewis Corna⯑ro, a Venetian Nobleman, after he had u⯑ſed all other Remedies in vain, ſo that his Life was deſpair'd of at 40, yet recover'd and liv'd, by the mere Force of his Tem⯑perance, near to 100 years.

§ 6.

Our Northern Climate, as I ſaid from the Purity and Coldneſs of the Air, which bracing the Fibres, makes the Ap⯑petite keener, and the Action of Dige⯑ſtition ſtronger; and from the Labour and Strength of the People, which makes the Expences of living more, will neceſ⯑ſarily require a greater Quantity of Food. Yet 'tis wonderful in what Sprightlineſs, Stength, Activity, and fredom of Spirits, a low Diet, even here, will preſerve thoſe that have habituated themſelves to it. Buchanan informs us, of one Lau⯑rence who preſerved himſelf to 140, by the mere Force of Temperance and La⯑bour. Spotſwood mentions one Kenti⯑gern (afterwards called St. Mongah, or Mungo, from whom the Famous Well in Wales is named) who lived to 185 Years, tho' after he came to the Years of Underſtanding, he never taſted [32] Wine nor ſtrong Drink; and ſlept on the cold Ground. My worthy Friend Mr. Web, is ſtill alive. He by the Quickneſs of the Faculties of the Mind, and the Activity of the Organs of his Body, ſhews the great Benefit of a low Diet, living altogether on vegetable Food and pure Element. The Hiſtory of the Milk ^* Doctor of Croydon, who by living on Milk only, cured himſelf of an other⯑wiſe incurable Diſtemper, viz. the E⯑pilepſy, and liv'd in perfect Health for ſixteen Years after, till an Accident cut him off, I have already narrated in my Treatiſe of the Gout. Henry Jenkins a Fiſherman, liv'd 169 Years, his Diet was coarſe and ſower, as his Hiſtorian informs us, that is, plain and cooling, and the Air where he lived ſharp and clear, viz. Allerton upon Swale in York⯑ſhire. Parr died ſixteen Years younger, viz. at the age of 152 Years, 9 Months; his Diet was old Cheeſe, Milk, coarſe Bread, ſmall Beer, and Whey: And his Hiſtorian tells us, he might have lived a good while longer, if he had not changed his Diet and Air, coming out of a clear, thin, free Air, into the thick Air of London, and after a conſtant, plain, [33] and homely country Diet, being taken into a ſpendid Family, where he fed high, and drank plentifully of the beſt Wines, whereby the natural Functions of the Parts were overcharged, and the Habit of the whole Body quite diſordered; up⯑on which there could not but ſoon enſue a Diſſolution. ^*Dr. Liſter mentions eight Perſons in the North of England, the youngeſt of which was above 100 Years, and the eldeſt 140. He ſays, 'tis to be obſerved, that the Food of all this moun⯑tainous Country is exceedingly coarſe. And certainly there is no Place in the World more likely to lengthen out Life than England, eſpecially thoſe Parts of it, that have a free open Air, and a gra⯑velly and chalky Soil, if to due Exerciſe, Abſtemiouſneſs, and a plain ſimple Diet were added.

§. 7.

I have ^†elſewhere offered to determine the Quantity of Food, ſuffi⯑cient to keep a Man of an Ordinary Sta⯑ture, following no laborious Employ⯑ment, [34] in due Plight, Health, and Vigour; to wit, 8 Ounces of Fleſh Meat, 12 of Bread, or vegetable Food, and about a Pint of Wine, or other generous Liquor in 24 Hours. But the Valetudinary, and thoſe employed in ſedentary Profeſſions, or intellectual Studies, muſt leſſen this Quantity, if they would preſerve their Health, and the Freedom of their Spirits long. Studious and ſedentary Men muſt of Neceſſity eat and drink a great deal leſs, than thoſe very ſame Men might do, were they engaged in an active Life. For as they want that Exerciſe that is neceſſary towards Concoction and Per⯑ſpiration, and that their Nerves are more worn out by intellectual Studies, than even bodily Labour would waſte them; if, in any wiſe, they indulge Freedom of Living, their Juices muſt neceſſarily be⯑come viſcid, and their Stomachs relaxed. He that would have a clear Head muſt have a clean Stomach. The Neglect of which is the Cauſe, why we ſee ſo many hy⯑pochondriacal, melancholy, and vapouriſh Gentlemen, among thoſe of the long Robe; the only Remedy of which is La⯑bour and Abſtinence.

§. 8.

Moſt of all the chronical Diſeaſes, the Infirmities of old Age, and the ſhort Periods of the Lives of Engliſhmen, are owing to Repletion. This is evident from hence; becauſe Evacuation of one Kind or another is nine Parts of ten in their Remedy: For not only Cupping, Bleed⯑ing, Bliſtering, Iſſues, Purging, Vomit⯑ing, and Sweating, are manifeſt Evacua⯑tions, or Drains to draw out what has been ſuperfluouſly taken down; but even Abſtinence, Exerciſe, Alteratives, Cor⯑dials, Bitters, and Alexipharmicks, are but ſeveral means to diſpoſe the groſs Humours to be more readily evacuated by inſenſible Perſpiration; that new and well concocted Chyle, and ſweet com⯑minuted Juices, may take their Place to reſtore the Habit. And therefore it were much more eaſy, as well as more ſafe and effectual, to prevent than incur the Neceſſity of ſuch Evacuations. And a⯑ny one may loſe a Pound of Blood, take a Purge, or a Sweat; by dropping the great Meal, or abſtaining from animal Food and ſtrong Liquors, for four or five Days (in chronical Caſes) as effectually as by opening a Vein, ſwallowing a Doſe of Pills, or taking a ſudorifick Bolus.

§. 9.

I adviſe therefore all Gentlemen of a ſedentary Life, and of learned Pro⯑feſſions, to uſe as much Abſtinence as poſſibly they can, conſiſtent with the Pre⯑ſervation of their Strength and Freedom of Spirits: Which ought to be done as ſoon as they find any Heavineſs, Inquie⯑tudes, reſtleſs Nights, or Averſion to Ap⯑plication; either by leſſening one half of their uſual Quantity of animal Food and ſtrong Liqours, 'till ſuch Time as they regain their wonted Freedom and Indo⯑lence; or by living a due Time wholly upon vegetable Diet, ſuch as Sago, Rice, Pudding, and the like, and drinking on⯑ly a little Wine and Water. And if they would preſerve their Health and Conſti⯑tution, and lengthen out their Days; they muſt either inviolably live low (or mai⯑gre, as the French call it) a Day or two in the Week; or once a Week, Fort⯑night, or Month at fartheſt, take ſome domeſtick Purge, which ſhall require nei⯑ther Diet, nor keeping at Home; but may at once ſtrengthen the Bowels, and diſcharge ſuperfluous Humours. Of this Kind are a Doſe (6 or 7) of the Scotch Pills; half a Dram of the Pilulae Stoma⯑chicae cum Gummi, with three or four [37] Grains of Diagryd, mixt; half a Dram of the Pilulae Ruffi; two Ounces of Hiera Piera, with one Dram of the Sy⯑rup of Buckthorn; two or three Ounces of Elixir Salutis; or (what I prefer be⯑fore all theſe) this Preparation of Rhu⯑barb:

Take the beſt Rhubarb in Powder two Ounces and a half; Salt of Worm⯑wood a Dram; Orange Peel half an Ounce; grated Nutmeg two Scru⯑ples; Cochineal, half a Dram. In⯑fuſc 48 Hours by a warm Fire-ſide, in a Quart of true Arrack. Strain it off, and put it in a well corked Bottle for Uſe.

Of this two or three Spoonfuls may be taken, two or three Times a Week, or at Pleaſure, with great Safety and Be⯑nefit, without Interruption of Buſineſs, or Studies, and continued even to ma⯑ture old Age, if found neceſſary. So true is old Verulam's Aphoriſm: ^* Nihil ma⯑gis conducit ad Sanitatem & Longaevi⯑tatem [38] quam crebrae & domeſticae purga⯑tiones. And the Gentlemen of the long Robe, thoſe of learned Profeſſions and contemplative Studies, muſt of Neceſſity at laſt take Sir Charles Scarborough's Ad⯑vice, as 'tis ſaid, to the Dutcheſs of Portſ⯑mouth: You muſt eat leſs, or uſe more Exerciſe, or take Phyſick, or be ſick.

§. 10.

Thoſe who have written about Health have given many Rules, where⯑by to know when any Perſon has exceed⯑ed at a Meal: I think, there needs but this ſhort one, which is; If any Man has eat or drank ſo much, as renders him unfit for the Duties and Studies of his Profeſſion (after an Hour's ſitting quiet to carry on the Digeſtion;) he has over⯑done. I mean only of thoſe of learned Profeſſions and ſtudious Lives; for thoſe of mechanical Employments muſt take the Body, the other Part of the com⯑pound, into Conſideration. If tender People, and thoſe of learned Profeſſions would go by this Rule, there would be little Uſe for Phyſick or Phyſicians in chronical Caſes. Or if they would but eat only one Part of animal Food, at the great Meal, and make the other two of vegetable Food; and drink only Water [39] with a Spoonful of Wine, or clear ſmall Beer; their Appetites would be a ſuffi⯑cient Rule to determine the Quantity of their Meat and Drink. But Variety of Diſhes, the luxurious Artfulneſs of Cook⯑ery, and ſwallowing rich Wine after eve⯑ry Bit of Meat, ſo lengthen out the Ap⯑petite; the Fondneſs of Mothers, and the Cramming of Nurſes have ſo ſtretched the Capacities of Receiving, that there is no Security from the Appetite among the better Sort. 'Tis amazing to think how Men of Voluptuouſneſs, Lazineſs, and poor Conſtitutions, ſhould imagine themſelves able to carry off Loads of high-ſeaſoned Foods, and inflammatory Liquors, without Injury or Pain; when Men of mechanick Employments, and rubuſt Conſtitutions, are ſcarcely able to live healthy and in Vigour to any great Age, on a ſimple, low, and almoſt vege⯑table Diet.

§. 11.

Since then our Appetites are deceitful, and Weight and Meaſure trou⯑bleſome and ſingular; we muſt have Re⯑courſe to a Rule independent of our Sen⯑ſations, and free from unneceſſary Trou⯑ble and Pain. To anſwer which, I know nothing but Eating and Drinking by our [40] Eye. that is, determining firſt of all ei⯑ther by Weight or Meaſure, or by par⯑ticular Obſervation or Experiment, the Bulk, or Number of Mouthfuls of Fleſh Meat, and the Number of Glaſſes of ſtrong Liquors, under which we are beſt; and then by our Eye determining an equal Quantity at all Times for the future: Thus the two Wings of a middling Pul⯑let, or one Wing and both Legs; three Ribs of a middling Neck of Mutton, two middling Slices of a Leg or Shoulder, throwing away the Fat and the Skin; ſomewhat leſs of Beef, may be ſufficient for Fleſh Meat, at the great Meal. For we are ſo wiſely contrived, that our Food need not be adjuſted to mathematical Points: A little over or under will make no Difference in our Health. As for Pork, and all Kinds of Hog's Fleſh, I think they ought to be forbidden vale⯑tudinary and ſtudious People, as they were the Jews: They feed the fouleſt of any Creature, and their Juices are the rankeſt; their Subſtance the moſt ſur⯑feiting, and they are the moſt ſubject to cutaneous Diſeaſes and Putrefaction, of any Creature; inſomuch, that in the Time of a Plague, or any epidemical Di⯑ſtemper, they are univerſally deſtroyed [41] by all wiſe Nations, as the Southern Peo⯑ple do mad Dogs in the hot Months. The ſame Cenſure I ſhould pàſs upon all Fiſh. Moſt Fiſh live in a ſaltiſh Element, and come only into freſh Water Rivers, for the Quietneſs and Conveniency of bringing forth their young ones. This makes their Parts more cloſely united and harder of Digeſtion. Beſides, as I have before obſerved, they feed upon one a⯑nother, and their Juices abound with a Salt that corrupts the Blood, and breeds chronical Diſeaſes. And 'tis always ob⯑ſervable, that thoſe who live much on Fiſh are infected with the Scurvy, cuta⯑neous Eruptions, and the other Diſeaſes of a foul Blood. And every Body finds himſelf more thirſty and heavy than uſual after a full Meal of Fiſh, let them be ever ſo freſh; and is generally forced to have Recourſe to Spirits and diſtilled Liquors to carry them off: So that it is become a Proverb, among thoſe that live much upon them, that Brandy is Latin for Fiſh. Beſides, that after a full Meal of Fiſh, even at Noon, one never ſleeps ſo ſound the enſuing Night; as is certain from conſtant Obſervation. Theſe few Hints may ſerve the valetudinary Perſon, in a groſs Manner, to judge by [42] the Eye the Quantity of ſolid Fleſh Meat he takes or ought to take down: For I judge the mentioned Quantities to be ra⯑ther a little under than over eight Ounces. As to Broths, Soops, and Jellies, if they be ſtrong, I account them equal in Nou⯑riſhment and harder to digeſt than the ſame Weight of ſolid Fleſh Meat; and three or four common Spoonfuls, atmoſt, make an Ounce in Weight in Liquids; and about double the Number of Bits commonly ſwallowed at once make the ſame Weight in ſolid Fleſh Meat; for Exactneſs is not here requiſite.

§. 12.

Drink is the other Part of our Food. The common Drink here in England is either Water, Malt-Liquor, or Wine, or Mixtures of theſe; for Cy⯑der and Perry are drank but in few Places, and rather for Pleaſure and Variety than common Uſe. Without all peradven⯑ture, Water was the primitive, original Beverage, as it is the only Simple Fluid (for there are but three more in Nature, Mercury, Light, and Air, none of which is fit for human Drink) fitted for diluting, moiſtening and cooling; the Ends of Drink appointed by Nature. And happy had it been for the Race of Mankind other [43] mixt and artificial Liquors had never been invented. It has been an agreea⯑ble Appearance to me to obſerve, with what Freſhneſs and Vigour, thoſe who, tho' eating freely of Fleſh Meat, yet drank nothing but this Element, have lived in Health, Indolence, and Chearful⯑neſs, to a great Age. Water alone is ſufficient and effectual for all the Pur⯑poſes of human Wants in Drink. Strong Liquors were never deſigned for com⯑mon Uſe: They were formerly kept (here in England) as other Medicines are, in Apothecaries Shops, and preſcribed by Phyſicians, as they do Diaſcordium and Venice-Treacle; to refreſh the Weary, to ſtrengthen the Weak, to give Courage to the Faint-hearted, and raiſe the Low⯑ſpirited. And it were as juſt and reaſo⯑nable to ſee Men (and if they go on, it is not impoſſible I may hear of it, ſince Laudanum is already taken into Feaſts and Entertainments) ſit down to a Diſh of Venice-Treacle, or Sir Walter Raw⯑leigh's Confection, with a Bottle of Hy⯑ſterick Cordial, as to a Diſh of Craw⯑fiſh-Soop, an Ox-Cheek or Veniſon⯑Paſty, with a Bottle of Hermitage, or Tockay, or which ſome prefer to either of them, a Bowl of PUNCH. Wine [44] is now become as common as Water; and the better Sort ſcarce ever dilute their Food with any other Liquor. And we ſee, by daily Experience, that (as na⯑tural Cauſes will always produce their proper Effects) their Blood becomes in⯑flammed into Gout, Stone, and Rheuma⯑matiſm, raging Fevers, Pleuriſies, Small Pox, or Meaſles; their Paſſions are en⯑raged into Quarrels, Murder, and Blaſ⯑phemy; their Juices are dried up; and their Solids ſcorch'd and ſhrivel'd. Thoſe whoſe Appetite and Digeſtion is good and entire, never want ſtrong Liquors to ſupply Spirits: Such Spirits are too vo⯑latile and fugitive for any ſolid or uſeful Purpoſes in Life. Two Ounces of Fleſh Meat, well digeſted, beget a greater Stock of more durable and uſeful Spirits, than ten Times as much ſtrong Liquors, which nothing but Luxury and Concupiſcence makes neceſſary. Happy thoſe, whom their Parents, their natural Averſion to ſtrong Liquors, or whom kind Provi⯑dence among the better Sort, has brought to the Age of Maturity and Diſcretion, without dealing in or deſiring any great Quantity of ſtrong Liquors: Their Paſ⯑ſions have been calmer, their Senſations [45] more exquiſite, their Appetites leſs unruly, and their Health more uninterrupted, than any other natural Cauſe could have pro⯑duced. And thrice happy they, who con⯑tinue this Courſe to their laſt Minutes. Nothing is more ridiculous than the com⯑mon Plea for continuing in drinking on, large Quantities of ſpirituous Liquors; viz. Becauſe they have been accuſtomed ſo to do, and they think it dangerous to leave it off, all of a ſudden. It were as reaſonable for him that is fallen into the Fire or Water to lie there, becauſe of the Danger of removing him ſuddenly. For neither Element will deſtroy him more certainly, before his Time, than wal⯑lowing in ſtrong Liquors. If the Quan⯑tity of ſtrong Liquors they have been ac⯑cuſtomed to, may be ſuppoſed prejudicial to their Health, or to introduce noxious Humours into the Habit; the ſooner a Stop be put to it, the better. No Man is afraid to forbear ſtrong Liquors in an acute Diſtemper, what Quantity ſoever he might have drank in his Health: And yet any ſudden Change of the Humours would not only be more dangerous then, than at any other Time; but alſo would more readily happen and come to paſs, in ſuch critical Caſes. For the whole Syſtem [46] of the Fluids, being in a Fermentation, ſmall Changes or Errors then, would not only be more fatal, but more plain and ob⯑vious. And if a Perſon be in Hazard by ſuch a ſudden Alteration, he cannot live long by taking down ſo much Poiſon. But the Matter of Fact is falſe and ground⯑leſs. For I have known and obſerved conſtant good Effects from leaving off ſuddenly great Quantities of Wine and Fleſh Meats too, by thoſe long accuſtom⯑ed to both, am ready to name the Per⯑ſons, and never obſerved any ill Conſe⯑quence from it in any Caſe whatſoever. Thoſe whoſe Conſtitutions have been quite broken, and running into Diſſolu⯑tion, have lived longer, and been leſs pained in Sickneſs by ſo doing: And thoſe who have had a Fund in Nature to laſt longer, have grown better, and attained their End by it. I allow every Man, that has been accuſtomed to drink Wine, or ſtrong Liquors, a Pint in 24 Hours: And I am well ſatisfied, that Quantity is ſufficient for Health, let their Cuſtom have been what it will. Their Spirits may indeed flag and ſink a little at firſt, for Want of introduced Quick⯑lime and Fire. But Low-ſpiritedneſs, in ſuch a Caſe, I count no Diſeaſe. And [47] bearing it for ſome Time, is bountiful⯑ly recompenced by the Health, Indo⯑lence, and Freedom of Spirits, they after⯑wards enjoy: Not taking into Conſide⯑ration their being reſcued from the Ty⯑ranny of ſo immoral and miſchievous a Habit. It may be ſufficient for thoſe who are tender, ſtudious, or contempla⯑tive, to drink three Glaſſes of Water with a Spoonful of Wine at the great Meal. And as Sir W. Temple has it, One for your ſelf, another for your Friends, a third for good Humour, and a fourth for your Enemies, are more than ſufficient after it.

