The Art of Invigorating and Prolonging Life

lsations

he worse for wear, from such incessant vibration-especially if th

Health, and the prolongation of Life;-we are vigorous, in proportion to the perfection of the performance of the Restorative process, i. e. as we Eat hearty, and Sleep soundly-as our Body loses the power of renovating itself, in like ratio, fails its faculty of crea

it,) is manifested by the Eye22. To read a small print-you must remove it from th

the keys of a Harpsichord were put down so as to produce the most irrelative combinations-to name each half note without a mistake.-When I mentioned this

ed as a mere shovel to the Stomach,-and as it finds its master becomes e

digestion brings with it, all that melancholy depression of the Animal Spirits, which disables a Man from either thinking with precision, or acting with vigour-during the distressing suspension of the restorative p

deavour to entertain them with food so prepared, as to

erly digested-our bodies are preserved in Health and Str

exhausted even in its youth-its strength and faculties daily decrease, and it s

n Optician can our Eyes: our Existence would be as much more perf

our and Invention, but even Judgment and Resolution, change and langu

OF CORPULENCE AND IMPROVEMENT OF HEALTH, the Edito

nuary

EAR

ttention to Diet in the reduction of Weight, and your desire that I should communicate as far as I recol

usual attendants on fullness of Habit, a disinclination to rise in the morning from drowsiness, heaviness about the Forehead after I had risen, and a disposition to Giddiness;-I was also attacked by a complaint in one of my Eyes, the Symptoms of which it is unnecessary to describe, but it proved to be occasioned by fullness of blood, as it was

ability and skill as a teacher of sparring is universally acknowledged,) an

es, which I always used, being extremely careful on changing them to avoid

age of the most powerful exercise the Horse could give;-these exercises I took in the mo

ly performing about five miles an hour, till I again produced perspiration; every

obably ten Years, had indulged myself with Brandy and Water after Supper:-this practice I entirely discontinued, substit

at all.-I took somewhat less meat at Dinner, avoiding Pies and Puddings as

Physician upon the subject, who entirely approved of my Plan, and recommen

out six or seven months.-I found my activity very much increased, and my wind excellent, but, I think, my Strengt

good Health, although my Weight has gradually increased; sometimes, however, fluctuating between 7 or 8 Pounds and a Stone, according to my means of Exercise,-always increasing in Winter,

he exhaustion arising from Exercise;-if an additional quantity of