§. 13.

A great Miſtake committed in this Affair is, that moſt People think the only Remedy for Gluttony is Drunken⯑neſs, or that the Cure of a Surfeit of Meat is a Surfeit of Wine: Than which nothing can be more falſe, or contrary to Nature; for, 'tis lighting, as the Say⯑ing is, the Candle at both Ends. For, firſt of all, Wine and all other ſtrong Li⯑quors are as hard to digeſt, and require as much Labour of the concoctive Powers, as ſtrong Food itſelf. This is not only evident with Reſpect to People of weak Stomachs, but alſo from hence, that heal⯑thy [48] People who drink only Water, or weak ſmall Beer, ſhall be able to eat and digeſt almoſt double of what they could, did they drink ſtrong Liquors at their Meals, as every one that pleaſes may ex⯑perience. Water is the only univerſal Diſſolvent or Menſtruum, and the moſt certain Diluter of all Bodies proper for Food; tho' there are a great many that ſpirituous Liquors not only will not diſ⯑ſolve, but will harden, and make more undigeſtible; eſpecially the Salts of Bo⯑dies, wherein their active Qualities, that is, thoſe which can do moſt Harm to hu⯑man Conſtitutions, conſiſt. And I have known Men of weak and tender Conſti⯑tutions, who could neither eat nor di⯑geſt upon drinking of Wine, who, by drinking at Meals common Water heat⯑ed, have recovered their Appetites and Digeſtion, have thriven and grown plump. 'Tis true ſtrong Liquors, by their Heat and Stimulation on the Organs of Con⯑coction, by encreaſing the Velocity of the Motion of the Fluids, and thereby quick⯑ening the other animal Functions, will carry off the Load that lies upon the Stomach, with more preſent Chearful⯑neſs: Yet, beſides the future Damages of ſuch a Quantity of Wine, to the Stomach [49] and to the Fluids, by its Heat and In⯑flammation, the Food is hurried into the Habit, unconcocted, and lays a Founda⯑tion for a Fever, a Fit of the Cholick, or ſome chronical Diſeaſe.

§. 14.

Another Miſtake I ſhall ob⯑ſerve, is the extreme Fondneſs Perſons of the better Sort here in England, have lately run into, for the ſtrong and high Country Wines. I can think of no Reaſon for this, but the very ho⯑neſt one the Vulgar give for drinking Brandy: that they get ſooner drunk on it. For ſurely the middling lighter Wines, inflame the animal Juices leſs, go more eaſily off the Stomach, and afford more Room for long Converſation and Chearfulneſs. Exceſs in them, gives leſs Pain, and is ſooner remedied. But there are Degrees in this Matter. ^* Ne⯑mo repente fuit turpiſſimus. They begin with the weaker Wines; theſe by Uſe and Habit will not do, they leave the Sto⯑mach ſick and mawkiſh, they muſt fly to ſtronger Wine, and ſtronger ſtill, and run the ^† Climax, through Brandy to Bar⯑badoes Waters, and double diſtill'd Spi⯑rits, 'till at laſt they can find nothing [48] [...] [49] [...] [50] hot enough for them. People who have any Regard for their Health or Lives, ought to tremble at the firſt Cravings, for ſuch poyſonous Liquors. Strong Waters ſhould never be taken but by the Direction of a Phyſician, or in the Agonies of Death. For when Per⯑ſons arrive at that State, that they become neceſſary to their Eaſe and Freedom of Spirits; they may be juſtly reckoned a⯑mong the Dead, both as to the ſhort Time they have to live, and the little Uſe they can be of either to themſelves or Mankind. I ſpeak not here of thoſe who are under an actual Fit of the Gout, or Cholick in the Stomach. (We muſt not die for fear of dying.) Nor am I recom⯑mending ſour Verjuice or unripe Wines. But I cannot help being well ſatisfied, both from Reaſon and Experience, that the light Wines, of a moderate Strength, due Age and full Maturity, are much preferable for Chearfulneſs and Conver⯑ſation, much more wholſome for human Conſtitutions, and much more proper for Digeſtion than the hot and ſtrong Wines. The rich, ſtrong, and heavy Wines ought never to be taſted without a ſufficient Dilution of Water; at leaſt they ſhould be uſed, like Brandy or Spirits, for a Cor⯑dial^*. [51] Ad ſummum tria pocula ſume. Whatſoever is more cometh of Sin, and muſt be diluted with the Waters of Repentance.

§. 15.

I have no Intention here to diſcourage the innocent Means of enliven⯑ing Converſation, promoting Friendſhip, comforting the ſorrowful Heart, and rai⯑ſing the drooping Spirits, by the cheer⯑ful Cup and the ſocial Repaſt. Perhaps I may like the harmleſs Frolick, the warm Reception of a Friend, and even the ^† Dulce Furere itſelf, more than I ought: Perſons ſober in the main, will receive little Prejudice from ſuch a Fillip, when the Occaſions happen but ſeldom, and eſpecially when they make it up, by a greater Degree of Abſtinence afterwards. But a Sot is the loweſt Character in Life. Did only the Profligate, the Scoundrel, the Abandon'd, run into theſe Exceſſes, it were in vain to endeavour to reclaim them, as it were, to ſtop a Tempeſt, or calm a Storm. But now that the Vice is be⯑come Epidemical, ſince it has got not only among Mechanicks and Tradeſmen, but among Perſons of the brighteſt Ge⯑nius, [52] the fineſt Taſte, and the moſt ac⯑compliſh'd Parts; and (oh that I could give my Conſcience the Lye, in men⯑tioning them!) even among the firſt and leaſt fallen Part of the Creation itſelf, and thoſe of them too, of the moſt ele⯑gant Parts, and the ſtricteſt Virtue o⯑therwiſe; and which is ſtill the moſt ſur⯑priſing of all, even thoſe too, who are in all other Reſpects blameleſs. Since I ſay the Caſe is ſo, it will not be amiſs to ſhew, to the Evidence of a Demon⯑ſtration, the Folly as well as the Fruit⯑leſſneſs of ſuch a Courſe. A Fit of the Colick, or of the Vapours, a Family⯑Misfortune, a caſual Diſappointment, the Death of a Child, or of a Friend, with the Aſſiſtance of the Nurſe, the Midwife, and the next Neighbour, often give Riſe and become the weighty Cauſes of ſo fatal an Effect. A little Lowneſs requires Drops, which paſs readily down under the Notion of Phyſick; Drops beget Drams, and Drams beget more Drams, 'till they come to be without Weight and without Meaſure; ſo that at laſt the miſerable Creature ſuffers a true. Mar⯑tyrdom, between its natural Modeſty, the great Neceſſity of concealing its Crav⯑ings, and the ſtill greater one of getting them ſatisfied ſome how. Higher and more [53] ſevere Fits of Hyſtericks, Tremors, and Convulſions, begot by theſe, bring forth farther Neceſſity, upon Neceſſity, of Drops, Drams, and Gills, 'till at laſt a kind Dropſy, nervous Convulſions, a nervous Atrophy, or a colloquative Diarrhaea, if not a Fever, or a Frenzy, ſet the poor Soul free. It has very often raiſed in me the moſt melancholy Reflexions, to ſee even the Virtuous, and the Senſible, bound in ſuch Chains and Fetters, as nothing leſs than omnipotent Grace, or the unrelenting Grave could releaſe them: They were deaf to Reaſon and Medicine, to their own Experience, and even to the expreſs Words of Scripture, that ſays, the Drunkard ſhall not inherit the Kingdom of Heaven. Did this bewitching Poiſon actually cure or relieve them, from Time to Time; ſomething might be ſaid to extenuate the Folly and Frenzy of ſuch a Courſe. But, on the contrary, it heightens and enrages all their Symptoms and Sufferings, ever afterwards, excepting the few Moments immediately after taking it down; and every Dram begets the Neceſſity of two more, to cure the ill Effects of the firſt; and one Minutes Indolence they purchaſe with many Hours of greater Pain and Miſery; beſides the making the Ma⯑lady, [54] more incurable. Low-ſpiritedneſs in itſelf is no Diſeaſe; beſides that there are Remedies in Art that will always re⯑lieve it, ſo long as there is any Oil re⯑maining in the Lamp; and 'tis in vain to try to raiſe the Dead. Exerciſe, Ab⯑ſtinence, and proper Evacuations, with Time and Patience, will continually make it tolerable, very often they will perſect⯑ly cure it. The running into Drams is giving up the whole at once; for nei⯑ther Laudanum nor Arſenick will kill more certainly, although more quickly. The Pretence of its being Phyſick, or a preſent Remedy, is trifling. Cordials of any Kind, even out of the Apothecaries Shops, are but Reprieves for a Time, to gain a Reſpite, 'till proper and extirpat⯑ing Remedies can take Place; and are never to be uſed twice, the one imme⯑diately after the other, but in the laſt Neceſſity. And I can honeſtly ſay, I ne⯑ver failed of relieving, ſo as to make Life tolerable, vapouriſh, hyſterical, or hypochondriacal Perſons, who would be governed in their Diet, by the Uſe of other proper Means, if their was a Fund in Life, and no incurable Diſeaſe, com⯑plicated with Lowneſs. Thus much the Weight of the Subject forced from one: [55] more than this, its Diſagreeableneſs hin⯑ders me to ſay.

§. 16.

Next to Drams, no Liquor de⯑ſerves more to be ſtigmatized and baniſh⯑ed the Repaſts of the Tender, Valetudi⯑nary, and Studious, than PUNCH. 'Tis a Compoſition of ſuch Parts, as not one of them is ſalutary, or kindly to ſuch Conſtitutions, except the pure Element in it. The principal Ingredient is Rum, Arrack, Brandy, or Malt Spirits, as they are called, all of them raiſed by the Fire, from the fermented Juices of Plants, brought from Southern Coun⯑tries, or which have longeſt born the Heat of the Sun in our own Climate: And 'tis obſervable, that every Thing that has paſt the Fire, ſo that it has had due Time to divide and penetrate its Parts, as far as it poſſibly can, retains a cauſtick, corroſive, and burning Quality ever afterwards. This is evident from the fiery and burning Touch and Taſte of new-drawn Spirits, as alſo from the burn⯑ing of Lime-ſtone, which, tho' extin⯑guiſh'd by Boiling Water, does ever after retain its heating and drying Quality, as appears from the great Uſe of Lime-Wa⯑ter, in drying up all humid Sores, when given inwardly by itſelf, or compounded [56] with ſudorific Woods and Roots, and from its Succeſs in outward Applications for the ſame Purpoſes. And tho' Time may in ſome Meaſure get the better of this, in its ſenſible and obvious Operations; yet ſince Water is a groſſer Body than Fire, or Flame, it never can penetrate it ſo far as quite to extinguiſh its inmoſt Heat; eſpe⯑cially if we conſider, that Spirits are but an Accumulation of fine Salts and light Oil, compacted together into the ſmalleſt Vo⯑lume; the firſt whereof is ſo hard and ſolid, as naturally to retain their Heat the longeſt, into which Water cannot enter; the other, to wit the Oyle, is ſo inflamable, that it moſt readily receives Heat and Fire, and defends the Salts from the Power of the Water over them. And in the continued Diſtillation of Spi⯑rits, this Action of the Fire is ſo ſtrong, as to reduce them to liquid Flames at laſt, which will of themſelves evaporate in viſible Flames and Fumes. The other principal Part of the Compoſition is the Juice of Oranges and Lemons. And if we conſider, that a Lemon or Orange could never be tranſported half Seas over to us, without rotting or ſpoiling, if gather⯑ed when wholly ripe, we ſhould have no great Opinion of their Juices. Eve⯑ry Spaniſh or Portugal Merchant can in⯑form [57] us, that they muſt be gathered green, or at leaſt a Month before they are ripe, elſe they are not fit to be ſent beyond the Seas. The Sea-Air, and their being ſhut up cloſe, gives them that gol⯑den yellow Colour, we ſo much admire. The Juice of a Crab Apple, of unripe Grapes, or Gooſe-berries, or even good Juice of Sorrel, would come up at leaſt to their Virtue of extinguiſhing the Heat of Spirits, if not to their Flavour. And how kindly a Gueſt ſuch Juices would be to the fine Fibres of weak Stomachs and Bowels, I leave every one to judge. The Truth is, all fermenting Juices, ſuch as theſe eminently are, muſt be highly injurious to weak Conſtitutions; for meet⯑ing with the Crudities in the Bowels, they muſt raiſe a new Battle and Col⯑luctation there, and ſo muſt blow up the whole Cavities of the human Body, with acrid Fumes and Vapours, the great and ſore Enemy of ſuch Bowels. And in the Weſt Indies, where from the Neceſſity of drinking much, becauſe of the Vio⯑lence of the Heat, and from the Want of proper Liquors there, they are forced to drink much PUNCH, tho' Lemons and Oranges be in their full Perfection, they are univerſally afflicted with Ner⯑vous and Mortal dry-Belly-aches, Palſies, [58] Cramps, and Convulſions; which cut them off in a few Days, entirely owing to this poiſonous Mixture.

The Bath-Water, is the only Remedy in ſuch Caſes, whither they all haſten, if they can get thither alive. And here I have been inform'd of this Fact, by Men of the Profeſſion, as well as their Patients, who univerſally aſcrib'd them to their drinking of PUNCH and Spiri⯑tuous Liquors. If Acids muſt be had, without all peradventure, the Vinous ones, are the beſt and ſafeſt. The Ro⯑mans, tho' they had the vegetable Acids in perfection, made very little Uſe of them but in Cookery, where the Quan⯑tity of the Poiſon was ſo ſmall, as not to do ſufficient Harm, to forbid their uſing them for the Sake of the exquiſite Reliſh they gave their Sauces; and the conſtant Drink of the lower Souldiery, was Vinegar and Water, which they found of excellent Uſe, both as it prevented Fevers, Plagues and Putre⯑faction, and alſo as it gave an Energy to the unactive Element, and hindered it from lodging in the Body. Hence alſo the great Uſe of Oxymel and Oxy⯑crate, (that is, of Vinegar with Honey and with Water) among all the antient Phyſicians. And indeed, whenever [59] they preſcrib'd an Acid, they very pru⯑dently join'd a Corrective with it, both to promote its good, and to prevent it's bad Effects. The two remaining In⯑gredients, are Sugar and Water; and theſe I will give up to the Punch⯑Drinkers, and allow them all the Be⯑nefit of them, they can bring to this Compoſition: Yet it will ſtill have Ma⯑lignity ſufficient remaining, to be held in Deteſtation, (at leaſt for any great Uſe, or in any great Quantity, for ſome Poiſons are ſo only by their Quantity) by thoſe tender and valetudinary Perſons, who value Health and Life. The Strong, the Voluptuous, and the Aban⯑doned, need no Advice, at leaſt they will take none. I could never ſee any Temptation, for any one in their Senſes, to indulge in this Heatheniſh Liquor, but that it makes it's Votaries the ſoon⯑eſt, and all of a ſudden the deepeſt Drunk, holds them longeſt in the Fit, and de⯑prives them the moſt entirely of the Uſe of their Intellectual Faculties, and Bo⯑dily Organs, of any Liquor whatſoever. It is likeſt Opium, both in it's Nature, and in the Manner of its Operation, and neareſt Arſenick in it's deleterious and poiſonous Qualities: And ſo I leave it to them,

§ 17.

As to Malt Liquors, they are not much in Uſe, excepting ſmall Beer, with any but Mechanicks and Fox-hunt⯑ers. The French very juſtly call them Barley-Soop. I am well ſatisfied, a weak Stomach can as readily and with leſs pain, digeſt Pork, and Peaſe-Soop, as York⯑ſhire or Nottingham Ale. They make excellent Birdlime, and when ſimmer'd ſome time over a gentle Fire, make the moſt ſticking, and the beſt Plaiſter, for old Strains that can be contriv'd. Even the ſmall-Beer that is commonly drank at London, if it be not well Boiled, ve⯑ry Clear, and of a due Age, muſt be hurtful to Perſons of weak Nerves, and ſlow Digeſtion. For fermenting again in the alimentary Channels, it will fill the whole Cavities of the Body with Windy Fumes and Vapours, which will at Length play odd Pranks in a craſy Conſtitution. In Fine, the Valetudinary, Studious, and Contemplative, muſt be contented with a Pint of middling, light Wine a Day, one half with, and the other without Water.

§ 18.

Since the Time foreign Luxury has been brought to it's Perfection here, [61] there are a kind of Liquors in Uſe among the better Sort, which ſome great Doc⯑tors have Condemn'd, by Bell, Book, and Candle, and others have as extra⯑vagantly commended: I mean, Coffee, Tea, and Chocolate. For my own Part, I take all their Virtue to conſiſt in Cu⯑ſtom, and all their Harm in Exceſs. As to Coffee, it is a meer Calx, or a Kind of burnt Horſe Bean, but lighter on the Stomach, and of ſomewhat a better Fla⯑vour. The Turks uſe it, and Opium in⯑ſtead of Brandy. But the Plea that ſome make for running into Exceſs in it, from this Mahometan Cuſtom, is altogether weak and groundleſs; for thoſe that do ſo there, ſuffer by it, as we do here: And thoſe that Debauch in it, turn Stu⯑pid, Feeble, and Paralitick by it, eſpe⯑cially when they join Opium with it, as they frequently do, as thoſe who wal⯑low in theſe, do here, and are as much Deſpis'd and Expos'd by ſerious Perſons, as our Topers and Brandy-ſwillers are here. A Diſh or two of Coffee, with a little Milk to ſoften it, in raw or damp Weather, or on a Wateriſh and Flegma⯑tick Stomach, is not only innocent, but a preſent Relief. But 'tis as ridiculous, and perhaps more hurtful, at leaſt in thin and dry Habits, to dabble in it two or [62] three Times every Day, as it would be for ſuch to drink nothing but ſcalding Lime-Water. There are two Kinds of Tea in Uſe, Green and Bohea. Mr. Cuningham, who liv'd ſeveral Years in China, a very learned and accurate Per⯑ſon ^*informs us, that they are both ga⯑thered from the ſame Shrub, but at dif⯑ferent Seaſons of the Year; and that the Bohea is Gather'd in the Spring, and is dried in the Sun, the Green at the Fire. But I ſuſpect, and not without Autho⯑rity, that, beſides theſe Differences in drying, ſome Infuſion of another Plant or Earth (perhaps ſuch a one as that of Japan Earth, or Catechu) muſt be pou⯑red on ſome ſorts of Bohea Tea, to give it the Softneſs, Flavour, and Heavineſs on the Stomach it has, whereby it be⯑comes a meer Drug, and wants the na⯑tural Simplicity of Green Tea, which when light, and drank neither too Strong nor too Hot, I take to be a very pro⯑per Diluent, when ſoften'd with a lit⯑tle Milk, to cleanſe the alimentary Paſſages, and waſh off the Scorbutick and Urinous Salts, for a Breakfaſt, to thoſe who live full and free; as alſo it, or Tea made of a ſlic'd Orange or Lemon, is one of the beſt promoters of Digeſtion [63] after a full Meal, or when one is adry between Meals, and much more ſafe and effectual than Drams or ſtrong Cor⯑dials, which are commonly uſed for that Purpoſe. Some Perſons of weak tender Nerves, fall into Lowneſs and Trem⯑bling upon uſing either of theſe Liquors with any Freedom, from their too great Quantity, or their Irritation on the ten⯑der, and delicate Fibres of the Stomach. Such ought carefully to avoid and ab⯑ſtain from them, as from Drams and Drops. But I can never be of their O⯑pinion who aſcribe the Frequency of Scurvy, Vapours, Lowſpiritedneſs, and nervous Diſtempers now, to what they were in the Days of our Forefathers, to the Cuſtom of Drinking more frequent⯑ly and freely of theſe foreign Infuſions. The Cauſe is not adequate to the Effect; nor indeed has any Analogy to, or Con⯑nexion with it. We know that warm Water, will moſt of any Thing promote and aſſiſt Digeſtion in weak Stomachs and tender Nerves. And by this alone I have ſeen ſeveral ſuch Perſons recover to a Miracle, when cold Mineral Waters, Bitters, Cordials and Drams, have done rather Hurt than Good. And Tea is but an Infuſion in Water of an innocent Plant: Innocent, I ſay, becauſe we find [64] by its Taſte it has neither poiſonous, de⯑leterious nor acrimonious Qualities; and we are certain from it's Uſe in the Countries it comes from, (which are larg⯑er than moſt of Europe) that they receive no Damage from it, but on the contra⯑ry, that it promotes both Digeſtion and Perſpiration. The Argument from its relaxing the Coats of the Stomach and Bowels by its Heat, is of no force. For unleſs it be drunk much hotter than the Blood itſelf, it can do no hurt that way: And we ſee the Bath Guides, who dabble in Water almoſt as hot as Tea is ever drunk, a great Part of the Day, and for one half of the Year at leaſt, are no ways injured by it; except when they drink ſtrong Liquors, too freely to quench the Thirſt it raiſes. However, I ſhould adviſe thoſe who drink Tea plentifully, not to drink it much hotter than blood⯑warm; whereby they will receive all its Benefit, and be ſecure againſt all the Harm it can poſſibly do. As to Choco⯑late, I am of opinion, it is too hot and heavy, for valetudinary Perſons; and thoſe of weak Nerves. I have before obſerved, that Nuts paſs through the alimentary Paſſages untouched; and tho' they may part with ſome of their more vo⯑latile Particles, yet, I doubt if they can afford [65] much nouriſhment to Perſons of weak Digeſtions. Some ſay, Chocolate gives them an Appetite; the meaning of which may be, that when they have a good Ap⯑petite for their Breakfaſt; it is not unlike⯑ly it may continue all the Day: But I am of opinion, 'tis a falſe and hyſterical Appetite, ſuch as ſharp Wines, and ſharp Humours in the Stomach give. For fat and oily Things, ſuch as all Nuts are, are hard to digeſt, and lie long in the Sto⯑mach, for reaſons I have already ex⯑plain'd: It may lubricate and ſheath againſt the Irritation of ſalt and ſharp Humours in the Bowels, and therefore may be good in the Colicks and Gravel of thoſe of ſtrong and ſtout Digeſtion; but can ne⯑ver be good Food for thoſe of weak Nerves and poor Conſtitutions. Nothing is ſo light and eaſy to the Stomach, moſt certainly, as the Farinaceous or mealy Vegetables; ſuch as Peaſe, Beans, Mil⯑let, Oats, Barly, Rye, Wheat, Sago, Rice, Potatoes, and the like; of ſome of which on Milk or Water, I ſhould ever adviſe the Valetudinary, and thoſe of weak Nerves, to make their two leſſer or ſecondary Meals. Tobacco is another foreign Weed, much in uſe here in Bri⯑tain; though not among the beſt, yet among the middle and inferiour Ranks of the People: For thoſe of groſs and [66] Phlegmatick Conſtitutions, who abound in ſerous and watry Humours, who are ſubject to Coughs, Catarrhs, and aſthma⯑tick Indiſpoſitions; who labour under vio⯑lent Tooth-achs, or are troubled with Rheums in their Eyes; who have cold and wateriſh Stomachs, and live fully and freely, both Smoaking and Chewing is a very beneficial Evacuation, drawing off ſuperfluous Humours, Crudities, and cold Phlegm, provided they carefully avoid ſwallowing the Smoak, or the Juice; and drink nothing, but rinſe their Mouths with ſome watry Liquor after it, and ſpit it out. But to thin, meagre, and hectick Conſtitutions, it is highly pernicious, and deſtructive; heating their Blood, dry⯑ing their Solids, and defrauding the Food of that Saliva, which is ſo abſolutely neceſſary towards Concoction. Snuffing the Leaves, or the groſſer Cut in a Morning, will readily promote a Flux of Rheum by the Glands of the Noſe; and will be of good uſe, to clear the Head and the Eyes. But the ridiculous Cuſtom, of perpetually ſucking in ſo⯑phiſticated Powders, and other Foreign Drugs ſold for Snuff, cannot but be prejudicial both to the Eyes, and even to the Stomach; at leaſt, if we believe the Reports of thoſe who ſay they have brought it up from thence.

§. 19.

I have endeavour'd to aſſiſt the Reader, with ſome Obſervations and Reflexions, to enable him towards de⯑termining the Quantity and Quality of his ſolid Food, neceſſary either to prevent or cure chronical Diſtempers. It may not be amiſs, here to make ſome Refle⯑xions alſo on the fit Proportion of Drink proper for that purpoſe: As the Food is, ſo muſt that be, various and uncertain, with regard to the Age, Size, Labour, and Conſtitution of the Perſon, and the Seaſon of the Year. I have of⯑fer'd to limit the Quantity of ſtrong Li⯑quors, fitteſt to preſerve Health and length⯑en out Life in general, to a Pound or Pint, and that of the middling Kind. But the Sickly, the Aged, and thoſe who would cure a chronical Diſtemper, muſt even abate of this Quantity. The only remaining Queſtion, is about the Quantity of Water, or watry Liquors, proper to be mix'd with this ſtrong Li⯑quor, or drunk by itſelf: For in this alſo, though in itſelf harmleſs and innocent, yet there is a Choice and Preference; becauſe, too much Water will only ſerve to diſtend and ſwell up the Veſſels, and waſh off ſome of the finer and more nutritious parts of the Chyle; and too little, will not be ſufficient to dilute the ſolid Food, or to make the Chyle thin [68] and fluid enough, to circulate through the fine and ſmall Veſſels. I will ſuppoſe my Patient to deal in no other Cookery, but Roaſting and Boiling; and that he eats only freſh Meat. Boiling animal Food, draws more of the rank, ſtrong, Juices from it, and leaves it leſs nutri⯑tive, more diluted, lighter and eaſier of Digeſtion. Roaſting on the other hand, leaves it fuller of the ſtrong nutri⯑tive Juices, harder to digeſt, and wanting more Dilution: Thoſe therefore, who muſt have full grown and adult animal Food, ought to eat it boiled, and well boiled too; if their Digeſtion be but weak. They who can live on young animal Food, (which is beſt for weak Stomachs,) ought to eat it roaſted, but muſt leſſen the Quantity, in reſpect of the ſame Food boiled; but they muſt di⯑lute it more: For as roaſt Meat has a better Flavour, and more Nouriſhment, ſo it lies leſs flabby on the Stomach, and does not ſo readily ſlip from, or diſap⯑point the Action of Grinding, which has ſome ſhare in Digeſtions, both pri⯑mary and ſubſequent: But it will want more Dilution, with a watry Men⯑ſtruum, to ſoften its more rigid and criſp Fibres. If therefore, the whole Weight of the ſolid Food, in twenty four Hours, be ſuppoſed a Pound and a Half, [69] then three Pounds of Liquor, that is, one of ſtrong Liquor, and two of ſome aqueous Fluid, will in a Medium, be ſufficient to dilute it abundantly. For thus there will be two Particles of a Fluid, to one ſolid Particle; which abating the ſolid Parts thrown off by Siege, will ſuf⯑fice to make the Chyle abundantly thin, to circulate through all the fine Channels, whoſe Diameters are larger than that of the ſolid Particle, the principal End of its Thinneſs and Fluidity. More than this, would but diſtend the Veſſels, and carry off the finer Parts of the Chyle by Water or Perſpiration; for we conſtant⯑ly find both theſe encreaſed by an over⯑doſe of Fluids: And leſs would not ſuf⯑ficiently dilute their Food. I ſhould ad⯑viſe thoſe therefore, who have weak Sto⯑machs, or relaxed Nerves, to mix their Wine with the above-named quantity of boiled Water, with a burnt Cruſt, at leaſt Blood-warm, and to drink it after their Meal is over, if they can do it with eaſe, rather than in the Time of Eating: For the more ſpirituous and moſt nouriſhing Parts of the Food, will readily run off, without much Dilution; and it will be the groſſer and harder remaining Part, that will want it moſt. And if ſome time after their great Meal, they find their Stomach load⯑ed, the Food riſing, hard Belching, [70] Heart-burning, or much Yawning, to ſwill down and dilute it with milk-warm, light Green Tea, or warm Water, rather than to run to Drams and Cordials, the uſual, but moſt pernicious Antidote in ſuch Caſes. And upon great and heavy Op⯑preſſion, much trouble and great ſtruggle in the Digeſtion, to have recourſe to Carduus or Camomile-Flower Tea, to bring it up, rather than to treſpaſs in theſe poiſonous and cauſtick Liquors; which, though they may at preſent leſ⯑ſen the ſuffering, and hurry on the firſt⯑Concoction; yet make them dearly pay for it, when the unconcocted load of Crudities comes to paſs by Siege or Per⯑ſpiration, either in Colicks, Gripes, Va⯑pours, and Oppreſſion of Spirits; or by a general Diſability and Rheumatick Stitches and Pains.

§. 20.

Upon the Head of Cordials mentioned in one of the foregoing Ar⯑ticles, I cannot forbear ſetting down one, whoſe Virtues and Efficacy I have long tried, and have never found it fail, when any thing would ſucceed: And I recom⯑mend it (to be kept by them) to all thoſe, who are liable to low Spirits, Faintings, Oppreſſions, Sickneſs at the Stomach, Head-achs, and Vapours; and alſo to thoſe who wanting to exert themſelves [71] in any buſineſs of conſequence, need a Flow of Spirits for ſome ſhort time, for that purpoſe; or indeed upon any ſudden accident ariſing of its own accord, out of the Habit itſelf; I think it a kind of an univerſal Remedy, but never to be uſed, but upon ſuch occaſions; becauſe, Uſe may weaken it, if not extinguiſh its Vertue. 'Tis thus,

Take of ſimple Chamomile-Flower Wa⯑ter, ſix Ounces; Compound Gentian, and Wormwood Waters, each an Ounce and a Half; Compound Spi⯑rit of Lavender, ſal Volatile, Tinc⯑ture of Caſtor, and Gum Ammoniack diſſolved in ſome ſimple Water, each two Drams; Tincture of Snake⯑weed, and Tincture of the Species Diambrae, each a Dram; the Chy⯑mical Oils of Lavender, Juniper, and Nutmeg, each ten Drops, mix⯑ed with a Bit of the Yolk of an Egg, to make the whole uniform; Aſſa⯑fetida and Camphire in a Rag, each half a Dram: But theſe may be left out by thoſe to whom they are diſ⯑agreeable.

Two, three or four Spoonfuls of this is a preſent Help in ſuch Caſes. It will keep ſix Months good.

§. 1.

THE next general Head in order, is our Sleeping and Watching. All Bodies by their Actions upon one another, and by the Action of the circumambient Bodies, are liable to be impaired and waſted: And all animal Bodies, from an active and ſelf-moving Principle within them, as well as from the Rubs of Bodies without them, are conſtantly throwing off ſome of their ſuperfluous and decayed Parts; ſo that animal Bodies, are in a perpetual Flux. To reſtore this Decay and Waſting of animal Bodies, Nature has wiſely made alternate Periods of Labour and Reſt, Sleeping and Watching, neceſſary to our Being; the one for the active Employ⯑ments of Life, to provide for and take in the Materials of our Nouriſhment; the other, to apply thoſe Materials to the proper waſted Parts, and to ſupply [78] the Expences of Living. And it ſeems as improper in the Order of Nature, to diſturb the animal Functions in the time of Sleep, by any other Employment, than that of the ſecondary Concoctions (as they are called;) i. e. the applying the Nou⯑riſhment to the decayed Parts, to recruit the Blood, perfect the Secretions, and to lay up plenty of Spirits, or (to ſpeak more Philoſophically,) to reſtore the weakned Tone of nervous Fibres; that is in ſhort, to reſtore the Decays of Watch⯑ing and Action: This I ſay, is as impro⯑per, as it would be (were it poſſible,) to eat or drink, or make proviſion for the Neceſſities of Life, in the time of Sleep⯑ing. From hence is evident, the Abſur⯑dity of heavy, various and luxurious Suppers, or of going to Reſt till many Hours after ſuch a Meal; which muſt otherwiſe break in upon the Order of Nature and the due and appointed Times of Sleeping and Watching. Wherefore, I adviſe the Valetudinary, the Studious, and the Contemplative, either to make no Suppers, or only of vegetable Food; and to take a due Time for Watching after them.

§. 2.

There is nothing more certain, than that (abſtracting from acute Caſes) [79] our Sleep is ſound, ſweet and refreſhing, according as the alimentary Organs, are eaſy, quiet and clean. If any one not ſuffering under any diſeaſe, is diſturbed in his Sleep, 'tis certain his Stomach is filled with Food, or Crudities; or his Guts filled with Wind, Choler, or ſuper⯑fluous Chyle: And thoſe reſtleſs Nights, and the difficulty of going to Sleep, which are generally aſcribed to Vapours, are entirely owing to theſe Cauſes; though they be not ſo ſtrong, as to become ſen⯑ſible; for then Pain is added to Watch⯑ing and they are felt. And upon com⯑plaints of ſuch reſtleſs Nights, I never once failed, upon enquiry of finding the true Cauſe in the Diet, of the preceding Day, or of ſome few Days before; and conſtantly have diſcovered that ſome er⯑ror in Eating and Drinking, either in Quantity or Quality has produced them. I have been aſtoniſhed to ſee hypochon⯑driacal and hyſterical People, reſtleſs all Night, toſſing and tumbling till towards Morning, then dropping aſleep till late Hours, awake heavy, oppreſſed, and un⯑refreſhed, complain of being hag-ridden, tired and wearied, as if they had been whip'd, ſpurr'd, laſhed, and beaten thro' all the Watches of the Night; riſe with foul Mouths, and white Tongue, Belchings, [80] Yawnings, Coughing, Spitting, or Reach⯑ing and Heaving, without Appetite, Spi⯑rits or Life, all the Day-time; begin to live and breath, become cheerful and hun⯑gry, about ten, eleven, or twelve a clock at Night; eat a hearty, various, and luxurious Supper; drink a cheeruping Cup of the beſt, become as merry as Crickets, and long to ſit up later; at laſt, tumble to Bed, and repeat the ſame Farce over again. The Reaſon of all this Com⯑plaint, is the Load on the Stomach, that will not ſuffer them to reſt, till 'tis got off. The ſharp and crude Humours, twitching and twinging the nervous Fi⯑bres, and Coats of the Bowels, become like ſo many Needles and Pins, conſtant⯑ly running through them; though not always with ſenſible pain: The uncon⯑cocted Chyle ſtopping or circulating ſlow⯑ly, firſt in the Bowels, then in the ſmal⯑leſt Veſſels, begets theſe Convulſions, Fla⯑tus, Night-Mares, and Oppreſſions of Spirits. So that the ſecondary Digeſti⯑ons are not over till next Evening, (hence their want of Appetite:) And when theſe are finiſhed their Stomachs come, and their Spirits flow; and thus the perpe⯑tual Round is carried on. Did they but follow the Dictates of Nature, go to Bed for ſome days with a light Vegetable, [81] or no Supper at all, and bear the Incon⯑veniences thence ariſing; their Appetites would come in due ſeaſon, and they would quickly find the Truth of the Aphoriſm of the Schola Salernitana.

§. 3.

The Seaſons for Sleeping and Watching, which Nature ſeems to point out to us, at leaſt in theſe our Climates near the Tropick, are the Viciſſitudes of Day and Night. Thoſe Damps, Vapours, and Exhalations, that are drawn up into the higher Regions, and are ſo rarified by the Heat and Action of the Sun, as to become innocent or very weak in the Day-time; are condenſed, ſink low, near the Surface of the Earth, and are perpe⯑tually dropping down in the Night Sea⯑ſon; and conſequently muſt be injuri⯑ous to thoſe tender Perſons, that unna⯑turally watch in that Seaſon; and muſt neceſſarily obſtruct the Perſpiration, which the Activity of Watching, and the Motion of Labour promotes. I have already ſhewn, that our Bodies ſuck and [82] draw into them, the good or bad qua⯑lities of the circumambient Air, through the Mouths of all the perſpiratory Ducts of the Skin. And if we were to view an animal Body with a proper Glaſs, it would appear with an Atmoſphere quite round it, like the Steam of a boiling Pot. Now we may eaſily conceive, what injury a Conſtitution may receive, not only by ſtopping ſuch a perpetual Diſ⯑charge of Superfluities, but alſo by force⯑ing into the Habit, by the Air's Weight and Preſſure, thoſe noxious Fumes and Vapours, that are perpetually falling near the Surface of the Earth, in the Night⯑time. Your true Topers are ſo ſenſible of this, that by Obſervation they have gathered it to be more ſafe for their Health, and better for prolonging their Lives, to get drunk betimes and go to Bed, than to ſit up and be ſober.

§. 4.

On the contrary, the Heat of the Sun in the Day-time, by its Action on human Bodies, the very Light, and free Air, and the Motions of things about us, diſturbing the Quiet of the Air, muſt neceſſarily diſorder the equable Courſe of the Perſpiration, the Tenour of the ſecondary Concoctions, and the Tranquil⯑lity of the Spirits ſo neceſſary to Reſt and [83] Quiet. So that nothing ſeems more di⯑rectly pointed out to us by Nature, than the Day for Labour, and the Night for Reſt: And this without taking in the Conſideration of the Neceſſity of the Sun's Light for the ends of Labour, and providing the Neceſſaries of Life. Some Animals that are exceeding tender, are directed by Nature to alternate Periods of Watching and Reſt, not twice in 24 Hours, but twice in the Year, viz. Sum⯑mer and Winter; ſuch as Swallows, Bats, and many ſorts of Inſects, who ſleep all the Winter, and watch all the Summer. So conſiſtent is Nature, in appointing the brighteſt and moſt enlightened Parts of our Lives for Action, and the darkeſt and moſt inclement for Reſt. Not but that robuſt Conſtitutions (as well as Animals fitted by Nature for different ways of living) may by Cuſtom, get the better of theſe natural Appointments: But I write for the Valetudinary, the Studious, and the Contemplative.

§. 5.

I adviſe all ſuch, if they would preſerve their Health and lengthen out their Days, to avoid as much as is poſſible evening Dews, nocturnal Studies, and unſeaſonable Watching; in Summer to go to Bed with the Sun, and in Winter to [84] riſe at leaſt by Break of Day. Thoſe who live temperately, will neceſſarily Sleep but little: But to recompence that, their Sleep will be much more ſound, re⯑freſhing, and fruitful of Cheerfulneſs and free Spirits, than that of thoſe who live more freely. For as I have before ſaid, the Quantity of Sleep will always be in proportion to the Quantity of Eat⯑ing and Drinking. Valetudinary, Stu⯑dious, and Contemplative People, ought to go to Bed by eight, nine, or ten at fartheſt, and riſe by four, five, or ſix, by which they will have eight Hours a Bed; and that is ſufficient for any Perſon, not under an acute, or the ſharp Fits of à Chronical Diſtemper.

§. 6.

Nothing can be more prejudicial to tender Conſtitutions, ſtudious and con⯑templative Perſons, than lying long a Bed, or lolling and ſoaking in Sheets, any time after one is diſtinctly awake, or has ſlept a due and reaſonable Time: It neceſſarily thickens the Juices, enervates the Solids, and weakens the Conſtitution. A free open Air is a kind of a cold Bath, eſpecially after riſing out of a warm Bed; and con⯑ſequently makes the Circulation brisker and more compleat, and braces up the Solids, which lying a Bed diſſolves and [85] ſoaks in Moiſture. The erect Poſture, and the Activity of Watching, make the Perſpiration more plentiful, and the groſs Evacuations more readily thrown off. This is evident from the Appetite and Hunger, thoſe that riſe early feel, beyond that which they get by lying long a Bed. Add to all theſe the Influence of the freſh, benign, Morning Air, the retreating of all the noxious Damps and Vapours of the Night, together with the Clouds and Heavineſs, that are thrown upon the Brain from Sleep; and laſtly, that Cheer⯑fulneſs and Alacrity that is felt by the Approach or Preſence, of that glorious Luminary the Sun, which adds a new Force to the Heart, and a Spur to the Spirits.

§. 7.

All Nations and Ages have agreed that the morning Seaſon is the proper Time for ſpeculative Studies, and thoſe Employments that moſt require the Faculties of the Mind. For then the Stock of the Spirits is undiminiſhed, and in its greateſt Plenty, the Head is clear and ſerene, the Paſſions are quieted and for⯑got; the Anxiety and Inquietude that the Digeſtions beget in the nervous Syſtem, in moſt tender Conſtitutions and the Hurry the Spirits are under after the great [86] Meal, are ſettled and wrought off. I ſhould adviſe therefore thoſe who are of a weak relaxed State of Nerves, who are ſubject to hypochondraical or hyſterical Diſorders, whoſe Profeſſions lead them to much Uſe of their intellectual Facul⯑ties, or who would indulge ſpeculative Studies, to go early to Bed, and to riſe betimes; to employ their morning Hours in theſe Exerciſes till eleven a Clock, then to take ſome agreeable Breakfaſt of vegetable Food; to go on with their Studies and Profeſſions till three, four, or five, as their Spirits will hold out, and then to take their great Meal of animal Food; all the reſt of the Day to throw off all Study and Thought, divert themſelves agreeably in ſome innocent Amuſement, with ſome gentle bodily Exerciſe; and as ſoon as the Digeſtion is over, to retire and provide for going to Bed, without any farther ſupplies, except it be a Glaſs of fair Water, or warm Sack-Whey. But the Aged and Sickly muſt go ſooner to Bed and lye longer, becauſe Age and Sickneſs break reſt, and the ſtiffen'd and hardened Limbs of the Antient become more pliant and relaxed by much Sleep, a ſupine Poſture, and the Warmth of the Bed.

§. 1.

WE proceed; in the next Place, to the Conſideration of Exer⯑ciſe and Quiet, the due Regulation of which, is almoſt as neceſſary to Health and Long Life, as Food itſelf. Whether we were ſo made before the Fall, as to live in intire Health, in a rigidly ſeden⯑tary and contemplative Life, is a Specula⯑tion of no great Conſequence, nor eaſily determined in our preſent Situation; for there is no certain Analogy between Things as they now are, and as they might have been then. As there happen'd an intire Revolution in the Complexion and Qualities of the Minds of the Firſt Pair; ſo, to me, there appear, to be evident Indications of a deſigned Change and Alteration of the material World, and the Nature of the Animals and Vegetables which ſubſiſt on this Globe, from what they were when GOD pronounced [90] every Thing Good that he had made. Nor ſeem the Coeleſtial Bodies to have eſcaped, ſo far as they regard us. Whatever be in this, the Paſſage where God tells Adam, ^* That in the Sweat of his Brow he ſhall eat Bread, ſeems to be the Injunction of a ſalutary Penance; that is, Not merely a Puniſhment, but alſo a Remedy againſt the Diſorders his Body would be liable to in this new State of the Creation, and againſt the poiſonous Ef⯑fects of the Forbidden Tree he had eaten the Fruit of. I am the more confirmed in this Belief, that I obſerve, the abſolute Neceſſity of Labour and Exerciſe, to pre⯑ſerve the Body any Time in due plight, to maintain Health, and lengthen out Life. For let whatſoever Diet be pur⯑ſued, however adjuſted both in Quan⯑tity and Quality, let whatever Evacua⯑tions be uſed to leſſen the Malady, or any ^† Succedaneum be propoſed, to pre⯑vent the ill Effects, our Bodies are ſo made, and the Animal Oeconomy now ſo contrived, that without due Labour and Exerciſe, the Juices will thicken, the [91] Joints will ſtiffen, the Nerves will relax, and on theſe Diſorders, Chronical Di⯑ſtempers, and a crazy old Age muſt enſue. Nor is this neceſſary only in the colder Climates, and where the Food is groſs, but even in the warmeſt Climates, and where the Food is lighteſt. For though the Warmth of the Air may keep the Perſpiration free and open, or rather, where it is very great, promote Sweat⯑ing; yet, at the ſame time, and by Con⯑ſequence, it will thicken the Fluids, and relax the Fibres; to prevent both which, Exerciſe is abſolutely neceſſary: but in ſuch a Climate it ought to be gone about in the Cool of the Day. And tho' light Food may, in a great meaſure, prevent the Thickening of the Fluids, yet it cannot do it ſufficiently without Exerciſe; nor can it at all keep the Fibres in due Tenſion; for to that purpoſe Exerciſe is abſolutely neceſſary. Nay, the joint Power of warm Air and light Food cannot ſupply the Place of Exerciſe in keeping the Joints pliant and moveable, and preſerv⯑ing them from growing reſty and ſtiff.

§. 2.

I have ſometimes alſo, indulg'd a Conjecture, that Animal Food, and Made or Artificial Liquors, in the Original [92] Frame of our Nature, and Deſign of our Creation, were not intended for Human Creatures. They ſeem to me, neither to have theſe ſtrong and fit Organs for dige⯑ſting them (at leaſt ſuch as Birds and Beaſts of Prey have, who live on Fleſh); nor, naturally, to have thoſe voracious and brutiſh. Appetites, that require Animal Food, and ſtrong Liquors, to ſatisfy them; nor thoſe cruel and hard Hearts, or thoſe diabolical Paſſions, which could eaſily ſuffer them to tear and deſtroy their Fellow Creatures; at leaſt, not in the firſt and early Ages, before every Man had corrupted his Way, and God was forced to exterminate the whole Race, by an univerſal Deluge, and was alſo obliged (that the Globe of the Earth might not, from the long Lives of its Inhabitants, become a Hell, and a Habitation for in⯑carnate Devils) to ſhorten their Lives from 900 or 1000 Years, to 70. He wiſely foreſaw, that Animal Food, and Artificial Liquors, would naturally con⯑tribute towards this End; and indulg'd, or permitted, the Generation that was to plant the Earth again after the Flood, the Uſe of theſe for Food, knowing that tho' it would ſhorten the Lives, and plate a Scourge of Thorns for the Backs [93] of the Lazy and Voluptuous, it would be cautiouſly avoided by thoſe who knew it was their Duty and Happineſs to keep their Paſſions low, and their Appetites in Subjection. And this very Aera of the Flood, is that mentioned in Holy Writ, for the Indulgence of Animal Food and Artificial Liquors, after the Trial had been made, how inſufficient alone, a Vegetable Diet (which was the firſt Food appointed for Human kind, immedi⯑ately after their Creation) was, in the long Lives of Men, to reſtrain their Wick⯑edneſs and Malice; and after finding, that nothing but ſhortning their Duration could poſſibly prevent the Evil. 'Tis true, there is ſcarce a Poſſibility of preventing the deſtroying of Animal Life, as Things are now conſtituted, ſince Inſects breed and neſtle in the very Vegetables them⯑ſelves, and we ſcarce ever devour a Plant or Root, wherein we do not de⯑ſtroy innumerable Animalcules. But be⯑ſides what I have ſaid, of Nature's being quite altered and changed from what was originally intended, there is a great Difference between deſtroying and extinguiſhing an Animal Life (which otherwiſe might ſubſiſt many Years) by Choice and Election, to gratify our Ap⯑petites, [94] and indulge Concupiſcence; and the Caſual and Unavoidable cruſhing of thoſe, who perhaps, otherwiſe, would die within the Day, or at moſt the Year, and obtain but an inferior kind of Exiſtence and Life at beſt. Whatever be in this Conjecture, 'tis evident to thoſe who underſtand the Animal Oeconomy, and the Frame of Human Bodies, together with the Hiſtory, both of thoſe who have lived Abſtemiouſly, and of thoſe who have lived Freely, that indulging in fleſh Meats, and ſtrong Liquors, inflames the Paſſions, and ſhortens Life, begets Chronical Diſtempers, and a Decrepit Age, as the Hiſtory of the Life of Cornaro manifeſts to a Demonſtration.

§. 3.

Of all the Exerciſes that are or may be uſed for Health (ſuch as Walk⯑ing, Riding a Horſeback or in a Coach, Fencing, Dancing, playing at Billiards, Bowls or Tennis, Digging, Working at a Pump, Ringing a dumb Bell, &c.) Walking is the moſt natural, as it would be alſo the moſt uſeful, if it did not ſpend too much of the Spirits of the Weakly. Riding is certainly the moſt Manly, the moſt Healthy, and the leaſt laborious, and expenſive of Spirits, of [95] any; ſhaking the whole Machine, pro⯑moting an univerſal Perſpiration and Secretion of all the Fluids (to which may be added, the various Changes of the Air, thro' which they ſo quickly paſs, every Alteration of which, be⯑comes, as it were, a new Bath) and thereby, variouſly twitching the Nervous Fibres, to brace and contract them, as the new Scenes amuſe the Mind. Thoſe who cannot ride, muſt be carried in a Coach or Litter, which is the beſt Exer⯑ciſe for the Lame and Crazy, and the only one proper for Old and Decrepit Perſons, as well as thoſe that are ſo Young, that they are not able to manage their own Exerciſe. The Home Exer⯑ciſes, ſuch as playing at Tennis and Bil⯑liards, Dancing, Fencing, and the like, ought to be follow'd only when the Seaſon forbids being Abroad; for being in the Air, contributes much towards the Benefit of Exerciſe. 'Tis beautiful to obſerve that earneſt Deſire planted by Nature, in Young Perſons, to romp, jump, wreſtle and run, and conſtantly to be purſuing Exerciſes and Bodily Di⯑verſions, that require Labour, even till they are ready to drop down; eſpecially the healthier Sort of them: So that [96] ſitting or being confined, ſeems to be the greateſt Puniſhment they can ſuffer, and impriſoning them for ſome time, will much more readily correct them than Whipping. This is a wiſe Contrivance of Nature; for thereby, their Joints are render'd pliable and ſtrong; their Blood continues ſweet, and proper for a full Circulation; their Perſpiration is free, and their Organs ſtretched out, by due Degrees, to their proper Extenſion.

§. 4.

It is alſo very agreeable to ob⯑ſerve, how the ſeveral different Organs of Labouring Men are ſtrengthen'd, and render'd Brawny and Nervous, as they happen to be moſt employ'd in their ſeveral Vocations, let them be otherwiſe ever ſo ſmall or weakly. The Legs, Thighs and Feet of Chairmen; the Arms and Hands of Watermen; the Backs and Shoulders of Porters, grow thick, ſtrong and brawny by Time. 'Tis certain, that ſpeaking ſtrong and loud, without over⯑ſtraining, will ſtrengthen the Voice, and give Force to the Lungs. Our Nails and Hair, the more they are cut and ſhaved, the more they grow. And we may pro⯑mote any one Evacuation ſo far, as to weaken and ſtarve all the reſt. Uſing [97] any Organ frequently and forcibly, brings Blood and Spirits into it, and ſo makes it grow Plump and Brawny. And if due Pains were taken by the Labour proper to them, the Organs of all the Functions of the Animal Oeconomy might be ſtrengthen'd and kept in due plight.

§. 5.

Therefore, to the Aſthmatick, and thoſe of weak Lungs, I ſhould re⯑commend Talking much and loud, even by themſelves, walking up an eaſy Aſcent, and when any degree of Wearineſs warns them, to ſit and reſt, till they are eaſy, and then to return to their walking again, and ſo to increaſe it every Day, till they are able to walk a reaſonable Diſtance, in a reaſonable Time. To thoſe who have weak Nerves and Digeſtion, and to thoſe who are much troubled with Head-aches (moſt of all which ariſe from the ill State of the Stomach and Bowels) I ſhould recommend riding on Horſeback as much as poſſibly they could, in the cleareſt and drieſt Air, and to change the Air daily, if poſſible. To thoſe who are troubled with the Stone or Gravel, to ride much over rough Cauſeways in a Coach. To thoſe that have Rheumatick Pains, to play at Billiards, Tennis or Cricket, [98] till they ſweat plentifully, and then go immediately into a warm Bed, and drink liberally of ſome warm thin Liquor, with Ten Drops of Spirit of Sal Armo⯑niac or Harts horn in each Draught, to encourage the Sweating. To thoſe who have weak Arms or Hams, playing two or three Hours at Tennis, or at Foot-Ball every Day. To thoſe who have weak Backs or Breaſts, ringing a Bell, or work⯑ing at a Pump. Walking thro' rough Roads, even to Laſſitude, will ſooneſt recover the Uſe of their Limbs to the Gouty; tho' Riding on Horſeback or in a Coach will beſt prevent the Diſtem⯑per. But the Studious and the Contem⯑plative, the Valetudinary, and thoſe of weak Nerves, if they aim at Health and Long Life, muſt make Exerciſe a Part of their Religion, as it is among ſome of the Eaſtern Nations, with whom Pilgrimages, at ſtated Times, are an in⯑diſpenſible Duty, and where Mechanical Trades are learned and practiſed by Men of all Ranks. Thoſe who have their Time in their own Hands, ought to have ſtated Seaſons for Riding or Walking in a good Air, as indiſpenſable, as thoſe for going to Dinner, to Bed, or to Church. Three Hours for Riding, or Two [99] for Walking, the one halſ before the great Meal, and the other before going to Bed, is the leaſt that can be diſpenſed with: As the firſt Part begets an Appetite, the ſecond helps on the Digeſtion. Thoſe who are not Maſters of their own Time, muſt take it when they can; but to be ſure they ought to let no Opportunity of taking it ſlip.

§. 6.

There are Three Conditions of Exerciſe to make it the moſt Beneficial that may be. Firſt, That it be upon an empty Stomach (as, indeed, that is the proper Time for all Medicinal Evacuations) for thereby, the now concocted ^* Crudities, or thoſe Super⯑ſtuities Nature would be rid of, and has fitted, by going through the proper Secretions, for being ejected, but cannot throw off without foreign Aſſiſtance, will be readieſt diſcharged. For, on a full Stomach Exerciſe would be too tumul⯑tuous, precipitate the Secretions, and throw off the ſound Juices with the cor⯑rupted Humours. Secondly, That it be not continued to down-right Laſſitude, [100] Depreſſion of Spirits, or a melting Sweat. The Firſt will wear out the Organs, the Second ſpend the Strength, and the Third will only do violence to the Natural Fun⯑ctions. Thirdly, Due Care is to be had after Exerciſe, to retreat to a warm Room and proper Shelter from the Injuries of the Weather, leſt ſucking into the waſted Body the nitrous Particles of the cir⯑cumambient Air, they ſhould inflame the Blood, and produce a Rheumatiſm, Fever or Cold. I might add a Fourth Condition, Joining Temperance to Exerciſe, otherwiſe the Evil will be as broad one Way, as 'tis long the other. For ſince Exerciſe will create a greater Appetite, if it is indulg'd to the full, the con⯑coctive Powers will be as unequal to the Load, as they were before. But I paſs that over, having ſufficiently treated this Subject already.

§. 7.

Under this Head of Exerciſe, I cannot forbear recommending Cold⯑bathing; and I cannot ſufficiently admire, how it ſhould ever have come into ſuch Diſuſe, eſpecially among Chriſti⯑ans, when commanded by the great⯑eſt Lawgiver that ever was, under the Direction of God's Holy Spirit, [101] to his Choſen People, and perpetu⯑ated to us in the Immerſion at Bap⯑tiſm by the ſame Spirit, who, with infinite Wiſdom in this, as in every Thing elſe that regards the Temporal and Eternal Felicity of his Creatures, combines their Duty with their eternal Happineſs. Firſt, The Neceſſity of a free Perſpiration to the Preſervation of Health is now known to every Body, and frequent waſhing the Body in Water, cleanſes the Mouths of the Perſpiratory Ducts from that Glutinous Foulneſs that is continually falling upon them, from their own condenſed dewy Atmoſphere, whereby the Perſpi⯑ration would be ſoon obſtructed, and the Party languiſh. Secondly, The hav⯑ing the Circulation, full, free and open, thro' all the Capillary Arteries, is of great Benefit towards Health and Long Life. Now nothing promotes that ſo much as Cold-bathing; for by the violent and ſudden Shock it gives to the whole Syſtem of the Fluids, from the Circumference in⯑ward towards the Centre, and the Fluids (becauſe Reaction is always equal and con⯑trary to Action) ſpringing back again from the Centre to the Circumference, a Force is raiſed almoſt ever ſufficient to break thro' all the Dams and Obſtructions of the [102] ſmalleſt Veſſels, where they moſtly hap⯑pen, and to carry the Circulation quite round. Thirdly, Nothing is ſo injurious, and ſo much prevents the Benefit of Exerciſe to weak and tender Conſtitu⯑tions, as ſucking into their Bodies the Nitrous and Humid Particles of the Air, that is, Catching of Cold. Now nothing ſo effectually prevents this, as Cold⯑bathing; as the Nature of the Thing ſhews, and Experience confirms: For if Exerciſe, to attenuate the Juices and ſtrengthen the Solids, be added to Cold⯑bathing, a new Spring and Force will be given to the Blood, both to drive out theſe foreign and noxious Mixtures, and to unite the Cuticular Scales, which form the Scarf-Skin, ſo as to ſtrengthen it for the future againſt ſuch violent Entries.

§. 8.

I ſhould adviſe therefore, every one who can afford it, as regularly to have a Cold Bath at their Houſe to waſh their Bodies in, as a Baſon to waſh their Hands; and, conſtantly, two or three Times a Week, Summer and Win⯑ter, to go into it. And thoſe that can⯑not afford ſuch Conveniency, as often as they can, to go into a River or Living Pond, to waſh their Bodies. But this [103] ought never to be done under the actual Fits of a Chronical Diſtemper, with a quick Pulſe, Head-ach, weak Lungs, or a foul Stomach; nor ought they to ſtay in till they are over-chill'd. And in Winter, they ought to purſue their Exerciſes im⯑mediately after they come out; and thoſe of tender Nerves, ought to pour Baſons of Cold Water on their Head, or waſh it well with a dripping Spunge before they go in. I cannot approve the precipitant Way of jumping in, or throwing the Head foremoſt into a Cold Bath; it gives too violent a Shock to Nature, and riſques too much the Burſting ſome of the ſmaller Veſſels. The Natural Way is, holding by the Rope, to walk down the Steps as faſt as one can, and when got to the Bottom, bending their Hams (as Women do when they Curt'ſy low) to ſhorten their Length, ſo as to bring their Heads a good Way under Water, and then popping up again to take Breath; and thus alternately for two or three Times, and out again, rubbing and currying well before they are dreſs'd. And this brings me to ſay ſomething of another kind of Exerciſe.

§. 9.

The Fleſh Bruſh is an Exerciſe moſt uſeful for promoting a full and free Perſpiration and Circulation; Almoſt every Body knows, what well Currying will do to Horſes, in making them ſleek and gay, lively and active; even ſo much, as to be worth half the Feeding. This it can no otherwiſe effectuate, than by aſſiſting Nature to throw off by Perſpi⯑ration, the ^* Recrements of the Juices which ſtop the full and free Circu⯑lation, and by conſtant Friction, Ir⯑ritation and Stimulation, to allicite Blood and Spirits, to the Parts moſt diſtant from the Seat of Heat and Mo⯑tion, and ſo to plump up the ſuperficial Muſcles. The ſame Effect it would pro⯑duce in other Animals, even Human Creatures themſelves, if they were managed in the ſame Manner, with the ſame Care and Regularity. I ſhould think it therefore, well worth the Pains of Perſons of weak Nerves and Sedentary Lives, eſpecially thoſe threatned with Paralytick Diſorders, to ſupply the Want of Exerciſe of other Kinds, with ſpending [105] half an Hour, Morning and Night, in Currying and Rubbing their whole Body, more eſpecially their Limbs, with a Fleſh Bruſh. And 'tis a Wonder to me, that Luxury has not brought Cold-bathing and Currying in Uſe, upon the Animals (eſpecially thoſe of them upon whom they can be ſo readily made Uſe of, ſuch as Oxen, Pigs, Veal, Lamb, and all Poultry, which naturally delight in Cold-bathing) which are brought to the Table. For certain it is, that Cleanneſs and due Ex⯑erciſe (of which Currying is one Part) would much contribute, to make all Animals whatſoever, without Exception, heal⯑thier in themſelves, fuller of Juice and Spirits, and, conſequently, better Food for Human Creatures.

§ 1.

THE Three Principal Evacuati⯑ons are, By Siege, by Water, and by Perſpiration. All theſe muſt be duly regulated, and in the Order of Nature, towards the Preſervation of Health, and the prolonging of Life. The Firſt ought to be of a due Conſiſtence between both Extremes. ^* Oportet Sanorum Sedes eſſe figuratas. Thoſe who are coſtive, have either over-heated their Bodies with ſtrong Liquors; have eaten too ſparingly; have too ſlow a Digeſtion, or the Periſtaltick [110] Motion of their Guts are too weak, whereby the Food ſtaying too long a Time before the Mouths of the Lacteals, is over-drained of its Moiſture. Thoſe who have purging Stools, have eat too much, or of Things too ſtrong for their concoctive Powers. For ſuperfluous Nou⯑riſhment leaves too much Chyle in the ^† Faeces, which fermenting in the Guts, ſtimulates them ſo as to become a Purge. I have often obſerved, That a full Meal of ſtrong Meat, as Fiſh, Beef, Pork, Baked Meat, or made Diſhes, in tender Perſons, goes off with the Hurry and Irritation of a Purge, leaving the Bowels inflated, co⯑licked, or griped, and the Spirits ſunk to the laſt Degree. The Food, by its va⯑rious Mixture, Weight, and Fermentation, ſtimulating all along from the Stomach to the Rectum, and being ſcarce ever drained of its Chyle, without affording any Nou⯑riſhment to the Body, runs off thus crudely, and becomes equal to a total Abſtinence from Food for a long Time. And hence we have a moſt infallible Rule, ^* à poſteriori, to judge if we have [111] governed ourſelves in our Diet in Pro⯑portion to the Neceſſities of Nature, and the Forces of our concoctive Powers. This is the very Reaſon why the Bark over-doſed, and given to Perſons of weak Digeſtion, ſo conſtantly purges them; and why Mercury, given either inwardly, or by Friction, runs off in violent purg⯑ing, and cannot be raiſed into a Saliva⯑tion; to wit, the not adjuſting the Doſes to the Strength of the Stomach and ner⯑vous Fibres. For the Bark naturally binds, and Mercury naturally riſes to the moſt pervious Glands. And in this Senſe, I myſelf have frequently obſerved in weak and ſcrofulous Bowels, even Dia⯑ſcordium, and Venice Treacle to purge: Whereas, had the Doſes been duly pro⯑portioned, or had they begun by Under⯑doſing, and taken a little longer Time, their End might have been effectually anſwered; as I have often experienced without ever failing.

§. 2.

And here it may not be amiſs to take Notice of a fatal Miſtake thoſe run into, who, being weakly, thin, and ſlender, aim, by all Means, and at any Price, to become plump and round, and in order to attain this, are perpetually [112] devouring huge Quantities of high, ſtrong Food, and ſwallowing proportionable Meaſures of generous Liquors, not know⯑ing, that by this very Method, they promote and confirm the Diſeaſe they would remedy; For in ſuch Perſons and Caſes, the globular Part of the Blood is conſtantly of a ſmall Quantity, and very glewy, and the ſerous Part, thin and watry (that is, The Blood is poor and weak) and the Solids or Nerves are looſe and relaxed. And the concoctive Pow⯑ers being in Proportion to theſe Two, of Conſequence, the Digeſtions muſt be weak and imperfect, and their Force un⯑able to diſſolve and break any Quantity of ſuch ſtrong Meat or ſpirituous Liquors into a proper Chyle for Nouriſhment. And this great Load muſt either be hurried off intirely through the alimenta⯑ry Ducts in ſupernumerary Diſcharges, or the ſmall Portion of Chyle drawn out of it, being too groſs to unite and make a ſimilar Fluid with the Maſs of the Blood, muſt be precipitated through the other Drains of the Body; and thus the poor thin Creature muſt ſtarve in Luxury, and waſte amidſt Superfluity. The Caſe is the ſame with Nurſes and Parents in rearing up Young Children. The perpe⯑tual [113] Gripes, Colicks, Looſeneſſes, hard Bel⯑lies, Choakings, Wind, and Convulſive Fits, which torment half the Children of England, are intirely owing to the too great Quantities of too ſtrong Food, and too rank Milk, thruſt down their Throats by their over-laying Mothers and Nurſes. For what elſe do their ſlimy, their gray or chylous, their blackiſh and cholerick Diſ⯑charges, the Noiſe and Motion in their Bowels, their Wind and Choakings, imply, but Crudities from ſuperfluous Nouriſh⯑ment? This is ſo certain, that they are univerſally, and infallibly cured by te⯑ſtaceous Powders, which only abſorb ſharp Crudities, by Rhubarb Purges, which at once evacuate and ſtrengthen the Bowels, and by Milk-Clyſters, Iſſues, and Bliſters, which are ſtill upon the Foot of Evacu⯑ation: by obſtinately perſiſting in theſe, and the like (intended to evacuate and ſtrengthen the alimentary Paſſages) and a thin, ſpare, and nutritive Diet. Nothing nouriſhes but Food duly concocted; and in the Courſe of Nature, we muſt firſt plump up and extend, and then harden and ſtrengthen. This is the Way of Nature in Vegetation. And thus the Animal Creation, devoid of Reaſon, rear up their Young: And thus even [114] the skilful Groom treats his waſted and decayed Horſe: And (which is wonder⯑ful) you ſhall find a ſagacious Horſe⯑Doctor plump up and fatten a rotten, lean, broken-winded Jade, and make him look ſleek, gay, and lively, ſo as to cheat not only the Eſquire, but his Brother⯑Doctor, in fewer Weeks, than all the Man-Doctors in England could rear up their Fellow-Creature, in Years. 'Tis true, The Juices of Men are more variouſly, and more throughly corrupted, and their Solids intirely broken, which ne⯑ver happens to the Brute-Creation. But the greateſt Miſtake lies in the Neglect of duly obſerving, and religiouſly proſe⯑cuting a proper Regimen. This muſt principally conſiſt in a Diet of ſoft, light, tender, cool, and mucilaginous Foods, or ſuch as are already become Chyle, either by Nature or Art, ſuch are Milk, and Milk-Meats. Rice, Sago, Barley, Wheat, Eggs, Broths, light Soops, Jellies, white, young, tender, and well-fed Poultry, or Butchery Meat, eaten little at a Time, and often, never without an Appetite, nor to Satiety; joining to theſe, the other Helps and Aſſiſtances mentioned in this Treatiſe. When Fleſh is once come, 'tis eaſy to make it ſtrong and hardy, by [115] due Exerciſe, and a gradual adventuring upon higher Foods, and more generous Liquors.

§. 3.

I have often heard valetudinary, and tender Perſons, and thoſe of ſeden⯑tary Lives and Learned Profeſſions, com⯑plain of Head-aches, Sickneſſes at the Sto⯑mach, Colicks and Gripes, Lowneſs of Spirits, Wind and Vapours, and yet pre⯑tend they were very moderate and ab⯑ſtemious in their Eating and Drinking; But, upon Enquiry, I conſtantly found theſe very Perſons purſued with purging Stools, which was an evident Proof, to me, that they had taken down more than they wanted, or could digeſt. For 'tis univerſally certain, That thoſe that do not exceed, muſt have either Coſtive, or, at leaſt, Stools of a middle Conſiſtence. There is nothing more ridi⯑culous, than to ſee tender, hyſterical and vapouriſh People, perpetually complaining, and yet perpetually cramming; crying out, They are ready to ſink into the Ground, and faint away, and yet gobbling down the richeſt and ſtrongeſt Food, and higheſt Cordials, to oppreſs and overlay them quite. Freſh and generous Food, mixing with the ſharp Humours of the Stomach [116] and Bowels, may, for ſome ſhort Time, qualify and abate their Irritation, and may give a Fillip to the ſluggiſh Circulation, and become, as it were, a Cork to ſtop the perpetual Fuming up of theſe noxious Steams upon the Head and Brain: But this is (pardon the Similitude) as if one ſhould go to quench the peſtilential Steams of a Common-Shore, by throwing in greater Heaps of Ordure and Nuiſance into it. The proper Remedy in this Caſe, is, Firſt, To cleanſe the fetid Abyſs, and then to preſerve it clean by cutting off all the Inlets of Putrefaction. This will require a little Courage, La⯑bour, and Pain; but the future Eaſe and Sweetneſs, will more than abun⯑dantly recompenſe them; for there is nothing more certain, than that of thoſe born ſound here in England, the Head⯑aches, Stomach-aches, Colicks, and nervous Pains and Diſorders, univerſally proceed from Idleneſs and Fulneſs of Bread.

§. 4.

Thoſe who eat but one mode⯑rate Fleſh Meal a Day, will have regu⯑larly once a Day a Diſcharge of the Re⯑mains of their Food. And, generally ſpeaking, thoſe that go oftner, have exceeded ſome how. Thoſe who pre⯑tend [117] to cure themſelves of nervous Diſ⯑orders, or any other chronical Diſeaſes, or preſerve themſelves from them, or lengthen out their Days, muſt under⯑doſe themſelves (and therefore can go but once in two Days) even though they ſhould undergo the Pain of Coſtiveneſs. For 'tis impoſſible the Nerves of thoſe who have ſlippery Bowels, ſhould ever be braced or wound up; for there the Cure muſt begin, where the Evil be⯑gan; and muſt be communicated thence to the reſt of the Syſtem, as a Rope⯑maker begins the Twiſt at one End of the Rope, and communicates it to all the other Parts. Our Acceſs to the Nerves of the Stomach and Bowels, is obvious and open: To the reſt, the Way is dif⯑ficult, and far about. And ſince a Re⯑laxation, Weakneſs, and want of Spring in the Fibres, is the Origin of all nervous Diſtempers, no Medicines, but ſuch as contract, ſtiffen, wind up, and ſhorten them, can remedy this Evil; and they muſt neceſſarily contract and bind up the Fibres of the Stomach and Guts, as the Parts they firſt approach and exert their Virtue upon. And he, who with⯑out firm Bowels, thinks to cure a nervous Diſtemper, labours as much in vain as [118] he who would keep a Fiddle-ſtring ſoaking in Oil and Water, to make it vibrate or play off a fine Compoſition of Muſick.

§. 5.

By Experience and Obſervation I have found, That in thoſe who have one regular Diſcharge in Twenty-four Hours, the Time of the Progreſs of the Food from the Stomach, till its Remains are thrown off, is Three Natural Days. And in thoſe who go but once in Two Days, the Time is Six Natural Days. The Curious may be ſatisfied in this, by ſwallowing an Almond or any other Nut, which paſſes without being broken or making any Irritation. The Rea⯑ſon is this, That a ſmaller Quantity of Food is retained longer, by their Suction, at the Mouths of the Lacteals, to drain it intirely of its Chyle, and its Weight being leſs, the Concoctive Powers have the greater Force upon it, and ſo it is retained till it is perfectly Digeſted, and drain'd of all its Humidity; whereby ſuch People become Coſtive: Whereas in People that exceed, the contrary Cauſes precipitate the Courſe of the Aliment, and ſo leave the Bowels al⯑ways ſlippery. And nothing can more [119] demonſtratively ſhew an Exceſs, than the Lubricity of the Diſcharge; and I have often, obſerved in tender Perſons, and thoſe of weak Nerves, when a Meal (I mean only of thoſe who eat Fleſh Meat only once a Day) has been a little too hard for the Stomach, tho' the Spi⯑rits have been full and free, and the Health equal and good, by duly propor⯑tioned Meals for two preceding Days; the Third Day, when the groſs Meal came off, they have been full of Wind and Vapours, their Eyes dim, and their Heads heavy, with flying Rheumatick Pains over the Body, and Colick-Gripes. From whence we may draw theſe three Corollaries.

§. 6.

There are ſome ſorts of Food which may oppreſs and load the Stomach, and Alimentary Ducts in the firſt Con⯑coction, which may be very ſafe and benign in the ſubſequent ones. For in⯑ſtance, Cheeſe, Eggs, Milk-Meats, and Vegetable Food, tho' duly prepared, and juſtly proportioned in Quantity, may chance to lie heavy on the Stomach, or beget Wind in the Alimentary Paſſages of ſome Perſons (and yet drinking of Water will always remedy this Incon⯑veniency): But theſe neither having their Parts ſtrongly united, nor abound⯑ing in ſharp Urinous Salts, when they become ſufficiently diluted with a watry Menſtruum, or diſſolved into their Component Parts, and their Parts being ſtill ſmaller than the ſmalleſt Veſſels, and [121] their Union conſtantly leſs, than the Force of the Concoctive Powers, in Perſons who have any remaining Fund of Life in them; will thereby yield a ſweet, thin, and eaſily Circulating Chyle, in the after Concoctions become benign and ſalutary, and afford no Materials for Chronical Diſtempers. And the Wind thence generated, not being pointed and armed with ſuch ſharp Salts, as thoſe of Fleſh Meats, or the Corroſive Juices of Spiri⯑tuous Liquors, will be as innocent and ſafe, as the Element we breathe in.

§. 7.

The Second Evacuation is by Water, whoſe Circumſtances and Con⯑dition, tho' -little adverted to, may be of great Service to diſcover both the State of our Conſtitution, and the Proportion of our Diet. Some People are frightned when they find their Water turbid, bro⯑ken, and full of Brick-duſt Sediment; whereas that is the beſt Symptom it can have. For tho' it ſuppoſes the Blood loaded with Urinous Salts and Cradities; yet 'tis ſtill better they ſhould paſs off than continue in the Habit. On the contrary, when thoſe that live freely, have Quantities of pale, limpid and ſweet Water, 'tis a certain Sign that the Per⯑ſpiration [122] is ſtopp'd; that neither the Firſt nor the Secondary Concoctions have been duly perform'd; that the Chyle has not been ſufficiently broken, nor the finer Secretions duly made by the leſſer Drains; and that the Urinous Salts are ſtill re⯑tained in the Habit. Upon which muſt needs enſue Oppreſſion of Spirits, Chills upon the Extremities, flying Rheumatick Pains over the Body, Head-aches, Cholicks and Gripes. And here it may not be amiſs, to take Notice of the Difference of the pale Water of Hypochondriacal and Hyſterical Perſons, from that of thoſe who labour under a true Diabetes, the Apprehenſion of which terrifies ſo often the Low and Diſpirited Perſons of the Firſt Claſs. The Water of both has the ſame Appearance, both in Quality and Quantity, at leaſt, in the firſt Inſtance, they are both attended with the ſame Sinking and Diſpiritedneſs. But in a true Diabetes, there is a conſtant Thirſt, a low but quick Pulſe, the Water is much ſweeter, and continues longer to come off in profuſe Quantities, inſomuch, that ſometimes it is ſo violent as to run down the Party in a few Days. In Hypochondriacal and Hyſterical Perſons, there is little or no Thirſt, never a quick [123] Pulſe, but rather too low and ſlow a one, the Flux ſoon ſtops of itſelf, or by any little Diaphoretick Medicine, and they are cold upon the Extremities, which the others are not.

§. 8.

That bluiſh and variegated Film, which ſometimes looks like Oil and Fat ſwimming on the Water of Scor⯑butick and Cachectick Perſons, is nothing but the congregated Salts which are crowded ſo thick together, that they are ready to ſhoot into Cluſters, much like the Film of a ^* Lixivium, when ſtand⯑ing for the Cryſtallization of fixed Salts. The Water which has a light Cloud hang⯑ing almoſt from the Top to the Bottom, is of a bright Amber Colour, and about three Quarters of the Liquor taken down, is beſt, and a certain Sign of a due Con⯑coction, a juſt Proportion of Food, and a total Abſence of Repletion and Crudity. And thoſe who live Temperately, uſe due Exerciſe, and enjoy a perfect State of Health, always make ſuch Water.

§. 9.

Thoſe who are ſubject to great Quantities of limpid and pale Water, ought to conclude, that their Food has been too heavy in Quality, or too much in Quantity for their Concoctive Powers, or their Labour too little; and that therefore, they ought to proportion both, for the future, with more Caution and Exactneſs, by living low for ſome Time, or uſing more Exerciſe. And to ſtop their Flux of pale Water, they ought to take a little Gaſcoign's Powder, Confection of Alkermes, or Sir Walter Raleigh's Cor⯑dial at Night, and drink liberally of ſmall warm Sack Whey, with a few Drops of Spirit of Hartſhorn, to ſet the Perſpi⯑ration in order again. Thoſe, on the other Hand, who make high-colour'd, foul, and very turbid Water in ſmaller Quantities, have either inflamed their Blood too much, with Spirituous Liquors, or loaded it with too great a Quantity of Animal Salts. To prevent therefore Diſorders and Diſeaſes, they muſt leſſen the Quantity of their Fleſh Meat, and temper the Heat of their Wine with Water. Elſe they will lay the Foun⯑dation of ſome Acute Inflammatory, or dangerous Chronical Diſtemper.

§. 10.

The worſt kind of Water of all, is that of a dark Brown or dirty Red, in a ſmall Quantity, and without any Sediment. This kind of Water, in Acute Diſeaſes, always indicates inſuperable Crudity, high Inflammation tending towards Mortification, and a dying Languor in Nature. And in Perſons labouring under no viſible Diſtemper at the Time, an almoſt total Debility of the Concoctive Powers, an inſeparable Union of the Con⯑ſtituent Parts of the Blood, the higheſt De⯑gree of Crudity, and a Deadneſs in all the Animal Functions. And, if preceded by long continued Exceſſes, requires the Ad⯑vice of a Phyſician. I ſhall ſay nothing of Coffee-colour'd, Bloody, Wheyiſh, or Puru⯑lent Water, or that with white Gravel, Films, Rags, or Bits of broken Mem⯑branes. They are well known to be Nephritick, or Symptoms of an Ulcer ſomewhere in the Urinary Paſſages.

§. 11.

There happens alſo an Evacu⯑ation both by Siege and Urine, to ſome weak Perſons of relaxed Nerves, that ex⯑tremely alarms the Patient, and is not [126] ſo readily accounted for in common ^* Aetiology. It is when either a white tranſparent, viſcid Subſtance, like Gelly, is conſtantly voided by the Bowels, more or leſs; or when a white, milk, glewy Subſtance, like Cream or laudable Mat⯑ter, ſettles in the Water: Both theſe Ap⯑pearances are commonly aſcribed to an Ulcer in the Guts, or in the Kidneys, the very Apprehenſion of which is almoſt ſufficient, in ſome low Perſons, to bring on the Diſtemper feared: And yet I am very certain there is neither Ulcer nor true Matter in either Caſe, as I propoſe them. For where there is violent and acute Pain, or Matter of different Colours or Mixtures, there, very poſſibly, may be, nay, certainly there is, an Ulcer. But in the Caſe I here intend, there is very little or no Pain, no Hectical Paroxyſms, which always attend an inward Ulcer; no bloody or ſanious Mixtures, which always betray the inward Sore; no fetid Smell to imply Corruption. For the Caſes I put at preſent, happen to [127] Perſons the leaſt capable of Inflammation or Impoſthumation, viz. to paralytick Per⯑ſons, or thoſe of a Natural Tendency that Way, to cold, vapouriſh Perſons of low Spirits and weak Nerves, whoſe Pulſe is low and ſlow, and their na⯑tural Functions weak and languid; all which evidently ſhew, that theſe Diſ⯑charges cannot come from an Ulcer. The firſt Caſe I take to be either an Obſtruction of ſome of the Lacteals, whereby the Chyle cannot be carried off in any ſufficient Quantity, but paſſing through the Guts, and its more Watry Part being evaporated, it be⯑comes thick and gelatinous, and is thrown off at laſt with the Remains of the Food. Elſe it muſt be an Obſtru⯑ction of thoſe Glands of the Guts, by which a viſcid Matter for lubricating of them, is commonly ſecerned; by the Impriſonment and Evaporation of which Matter, it thickens and turns like a Gelly (as it does by Cold, or Overfeeding, in the Glands of the Mouth, Throat and Windpipe) and at laſt, by the Squeezing of the Guts, is thrown off. And in the ſame Manner, I take that Milky Sub⯑ſtance ſubſiding in the Water, in ſuch a Caſe as I have mentioned, to ariſe from [128] a Relaxation of the Glands of the Kidneys and Bladder, and other Urinary Paſſages; and that both are to be cured the ſame Way other Nervous Diſtempers are cured, viz. by a proper Regimen of Diet, and a Courſe of contracting, ſtrengthen⯑ing, and volatile Medicines.

§. 12.

The inſenſible Perſpiration is the Third Evacuation to be conſidered. The Statical Chair invented by Sanctorius, for examining the Quantity of the Per⯑ſpiration, however ingenious and delight⯑ful in Speculation, is too cumberſome and laborious to be of any great Uſe in Com⯑mon Life. 'Tis certain, however, that the free and full flowing of this Evacuation, is as neceſſary to Health as any of the groſſer, ſince in Quantity it is at leaſt equal to both the forementioned; and an Obſtruction thereof, is generally the Source of all acute Diſeaſes, as it is a Conſequence of all Chronical ones. And therefore, I have adviſed thoſe who are much abroad in Eaſterly and Northerly Winds (which moſt of any obſtruct Perſpiration) and have Fluxes of white and pale Water, to a ready An⯑tidote to prevent the Beginnings of theſe Obſtructions.

§. 13.

Dr. ^*JAMES KEILL has made it out, beyond all poſſibility of doubting, that catching of Cold is no⯑thing but ſucking in, by the Paſſages of Perſpiration, large Quantities of moiſt Air and nitrous Salts, which by thickening the Blood and Juices (as is evident from Bleeding after catching Cold) and thereby obſtructing, not only the Per⯑ſpiration, but alſo all the other finer Se⯑cretions, raiſes immediately a ſmall Fever and a Tumult in the whole Animal Oeconomy; and, neglected, lays a Foun⯑dation for Conſumptions, Obſtructions of the great Viſcera, and univerſal Cachexies. The Tender therefore, and Valetudinary ought cautiouſly to avoid all Occaſions of catching Cold, and if they have been ſo unfortunate as to get one, to ſet about its Cure immediately, before it has taken too deep Root in the Habit. From the Nature of the Diſorder thus deſcribed, the Remedy is obvious; To wit, Lying much abed, Drinking plen⯑tifully of ſmall warm Sack Whey, with a few Drops of Spirit of Hartſhorn, Poſſet-Drink, Water-Gruel, or any other warm ſmall Liquors, a Scruple of Gaſcoign's Powder Morning and Night, Living [130] low upon Spoon-Meats, Pudding and Chicken, and drinking every thing warm: In a Word, treating it at firſt as a ſmall Fever, with gentle Diaphoreticks; and afterward, if any Cough or Spitting ſhould remain (which this Method generally prevents) by ſoftening the Breaſt with a little Sugar-Candy, and Oil of Sweet Almonds, or a Solution of Gum Ammoniac, an Ounce to a Quart of Barley Water, to make the Expectoration eaſy; and going cautiouſly and well cloathed into the Air afterwards. This is a much more natural, eaſy and effectual Method, than the Practice by Balſams, Linctus's, Pectorals, and the like Trum⯑pery in common Uſe, which ſerve only to ſpoil the Stomach, oppreſs the Spirits, and hurt the Conſtitution.

§. 14.

The ſureſt Way of maintaining and promoting a due Perſpiration, is, To take down no more Food than what the Concoctive Powers are ſufficient to reduce into a due Fluidity, and the Expences of Living require, to proſe⯑cute neceſſary Exerciſe, and uſe the other Aſſiſtances adviſed in the foregoing Chapters. Want of due Reſt and the Refreſhment that follows upon it, ſtart⯑ing, [131] toſſing, and tumbling abed, are certain Signs that the Perſpiration is not duly carried on in the Night Seaſon. And therefore, in order to remedy this, a greater Proportion of Exerciſe, a greater Degree of Abſtinence, or ſome gentle domeſtick Purge, muſt be had recourſe to the next Day. Colical Pains, Gripes and Purging, much Eructa⯑tion and Belching of Wind, Low Spirited⯑neſs, Yawning and Stretching, are infalli⯑ble Signs that the Perſpiration flows not freely and plentifully then. And therefore the ſame Remedies ought to be proſecuted, as ſoon as an Oppor⯑tunity offers; elſe the Party will ſuffer at laſt. Wind, as Sanctorius obſerves and demonſtrates, is nothing but ob⯑ſtructed Perſpiration: And Yawning and Stretching, are but Convulſions of the proper Muſcles and Organs appointed by Nature, the one for Pumping up Wind from the Bowels, the other for preſſing upon the Excretory Ducts in the Skin, to force out the ſluggiſh perſpirable Mat⯑ter. And 'tis beautiful to obſerve, how wiſely Nature has contrived the Spoſms, Cramps and Convulſions of the proper Organs, to expel every noxious and ex⯑traneous Body out of the Habit. Thus [132] Coughing is a Convulſion of the Diaphragm and Muſcles of the Breaſt, to throw out viſcid Phlegm; Vomiting, of the Stomach, (aſſiſted by the Diaphragm and Muſcles of the Abdomen) to throw up its Cru⯑dities, and thoſe of the Bowels; or to expel Sand or Stones from the Kidneys. The Throws of Labouring Women, are to bring off the Burden. Sneezing is an Effort of the proper Muſcles, to eject ſome noxious Particles from the Organs of Smelling. Shivering and Stretching to aſſiſt Perſpiration; and Yawning to pump up noxious Wind. And even Laughing itſelf, is an Effort of the Muſcles of the whole Trunk, to throw off ſome⯑thing that its delicate Membranes can⯑not bear. And, Laſtly, Hyſterical Fits and Convulſions, both in Infants and Perſons come to Maturity, are but violent Efforts, Struggles, Workings, Cramps and Spaſms of all the Muſcles of the whole Body together, to expel, ſqueeze, and preſs out the ſharp Acri⯑monious Wind. Fumes and Vapours from the Cavities of the whole Machine.

§. 15.

There is an Evacuation in⯑cident to Perſons of weak Nerves, which could not conveniently come in [133] under the general Diviſion, becauſe it happens too ſeldom to make a new Member of it. It is a Diſcharge of thin Rheum from the Glands of the Mouth, Throat and Stomach, and is called by ſome, A Nervous or Scorbutick Spitting. It riſes ſometimes to the Heighth of a petit Flux de Bouche, as the French call it, and threatens ſome tender Perſons, as they apprehend, with a Conſumption, though it imply nothing leſs. We may obſerve ſome, who are ſtruck with a deep Palſey, to flow at the Mouth, and drivel down their Breaſts; inſomuch, that the Afflicted of this Sort, who are advanced in Years, can ſcarce ſpeak intelligibly for the Flux, till they have firſt emptied and cleaned their Mouths. And this ariſes to ſo great a Heighth, in ſome much broken paralytick Perſons, that upon the ſlighteſt Occaſions, either of Joy or Grief, they are apt to run into a Profuſion of Tears, Sighs and Sobbings. And ſome ſorts of Ideots, and thoſe Hyſterically mop'd, and moſt of thoſe who ſuffer from relaxed and weak Nerves, are more or leſs ſubject to theſe Salival Diſcharges, eſpecially after Exceſſes in Diet. Hence the firſt Sort receive the Appellation of Snivellers or Drivellers. [134] And the Difficulty of the Cure of all the Diſeaſes of weak Nerves, depends much on the Quantity and Conſtitution of this Flux. For much and long Spitting and Running off of this Rheum, implies a total Relaxation of the whole Nervous Syſtem, and ſhews neither the firſt nor ſecond Concoctions have been duly performed. I have frequently had Occaſion to ſhew, how Exceſſes in the Quantity or Quality of the Food, in Perſons of relaxed and weak Nerves, begot a viſcid and groſs Chyle, of which that Part, which could not get through the Lacteals, lay fermenting and putri⯑fying in the Alimentary Paſſages, begot Wind, Gripes and Colicks, and at laſt wrought itſelf off like a Purge; and that that Part, which got through the Lacteals, and was received within the Limits of the Circulation, being too groſs and glewy to be mixed with the old Maſs of the Fluids, to circulate through the ſmalleſt Veſſels, and to enter the fine Perſpiratory Glands, would neceſ⯑ſarily be thrown into the wider, more ſpongy and looſe Salivary Glands, which are appointed by Nature to ſecern the more Glutinous Parts of the Fluids. And from thence this Salivary Inunda⯑tion [135] proceeds. The Fact is, When thoſe of weak Nerves, commit habitual Ex⯑ceſſes in their Diet, the Glands and ſmall Veſſels of all the Body are tumified, ſwelled and obſtructed thereby, as they needs muſt be. And 'tis from the Preſſure of theſe inlarged Glands, and the obſtructed capillary Veſſels on the Nerves, and patent Blood Veſſels, that moſt of the Evils they ſuffer under proceed. But more eſpecially, are the Glands appointed to draw off the more viſcid ſerous Part of the Blood, obſtructed and tumified thereby. Upon which Ac⯑count, as Baglivi adviſes to enquire well into the State of the Tongue and Mouth, in order to diſcover the Con⯑dition of the Stomach, Guts and Bowels; ſo I think 'tis highly reaſonable in a Chronical Caſe, to have great regard to the Condition of the Eyes; and if a dead, cold Languor be obſerved in the Hue or Water of them (as Jewellers ſpeak of Diamonds) and more eſpecially if the lachrymal Gland in the Corner next the Noſe, which I always narrowly inſpect; if, I ſay, this Gland be found harder, or larger than ordinary, ſwelled and tumified, it muſt certainly be con⯑cluded, whatever elſe be in the Caſe, [136] there muſt be a relaxed State of Nerves, much Vapours, weak natural Functions, and a miſmanaged Regimen. And it is from the Obſtruction and Swelling of this and the other Glands, in and about the Eyes, and their Preſſure upon the Optical Nerves, and fine Blood Veſſels, that thoſe Spots, Flies, Atoms, Dimneſs, Darkneſs, and Confuſion of Sight, in Vapouriſh and Hyſterical People proceed. For this Gland ſhews, that the whole ſerous Glands in the upper Regions of the Body are, in Proportion, tumified and ſwelled with viſcid Humours through Exceſs of Diet; unleſs the Perſon have ſuffered there by Accident, or labours under ſome natural Diſorders of the Eyes. From the Obſtruction and Swel⯑ling of the Salivary Glands in the Mouth, Throat and Gullet, proceed alſo thoſe Choakings, Gulping and Strangling, that Hyſterick Perſons ſo often complain of. The Wind and Crudities lodged in their Stomach and Guts, and the reſt of the Cavities of the Body preſſing to get vent upwards, are reſiſted and ſtopp'd in their Paſſage by the Diaphragm, where⯑by the Inſpiration is ſtreightned, and by the Bulk of theſe Glands throughout the Gullet, the Way is intirely ſtopp'd; [137] which raiſes ſuch a Tumult and Struggle, as produces the mentioned Symptoms; which I have not Leiſure to detail here more minutely. Now this Salivation or Diſcharge of the thinner Rheum, and that Coughing and Hawking of more viſcid Flegm, commonly called a nervous Cough, as alſo the Chincough of Children, and all ſuch Diſcharges of ſharp Serum in Perſons of weak and relaxed Nerves, is an Effort of Nature to relieve them. And, if diſcreetly managed, and duly heeded, would prove a Crise to their Diſorders, and quite free them from their preſent ^* Paroxyſms, and ſet the Circulation and Perſpiration, and conſe⯑quently the Spirits, at Freedom and Liberty again. Some Perſons moſt diſtractedly run to Drams and Cordials to remedy this Evil, to ſtop the Violence of this Deluge, and to raiſe their drooping Spirits. But it ſerves only to thicken the Flegm, ſhut up the Mouths of the Salivary Glands cloſer, and ſo to perpetuate the Evil they mean to cure. Others devour large Quantities of high and generous Foods, becauſe they find a [138] little Relief to their Spirits, from the firſt Run of the ſweet, thin, and ſpirituous Chyle: But this is only adding Fewel to the Fire, and running on in a perpetual Round of Lowneſs and Slavering. Where⯑as, would they ſuffer Nature to act her own Way, to carry on this critical Diſcharge as far as it will go, without offering in the leaſt either to check or promote it; but by thin, light Food, and cool Liquors, in moderate, or rather under doſed Quantities, ſupport her in the manner the Concoctive Powers are ſufficient for; after ſhe had diſ⯑charged all the Crudities from the Maſs of the Fluids, by theſe Emunctory Glands, and thereby given a free Paſſage to the Wind to eſcape the Way it tends, the Salivation would leſſen gradually, and at laſt ſtop of itſelf. And if then towards the Decline, a gentle Vomit, to pump up the ſlow and viſcid Remains of the Wind and Flegm in the Upper Part of the Alimentary Paſſages, and afterwards a gentle Stomachick warm Purge, to ſcour the Lower Part of theſe Tubes, were carefully adminiſtred; the Patient would ſoon find a clear Head, lightſome Spirits, Eaſe and Freedom from Pain and Oppreſſion; the Circulation and Perſpi⯑ration [139] would be ſoon brought to their natural and ſound State, and Health and Cheerfulneſs reſtored together; unleſs a mortal or habitual ^* Ptyaliſm was the Caſe, which I have ſometimes obſer⯑ved, as fatal and incurable as a true Dropſy, or inveterate Diabetes; all which owe their Being to a deep Scurvy, whereby the Globular Part of the Blood is intirely broken, and the Serum made a meer Lixivium or Lye.

§. 1.

I Come now, in the Order of my firſt propoſed Method, to treat of the Paſſions; which have a greater In⯑fluence on Health and Long Life, than moſt People are aware of. And that I may propoſe my Scheme with the great⯑eſt Clearneſs I can, I will lay down ſome Propoſitions or Axioms, as the Ground-work on which it is founded.

§. 2.

In relation to the Organical In⯑ſtruments of the Body, and the Effects wrought on them, or the Diſorders [153] brought upon them, the Paſſions may be divided into Acute and Chronical, after the ſame Manner, and for the ſame Reaſon, as Diſeaſes are. The acute Paſſions, whether pleaſurable or painful, have much the ſame Effect, and work much after the ſame Manner as Acute Diſeaſes do. They effect a brisk and lively Circulation of the Fluids, criſp up and conſtrict the Solids for ſome ſhort Time. Thus ſudden Guſts of Joy or Grief, Pleaſure or Pain, ſtimulate and ſpur the Nervous Fibres, and the Coats of the Animal Tubes, and thereby give a Celerity and brisker Motion to their included Fluids, for the ſame Time. And the Functions of the Heart and Lungs being involuntary, they have their more immediate Effects upon them. Thus both ſudden Joy and Grief, make us breath ſhort and quick, and make our Pulſe ſmall and frequent. The retaining our Breath for ſome Time (for ſo far our Breathing is volun⯑tary) to reflect more intenſely upon the painful Object, forces at laſt a ſtrong Exſpiration, which becomes a Sigh. Thus a ſudden painful Idea, makes a quicker Circulation of the Blood, and thereby throwing a greater [154] Quantity thereof upwards, through the proportionally larger Branch of the Aorta, makes it appear in the ſuperficial Veſſels of the Face, Neck and Breaſt, and ſo produces a Bluſh; which, when longer continued, and being very ſtrong, is diſperſed over the whole Surface of the Body. Hence the Obſervation of Bluſhing at the Back of one's Hand; and the Reaſons why we ſigh upon ſome Occaſions, and bluſh upon others, de⯑pend upon the different Structure of the Organs of Pulſation and Reſpiration. A quick ſurprizing Pain of Mind acts upon the Heart, becauſe the Motion of the Heart is altogether involuntary: So that a ſudden Conſtriction takes place there immediately to increaſe the Pulſe. Whereas we have ſome Power over the Breathing; we can ſtop or ſuſpend it for a Time; and when we are think⯑ing intenſely, our Attention partly makes us hold our Breath, and hence enſues Sighing rather than Bluſhing. For the Pain being ſlow, quickens the Pulſe more gradually: But if it continues long, both Actions of both Organs are reſpectively produced; and hence it comes to paſs, that upon Anxiety, Concern and earneſt Expectation, the [155] Pulſe is found quick and ſmall, and the Breath thick and difficult, as Experience ſhews. The ſame Principles will account for the Effects of Fear and Anger, which make us change Colour, and look red or pale, as the Blood is accelerated or re⯑tarded in its Courſe. The ſudden Guſts of theſe Paſſions being thus ac⯑counted for, when they become ex⯑treme, they drive about the Blood with ſuch a Hurricane, that Nature is over⯑ſet, like a Mill by a Flood: So that what drove it only quicker round before, now intirely ſtops it, and renders the Countenance pale and ghaſtly. Sudden and great Fear or Grief, do ſo convulſe the Nervous Syſtem, that ſometimes they alter the Poſition of the Parts, and fix them in a new one. Thus the Hair ſtands on end in a Fright, and the whole Syſtem of the Nerves becomes ſo rigid and ſtiff, as to loſe their Elaſticity; whereby the Animal Functions are ſtopp'd at once; and Fainting, and ſometimes Death, enſues.

§. 3.

The Chronical Paſſions, like Chronical Diſeaſes, wear out, waſte and deſtroy the Nervous Syſtem gradually. Thoſe Nerves which are neceſſary for [156] conſidering, brooding over, and fixing ſuch a Set of Ideas on the Imagination, being conſtantly employ'd, are worn out, broken and impaired. The reſt by Diſuſe, become reſty and unactive, lifeleſs and deſtitute of a ſufficient Flux of warm Blood and due Nouriſhment. And thus the whole Syſtem languiſhes and runs into Decay. Thus ſlow and long Grief, dark Melancholy, hopeleſs natural Love, and overweening Pride, (which is an outragious Degree of Self⯑love) impair the Habit, by making the proper Seaſons of neceſſary Food and due Labour be neglected, and thereby depriving the natural Functions of their wonted Supplies, overworking ſome Part of the Nervous Syſtem, and leaving the other to ruſt, and become reſty for want of Uſe. Some of theſe Paſſions, as Love, Grief and Pride, when very intenſe and long indulg'd, terminate even in Madneſs. The Reaſon is, as I have been ſaying, becauſe long and conſtant Habits, of fixing one Thing on the Imagination, begets a ready Diſpoſiti⯑on in the Nerves to produce again the ſame Image, till the Thought of it become ſpontaneous and natural, like breathing, or the Motion of the Heart, which the Machine [157] performs without the Conſent of the Will; and alſo a Diſability or ^* Tetanus enſues on the other Parts, juſt as the Faquiers in India, fix one or both Hands by long holding them up, ſo as that they cannot bring them down again. There is a kind of Melancholy, which is called Religious, becauſe 'tis converſant about Matters of Religion; although, often the Perſons ſo diſtempered, have little ſolid Piety. And this is merely a Bodily Diſeaſe, produced by an ill Habit or Conſtitution, wherein the Nervous Syſtem is broken and diſordered, and the Juices are become viſcid and glewy. This Melancholy ariſes generally from a Diſguſt or Diſreliſh of worldly Amuſe⯑ments and Creature-Comforts, whereupon the Mind turns to Religion for Conſola⯑tion and Peace. But as the Perſon is in a very imperfect and unmortified State, not duly inſtructed and diſciplined, and ignorant how to govern himſelf, there enſues Fluctuation and Indocility, Scru⯑puloſity, Horror and Deſpair.

§. 4.

Since the Mind reſides, as has been ſaid, in the common Senſory, like [158] a skilful Muſician by a well-tuned Inſtru⯑ment; if the Organ be ſound, duly tem⯑pered, and exactly adjuſted, anſwering and correſponding with the Actions of the Muſician, the Muſick will be diſtinct, agreeable and harmonious. But if the Organ be ſpoiled and broken, neither duly tuned, nor juſtly fitted up, it will not anſwer the Intention of the Muſician, nor yield any diſtinct Sound, or true Harmony. Thoſe therefore who are tender and valetudinary, lead ſedentary Lives, or indulge contemplative Stu⯑dies, ought to avoid Exceſſes of the Paſſions, as they would Exceſſes in high Food, or Spirituous Liquors, if they have any Regard to Health, to the Preſervation or Integrity of their In⯑tellectual Faculties, or the bodily Organs of them. As the Paſſions, when ſlow and continued, relax, unbend, and diſſolve the Nervous Fibres; ſo the ſudden and violent ones ſcrew up, ſtretch and bend them, whereby the Blood and Juices are hurried about with a violent Impe⯑tuoſity, and all the Secretions are either ſtopp'd by the Conſtrictions, Cramps and Convulſions begot by them, or are precipitated, crude and uncon⯑cocted, and ſo beget, or at leaſt diſ⯑poſe [159] toward Inflammations, Fevers or Mortifications. Hatred, for Example, Anger and Malice, are but Degrees of a Frenzy, and a Frenzy is one kind of a raging Fever. From all which 'tis plain, the violent and ſudden Paſſions, are more dangerous to Health, than the ſlow and continued, as acute Diſeaſes are more deſtructive than chronical.

§. 5.

To ſhew yet farther, the In⯑fluence of the Paſſions on the Animal Oeconomy, let us conſider the different Conſtitutions of Men. Thoſe who have very ſpringy, lively, and elaſtick Fibres, have the quickeſt Senſations, a weaker Impulſe producing a ſtronger Senſation in them. Theſe generally excel in the Animal Faculty of Imagination. Hence the Poet,

And therefore, your Men of Imagination are generally given to ſenſual Pleaſure, becauſe the Objects of Senſe yield them a more delicate Touch, and a livelier Senſation, than they do others. But if they happen to live ſo long (which is [160] hardly poſſible) in the Decline of Life they pay dearly for the greater bodily Pleaſures they enjoyed in the Youthful Days of their Vanity. Thoſe of rigid, ſtiff and unyielding Fibres, have leſs vivid Senſations, becauſe it requires a greater Degree of Force to overcome a greater Reſiſtance. Thoſe excel moſt in the Labours of the Underſtanding, or the In⯑tellectual Faculties, retain their Impreſ⯑ſions longeſt, and purſue them fartheſt; and are moſt ſuſceptible of the ſlow and laſting Paſſions, which ſecretly conſume them as chronical Diſeaſes do. And Laſtly, Thoſe whoſe Organs of Senſation are (if I may ſpeak ſo) un-elaſtick, or intirely callous, reſty for want of Ex⯑erciſe, or any way obſtructed, or na⯑turally ill-formed, as they have ſcarce any Paſſions at all, or any lively Sen⯑ſations, and are incapable of laſting Impreſſions; ſo they enjoy the firmeſt Health, and are ſubject to the feweſt Diſeaſes: ſuch are Ideots, Peaſants and Mechanicks, and all thoſe we call In⯑dolent People.

§. 6.

We have before ſhewn, that weak Limbs, and all the bodily Organs, may be ſtrengthened and re⯑paired [161] by proper Exerciſe. And there is no doubt to be made, but the Organs of Senſation, and thoſe the Mind uſes in its intellectual Operations, may be like⯑wiſe improved, ſtrengthened and perfected by conſtant Uſe, and proper Application. And if by Exceſſes, an original bad Con⯑formation, or any Accident, theſe Organs come to be ſpoiled, or by the bad State of the Juices, they be weakned in their Functions; then the Medicinal and Chirurgical Arts may take place, and come in play. But if the Paſſions be raging and tumultuous, and conſtantly fuelled, nothing leſs than He, who has the Hearts of Men in His Hands, and forms them as a Potter does his Clay, who ſtills the Raging of the Seas, and calms the Tempeſts of the Air, can ſettle and quiet ſuch tumultuous, overbearing Hurri⯑canes in the Mind, and Animal Oeconomy. Without ſuch a Miracle, ſince the Soul and Body act mutually upon one another, and the Tabernacle of Clay is the weakeſt Part of the Compound, it muſt at laſt be overborn and thrown down.

§. 7.

In ſuch a wretched Caſe I know no Remedy, but to drown all other Paſſions in that Spiritual one of the [162] Love of God. The Reaſonableneſs and Juſtneſs of which Proceeding, and (what may ſeem a Paradox) the Uſeful⯑neſs of it to Health, and its benign In⯑fluence on the Animal Oeconomy, I ſhall endeavour to demonſtrate. Spiritual Love is that Principle analogous to Attraction, ſpoken of in Prop. IV. 'Tis the Ten⯑dency, Byaſs or Impulſe of the Minds of Men and other Spirits, toward the moſt amiable Objects, communicated by their Creator in their original Formation, by virtue of which, they conſtantly tend, preſs and urge to unite (and, if Obſtacles were removed, would unite) with one another, and be all united with their Origin. This Principle indeed, in this lapſed Eſtate of Man (where 'tis over⯑laid and buried under Rubbiſh, involved in ſo many other Attractions, and ſtifled with ſuch Letts and Contrarieties, that its Action is felt but juſt enough to know that it is, and wants to be a waked with Labour, and excited with Violence, as the Scripture mentions, the taking the Kingdom of Heaven by Force) on its firſt Developement and Expanſion, and in its firſt Exerciſes, may be called a Spiritual Paſſion, as 'tis the firſt Motions, En⯑deavours and Velleities toward the Love [163] of God or Charity. But in its Advances, and final Perfection and Conſummation, it diſcovers itſelf to be a Faculty, Quality, or inherent Power in the Soul, whereby it will act without Solicitation, Motive or Direction. As a Stone in a Wall, faſtened with Mortar, compreſſed by ſurrounding Stones, and involved in a Million of other Attractions, cannot fall to the Earth, nor ſenſibly exert its na⯑tural Gravity, no, not ſo much as to diſcover there is ſuch a Principle in it; juſt ſo, the intelligent Soul, in this her lapſed Eſtate, being drowned in Senſe, chained and fettered by Ignorance and Perverſeneſs, drawn and hurried away by the Devil, the World and the Fleſh, is diſabled from exerting this inherent and innate Principle of Re-union, and wants ſufficient Light on the Under⯑ſtanding, and a right Turn of the Will, to be put in a Capacity of exerciſing it. But in its proper Vacuity, and being freed from theſe Letts and Impediments, it would mount towards its Original, like an Eagle toward the Sun. Amiabi⯑lity, Pulchritude or Beauty, is as much the peculiar and proper Object of this Affection of the Mind, as Light or a luminous Body is of Viſion; for Deformity, [164] as ſuch, can never be loved. And Beauty or Perfection, is, in Reality and juſt Philoſophy, nothing but Analogy, Order, or juſt Proportion. From hence it neceſſarily follows, that in the Scale of Beings, all Objects ought to be loved in proportion to their Degree of Beauty, Symmetry or Perfection. And conſe⯑quently, the higheſt Perfection ought to be loved with the higheſt Degree of Love, and the ſeveral ſubordinate De⯑grees of Perfection, with proportionate Degrees of this Affection of the Mind. And ſince Finite, when compared with Infinite, evaniſhes quite, or becomes nothing; it follows neceſſarily (ſince there is, and can be, but one Object that is Infinite, Good and Perfect, and all others are but Created, and Finite Goods; that is, in Compariſon they are nothing) that, according to the eternal and immutable Laws of Analogy, the One ſupreme Good, endued with Infinite Perfection, ought to be loved with a Love infinitely ſuperior to our Affecti⯑ons for other Things, or (which is the ſame Thing in other Words) that, in Compariſon, our Love to the Author of our Being, ought to be infinite; and that to ourſelves and other Objects, as [165] being finite Creatures, none at all. This is the true Philoſophy of this Matter, and as much a Demonſtration, as any thing in Numbers or Geometry poſſibly can be; however it may be received by Men of Self-Love and Carnal Minds.

§. 8.

Yet I would not be ſo under⯑ſtood, as if I condemned all ſubordinate and duly proportioned Regards for our⯑ſelves and other Objects about us, that are neceſſary for our Support and Ac⯑commodation in our preſent State. No! There is a juſt and laudable Self-love, as well as a falſe and vitious one. If we love Ourſelves, as we love our Neighbours; if we love Ourſelves as God loves us; if we love Ourſelves as we deſerve to be loved by the infinitely perfect Being; if we love Ourſelves with a juſtly proportioned, and duly ſub⯑ordinate Love: that is, if we love Our⯑ſelves with a Finite, and Him with an Infinite Love, or a Love increaſing, and going on in infinitum, that has neither Limits nor End: Then we love Our⯑ſelves as we ought; this Self-love is juſt and laudable, and has its due and pro⯑per Degree of Reality and Exiſtence, in the Nature of Things. Perfection, or [166] an Object perfect in its kind, or one that we think ſo, is the proper Object of our Love. And as in due Analogy, Proportion and Order, infinite Per⯑fection, requires infinite Love, or the higheſt Degree of Love we can give it; ſo all other Objects are to be loved with a Degree of Love proportioned to their Perfection. And ſince a Being of in⯑finite Perfection can be but one, and all other Beings can have but a finite De⯑gree of Perfection, we muſt love them but with a finite Love; or, the Propor⯑tion of our Love to Him and them, ought to be, as Infinite is to Finite. That is, comparatively we ought to love them with no Love at all; but abſolutely (or without comparing created Things, to the infinitely perfect Being) with their proper Degree of finite Love, according to their Rank in the Scale of Beings.

§. 9.

As to the ſecond Thing propoſed, concerning Spiritual Love, however foreign theſe metaphyſical Speculations con⯑cerning it may ſeem, to a Diſcourſe about Health and Long Life; yet, if ſteadily believed, and their natural Conſequences reduced to Practice, they would not only become the moſt ef⯑fectual Means to prevent Diſeaſes, but alſo, the moſt of any Thing, promote Health and Long Life. For, firſt, Were our Love proportioned to the Order and [169] Analogy of Things; were our Love to the Supreme Good infinite, and that to others, in Compariſon, none at all; we ſhould have but one ſingle View in all our Thoughts, Words and Actions viz. The Promoting and Raiſing that ſupreme Love, to its due Degree and Elevation: whereby all Anxiety, carking Care, and Solicitude about other Things (the Source of all our Miſeries, and of many Bodily Diſeaſes) would be cut off all at once. Secondly, Since Love always be⯑gets Reſemblance of Manners; ſince the Object of this Love is infinitely perfect; if we loved him in the ſupreme Degree, we ſhould infinitely endeavour to reſemble him: whereby Hatred and Malice, Luxury and Lewdneſs, Lazineſs, and all the other Seeds of Bodily Diſeaſes, would be altogether deſtroyed. Thirdly, Since Spiritual Love is not only the nobleſt, but alſo the moſt joyful and pleaſant Affection of the Mind; ſince the Ob⯑ject of our ſupreme Love (as an inſpired Poet expreſſes it) has Fulneſs of Joy in his Preſence, and Rivers of Pleaſures at his Right Hand for ever; and ſince our Joy and Happineſs will always riſe in pro⯑portion to our Love; the placing our ſupreme Love on the ſupreme Good, [170] would render us infinitely joyful, ſerene, calm and pleaſed; than which, certainly, no Man can imagine a more effectual Mean of Health and Long Life.

§. 1.

MENTION having been ſo often made of Chronical, and ſome⯑times of Acute Diſtempers, it may be con⯑venient here, to ſuggeſt to the Readers, as clear an Account of their Nature and Difference, as I poſſibly can. Acute Diſtempers, then, are underſtood, Such as within ſome ſhort limited Time have their Periods, either of a perfect Criſe, and ſubſequent Recovery, or of putting an End to the Diſtemper and Life both together; and are therefore called [173] quick, ſharp or acute Diſtempers, whoſe Symptoms are more violent, their Dura⯑tion ſhorter, and their Periods more quick, either of ſudden Death, or a glorious Victory over the Diſeaſe. Theſe are generally limited within Forty Days. And thoſe that run out longer, turn into chronical Diſtempers, whoſe Periods are more ſlow, their Symptoms leſs ſevere, and their Duration longer. They too (if new Fuel were not ad⯑miniſtred to them) would, by the Courſe of Nature, and the Animal Oeconomy, have their Periods, and ter⯑minate at the laſt. The Viſcidity of the Juices, and the Flaccidity of the Fibres, would, in a great meaſure, and to ſome very tolerable Degree, by proper Reme⯑dies, and a due Regimen, be removed, and the Party recover in theſe, as well as acute Caſes. But this requiring long Time, much Care, and great Caution, unwearied Patience and Perſeverance, and ſo long a Courſe of Self-denial, as few People are willing to undergo, it is become the Reproach of Phyſick and Phyſicians, that acute Caſes cure them⯑ſelves (or rather Nature cures them) and chronical Caſes are never cured. But both the Branches of the Reflexion [174] are equally falſe. In the Firſt, Art and Care, judiciouſly applied, will al⯑ways alleviate the Symptoms and Suffer⯑ing, will help on Nature to the Relief ſhe points out, and quicken the Criſe, which it will conſtantly bring about, if the Diſtemper is not too ſtrong for the Conſtitution. And even then it will mitigate the Pain, and lay the Patient gently and eaſily down. But in the laſt Caſe, if due Care be had, to follow time⯑ouſly the Advice of an honeſt and expe⯑rienced Phyſician, a Period certainly may be brought about to moſt chronical Di⯑ſtempers, where the great Viſcera are not ſpoiled and deſtroyed. The Fail⯑ing is in the Patient himſelf, who will not, or cannot, deny himſelf for a Time ſufficient to bring about the Cure. Some chronical Diſtempers indeed are ſuch, either by having gone too far, or by being Hereditary, and interwoven with the Principles of Life, as never to be totally overcome. And then 'tis a Piece of great Wiſdom, to know how far their Conſtitution will go, and ſit down contented with that meaſure of Health their original Frame will admit of. But of this I am morally certain, If the Rules and Cautions laid down in this Treatiſe, [175] be carefully, ſteadily, and conſtantly ob⯑ſerved, few chronical Diſtempers but will receive ſuch Relief and Alleviation by them, as to make Life tolerably eaſy, and free from grievous Sufferings: And in the mentioned Caſe, that is all that is left for Art to do. But in other chronical Diſtempers taken in due Time, where the Viſcera are not quite ſpoiled, they would infallibly bring about a final Period, and perfect Cure. The moſt certain diſtinguiſhing Mark of an acute Diſtemper, is, To have a quick Pulſe; that of a Chronical, To have a ſlow one. The firſt will exhauſt the Fluids, and wear out the Solids in a ſhort Time; whereas the laſt will require a longer Time to produce the ſame Effect. Some chronical Diſtempers, eſpecially towards the laſt and fatal Period, turn acute. And ſome acute ones terminate in chro⯑nical Diſtempers. But this Mark will not only keep them diſtinct; but alſo point out, when acute Diſtempers have chronical Remiſſions or Intermiſſions, and when chronical Diſtempers have acute Fits or Paroxyſms.

§. 2.

Some Perſons, who are ex⯑tremely healthy and ſound during [176] their younger Days, about, or ſoon after the Meridian of Life (that is, about Thirty-five or Thirty-ſix, ac⯑cording to the Obſervation of an inſpired King) fall into chronical Diſtempers, which cut them off in few Years, or make them miſerable all the reſt of their Lives. Thus Conſumptions prove mortal to ſome about that Time. Thus Stone and Gravel, Gout and Rheumatiſm, Scurvy and Dropſy, King's-Evil and Skin⯑Diſeaſes, either make their firſt Appear⯑ances, or ſhew themſelves in their true Type about this Time of Life. The Reaſon is, While the Juices are ſweet, ſufficiently thin and fluid, but eſpe⯑cially while the ſolid Organs, the Mem⯑branes and Fibres, are yet but unfolding; ſtretching and drawing out to their full Dimenſions; any Acrimony, Sharpneſs, or corroding Humour, can affect them no other Way, than by making them vi⯑brate, and ſo extend themſelves farther and farther. For as Pain, ſo theſe ſharp Salts by their Twitching and Irri⯑tation on the tender Fibres, make them only contract, and ſo draw at both Extremities, and thereby unfold and extend themſelves farther. So while the original Foldings and Complications of [177] the Solids are not yet quite extended, this Irritation ſerves only to draw them out, and does not hurt them, till they are arrived at their full Extent, which generally happens about Five-and⯑twenty. It takes a due Time after that for theſe ſharp Humours to exalt them⯑ſelves to their utmoſt Acrimony, to cor⯑rupt and putrify the Juices, and alſo ſome more Time to wear out, to ob⯑ſtruct and break the great Organs, and their ſmaller capillary Veſſels. The Sum of all which, brings the Periods of the great Attacks of theſe Diſtempers to the mentioned Time of Life. Thoſe in whom the original Taint is deeper and more radicated, and the natural Con⯑ſtitution weaker, ſuffer under theſe At⯑tacks ſooner. And thoſe in whom it is ſlighter and more ſuperficial, and whoſe Complexion is ſtronger and more hardy, hold out longer. But the Generality ſuffer firſt, eminently, about the Meridian of Life. Hence the common Obſerva⯑tion of thoſe that die of a genuine Con⯑ſumption, that they begin to feel it firſt before Thirty-ſix.

§. 4.

There is no chronical Diſtemper whatſoever, more univerſal, more ob⯑ſtinate, [178] and more fatal in Britain, than the Scurvy, taken in its general Extent. Scarce any one chronical Diſtemper but owes its Origin to a Scorbutick Cachexie, or is ſo complicated with it, that it fur⯑niſhes its moſt cruel and moſt obſtinate Symptoms. To it we owe all the Dropſies that happen after the Meridian of Life, all Diabetes, Aſthma's, Conſumptions of ſeveral kinds, many ſorts of Colicks and Diarrhaea's, ſome kinds of Gouts and Rheumatiſms, all Palſies, various kinds of Ulcers, and, poſſibly, the Cancer itſelf, and moſt cutaneous Foulneſſes, weakly Conſtitutions, and bad Digeſtions, Vapours, Melancholy, and almoſt all ner⯑vous Diſtempers whatſoever. And what a plentiful Source of Miſeries theſe laſt are, the Afflicted beſt can tell. And ſcarce any one chronical Diſtemper whatſoever, but has ſome Degree of this Evil faithfully attending it. The Reaſon why the Scurvy is ſo ^* endemick a Diſtemper, and ſo fruitful of Miſeries, is, that it is produced by Cauſes moſtly ſpecial and particular to this Iſland; to wit, The indulging ſo much in animal Food, and ſtrong fermenting Liquors, in contemplative Studies, and ſedentary Pro⯑feſſions [179] and Employments (and thence the Want of due Labour and Exerciſe) together with the nitrous Moiſture of an Iſland, and the Inconſtancy and Inclemency of the Seaſons thence ariſing. I have had many Occaſions to ſhew, how ſuch Cauſes muſt neceſſarily and naturally produce ſuch Effects. I will here only touch the Matter ſlightly, to point out the Connexion. Animal Foods and ſtrong Liquors to Exceſs, and with Continuance, muſt load and charge the Fluids with their Salts. Want of due Exerciſe muſt ſuffer theſe to unite in Cluſters, and in⯑creaſe their Bulk in the ſmall Veſſels. Their larger Bulk, and greater Acrimony, thence ariſing, muſt increaſe the Viſcidity of the Fluids, by breaking the Blood Globules, and ſo coagulating the Maſs, and at laſt obſtruct the finer Pipes, and all the ſmaller Glands: Whereby the Tone of all the elaſtick Fibres muſt be interrupted and broken, and their Vibrations ſtopt at every obſtructed Gland and capillary Veſſel, and an uni⯑verſal Diſorder produced in the whole animal Oeconomy. And this Diſorder will operate, and ſhew it ſelf in Symp⯑toms ſpecial and particular, according to the ſpecial and particular Make and [180] Conformation of the Parts, the Weak⯑neſs or the Strength of the Organs, the particular Miſmanagements, and pre⯑ciſe State of the Air the Party lives in. And the Detail of theſe general Cauſes applied to particular Perſons, muſt pro⯑duce the reſpective Diſeaſes mentioned. In a Word, The Scurvy is a kind of Catholick Diſtemper here in Britain, ariſing from conſtant and general Cauſes, from the Cuſtoms of the People, and from the Nature of the Climate, which renders the ſerous Part of the Blood too thick and glewy, breaks and divides the Union of the globulous Parts, ob⯑ſtructs the ſmall Veſſels, and deſtroys the Springineſs and Elaſticity of the Fibres. So that moſt chronical Diſtempers, can be little elſe, but Branches and Cions from this Root, which (like Pandora's Box) is ſo fruitful of Variety of Miſ⯑chiefs. And its ariſing from the Climate and Cuſtoms of the People, is the Rea⯑ſon why chronical Diſtempers are ſo fre⯑quent in Britain, to what they are in warmer Climates (which, by a freer Per⯑ſpiration and lighter Diet, not only pre⯑vent thoſe Diſeaſes in their own Inhabi⯑tants, but univerſally cure thoſe of our Iſland who are afflicted with them, [181] if they flee to thoſe Regions any reaſon⯑able Time before Nature be quite worn out.) For though the Inhabitants of Britain, live, for the moſt part, as long, or rather longer than thoſe of warmer Climates; yet ſcarce any one, eſpe⯑cially thoſe of the better Sort, but be⯑comes craſy, and ſuffers under ſome chronical Diſtemper or other, before they arrive at old Age. The ſame Rea⯑ſon is to be aſſigned for the Frequency of Self-murders here, in England eſpe⯑cially, beyond any other Country. For few have Grace and Reſignation enough, to ſuffer patiently the laſting Pains of a chronical Diſtemper, or the yet more torturing and crucifying Anguiſh of a perpetual Diſpiritedneſs; though I have obſerved generally, and have good Reaſon to conclude univerſally, That all Self-murderers are firſt diſtracted and diſtempered in their intellectual Faculties. Notwithſtanding the Diffuſiveneſs and Univerſality of this Diſeaſe, ſo that ſcarce a ſingle Individual of the better Sort is altogether free from it; yet I never once in my Life, ſaw it totally extirpated in thoſe who had it to any Degree, ſo as to be intirely free from it all the reſt of their Lives after; but that it ſtill ap⯑peared, [182] and ſprang up again in ſome Symp⯑tom or other, and at laſt brought forth that grand one, which put a final Period to all their Sufferings. One good Reaſon for this is, That it requires a Regimen and Conduct ſo intirely contrary and op⯑poſite to the natural Habits and Cuſtoms, and the univerſal Bent and Appetites of the Inhabitants of this Iſland, that it be⯑comes a kind of perpetual Self-denial to them; which the Britiſh Nation, in general, does not mightily admire. Another Reaſon is, That fine Folks uſe their Phyſicians, as they do their Laun⯑dreſſes, ſend their Linen to them to be cleaned, in order only to be dirtied again. Nothing leſs than a very mo⯑derate Uſe of animal Food, and that of the Kind which abounds leaſt in urinous Salts (as moſt certainly the young and the lighter-coloured do) and a more moderate uſe of Spirituous Liquors, due Labour and Exerciſe, and a careful guarding againſt the Inconſtancy and Inclemency of the Seaſons, can keep this Hydra under. And nothing elſe than a total Abſtinence from animal Foods, and ſtrong fermented Liquors, can totally ex⯑tirpate it. And that, too, muſt be be⯑gun [183] early; before, or ſoon after the Meridian of Life; or elſe there will re⯑main too little Oil in the Lamp, the Spirits will ſink too far, ever to be re⯑covered again; and the remaining Part of Life, will be too ſhort for ſo total a Change as muſt be made. So that thoſe who ſuffer greatly under this Britiſh Diſtemper, muſt be contented to bear and forbear, a little, and muſt expect no greater Degree of Health, than their Time of Life, the Nature of their Diſeaſe, and the State of their Conſtitu⯑tion will admit of. But ſtill a great Moderation in animal Foods, and ſpiritu⯑ous and fermented Liquors, due Exerciſe, and a Care to fence againſt the Injuries of the Weather, will make Life tolera⯑bly eaſy; eſpecially if ſome gentle domeſtick Purges be interſperſed. The Seeds and young Sprouts of Vegetables, have ſcarce any groſs, fix'd, or eſſential Salts at all in them. This is not only evident from the Reaſons formerly given (becauſe they are young, or the Nouriſhment appointed by Nature for young Vegetables; for the Earth is only a proper Neſt or Matrix for them; and the Sun's Heat ſerves them in⯑ſtead [184] of Incubation) but upon ^* Trial and Examination, they yield none, being too light and thin to calcine and in⯑cinerate, and the Salts too volatile (and conſequently, ſmall and fit to paſs by Perſpiration, and thereby can be no way injurious to Human Conſtitutions) to en⯑dure the Fire; which full-grown Plants, their Stalks and Wood, readily do. And in unfermented Liquors, the Salts are ſo enveloped, that they cannot unite to form a Spirit, and are ſo ſheathed, by particular Coats of the Materials of the Vegetable, that they can ſcarce do any harm (except when they exceedingly abound) to animal Bodies. Hence it comes to paſs, that a vegetable Diet for a few Weeks or Months, together with drinking Water or unfermented Liquors (ſuch as Tea, Coffee, Barley-Water, Liquorice-Water, Teas made of Oranges, or other Seeds and Plants) will faſten the Teeth when dropping out, from a Conſumption of the Gums by ſcorbutick Salts, cure any cutaneous Foulneſſes or Eruptions, and even any ſpreading Ulcer, if it is not Scrofulous, when no [185] Medicine on the Face of the Earth will touch it. Hence the grand Maxim in the Cure of all Ulcers is, by Diet to bring them to the State of a Wound, and then they will cure of them⯑ſelves. And, as I have elſewhere ob⯑ſerved, there is ſcarce a thin, conſump⯑tive, hyſterick or hypochondriack, and weakly Conſtitution in England, which has not for its Parent, a latent or manifeſt ſcorbutick Cachexy, excepting that which ariſes from a Scrofula. From the whole we may gather, how much a proper Regimen of Diet and due Exerciſe, with the other Helps and Remedies already mentioned in this Treatiſe, is able to do in moſt Britiſh chronical Diſtempers.

§. 4.

Having had ſo often Occaſion to ſpeak of weak and relaxed Nerves, it will not be amiſs to ſuggeſt, ſome of the outward and moſt ſenſible Signs and Characters, whereby it may be manifeſt, whether one's ſelf, or any particular Per⯑ſon he is concerned for, be of this Make and Conſtitution, before ſome chronical Diſtemper, or other diſmal Symptom has made it plain; in order to prevent theſe as far as poſſible. To which purpoſe we muſt obſerve, that the Nerves are [186] Bundles of ſolid, ſpringy, and elaſtick Threads or Filaments (like twiſted Cat⯑Guts or Hairs) whoſe one Extremity is terminated at the common Senſory in the Brain, where the Soul is ſuppoſed to reſide; the other is interwoven into every Point of the Scarf-skin, the Mem⯑branes, the Coats of the Veſſels, the Muſcles and the other ſenſible Solids of the Body, in order to convey the Motions, Actions, Vibrations or Impulſes of out⯑ward Objects to the Soul. Theſe Threads or Filaments are highly elaſtick or ſpringy, as we may ſee from their hardned Sub⯑ſtances, ſuch as Whalebone, Ivory, Horn and Cartileges, which are more eminently ſo than any other Bodies known. Some Perſons have their Fibres very quick, readily vibrating, highly ſpringy and elaſtick, ſo as to tremble and ſhake violent⯑ly, by the leaſt Impulſe. Others have more rigid, firm, and ſtretched Fibres, which yield not but to ſtrong Impreſ⯑ſions, and move ſlowly, but move for a long Time. Laſtly, There are thoſe who have weak, looſe, ſlender and relaxed Fibres, which though eaſily moved, and yielding to the weakeſt Impulſe, yet communicate only imperfect, languid and faint Impreſſions and Vibrations to [187] the Soul, and have all their other Animal Functions of the ſame languiſhing Nature. And 'tis of theſe laſt, I have been all along ſpeaking. And we may readily diſcover them, by theſe out⯑ward Characters and Signs. 1. Thoſe who have naturally ſoft, thin, ſmall and ſhort Hair, are of a looſe, flabby, and relaxed State of Nerves. For the Hair ſeems to be ſome of the fleſhy Fibres, only lengthen'd outwards and harden'd. At leaſt, like the Fibres, they conſiſt of a great many leſſer Filaments con⯑tained in a common Membrane, are ſolid, tranſparent and elaſtick: And as theſe Hairs are in Strength and Bulk, ſo generally the Fibres of the Body are. 2. Thoſe of the faireſt Hair, are of the looſeſt Fibres (other Things being equal) becauſe the Faireſt are more rare, porous and fungous; And becauſe Bodies of the lighter Colours, conſiſt of ſmaller Parts, than thoſe of the more flaming Colours; as has been formerly obſer⯑ved. 3. Thoſe of large or (as they are called) maſtiff Muſcles. and of big Bones, are generally of a firmer State of Nerves, than thoſe of little Muſcles and Bones. Becauſe the Muſcles and Bones being ſimilar to their Fibres, as is highly [188] probable, and theſe being bigger, and conſequently ſtronger, ſo muſt thoſe be; and on the contrary. 4. Soft, yielding, pappy Fleſh, is a ſure Symptom of looſe Fibres; whereas hard, firm and un⯑yielding Muſcles, are the conſtant Sign of firm Fibres. 5. A white, fair, blanch'd or aſhen-coloured Complexion or Skin, conſtantly indicates a weaker and more relaxed State of Fibres, than a ruddy, freſh, dark ſallow or black Hue; for Reaſons already given. 6. A fat, cor⯑pulent and flegmatick Conſtitution, is al⯑ways attended with looſe, flabby and re⯑laxed Fibres, by their being diſſolved and overſoaked in Moiſture and Humidity. And, on the contrary, thoſe of a dry, clean and firm Make, have ſtrong, firm and tenſe Fibres. 7. Thoſe who are ſubject to Evacuations of any kind, in any Degree greater than what is na⯑tural; and thoſe who by any Accident, have ſuffered long by any preternatural Evacuation whatſoever, are, or become of looſe, relaxed Fibres and Nerves. Thus thoſe who frequently run into Purging, or Floods of pale Water, flow at the Mouth or Noſe, or melt into profuſe Sweats, thoſe who any Way have loſt much Blood, have had a Diarrhoea, have recovered of [189] a Fever, and thoſe of the Sex who have purified longer or more than is uſual; all of theſe, are originally, or become acci⯑dentally, of weak and relaxed Nerves and Fibres. 8. Laſtly, Thoſe who are of a cold Conſtitution, are apt to run into Coldneſſes on their Extremities, or ready to catch Cold, are alſo of weak and looſe Fibres and Nerves: becauſe theſe are Signs of a ſlow and interrupted Circulation and Perſpiration; which manifeſts a weak Spring in the Fibres of the Coats of the Veſſels, the Fibres of the Muſcles, and a Weakneſs of the Spring of the Scales of the Scarf-ſkin.

§. 5.

On this Occaſion of rehearſing the Signs of weak Nerves, I cannot omit appriſing thoſe of the breeding Part of the Sex, and thoſe who are concerned in them, of their Readineſs of Miſcarrying, unleſs duly tended and ma⯑naged, eſpecially thoſe of them of tender and weak Nerves, or of too delicate a Con⯑ſtitution. The Signs I have now laid down, will always make it evident, if any particular Perſon is ſo or not. And if upon Examination they be found to be ſuch, they will be apt, upon the ſlighteſt Occaſion, to run into frequent [190] Miſcarriages; whereby a great Part of their Poſterity will be deſtroyed, and they themſelves expoſed to Dropſies or Con⯑ſumptions, or (which is worſe than either) perpetual Lowneſs of Spirits, Vapours and other Hyſterick Diſorders. And by this Misfortune alone, a conſiderable Part of the better Sort here in England, periſh and are loſt. Nature has formed the Generality of the Sex, of a ſoft, ſlender, and delicate Make. Want of due Exer⯑ciſe, a full Table, indiſcreet Nurſes, over⯑fond Mothers, and Hereditary Sharp⯑neſſes, make them much more ſo. And if by Neglect or Accident, they once begin to miſcarry, every firſt Miſcarriage paves the Way for a ſecond, and a third, and ſo on, till the poor, pretty Creature, has neither Blood nor Spirits, Appetite nor Digeſtion left. For one Miſcarriage weakens the Conſtitution, breaks and tears the nervous Syſtem more, than two ma⯑ture Births. If ever this is to be ſecured or prevented effectually, 'tis to be done, at leaſt attempted, in the firſt Inſtance, if poſſible, at leaſt as ſoon as may be, before a total Relaxation and Diſſolution of the nervous Syſtem is brought on. The Giddineſs, Romping, and Gadding about of the young Crea⯑ture [191] herſelf, is often the Cauſe of her Miſcarriage. But oftner the Forwardneſs and Indiſcretion of Surgeons and Midwives, by bleeding on every little threatning Symptom, without conſidering the Con⯑ſtitution. Bleeding may do well enough in ſanguine, robuſt, and plethorick Conſti⯑tutions: But 'tis Death and certain Rain to thoſe of ſlender and weak Nerves, and the ſureſt Way to cauſe the Miſcarriage 'tis deſigned to prevent, by relaxing the Nervous Fibres; which Bleeding does as certainly, as it leſſens the Quantity of the Blood. The moſt effectual Method I have ever found to prevent ſuch Misfortunes, is, To order thoſe in ſuch Circumſtances, to drink plentifully Briſtol Water, with a very little red Wine, for their conſtant Drink; to lay the Plaiſter ad Herniam, with Oil of Cinnamon, and London Laudanum, in a due Proportion, to their Reins; to keep them to a low, light, eaſily digeſted Diet, eſpecially of the farinaceous Vegetables, and milk Meats; to ſtrengthen their Bowels, with Diaſcordium and toaſted Rhubarb, if they become too ſlippery; to air them once or twice a Day, in a Coach or Chair, and to keep them cheer⯑ful, and in good Humour, as much as [192] may be. This Method will ſcarce ever fail, unleſs a latent Scrofula, or ſome other Hereditary Sharpneſſes in their Juices, deſtroy the Birth.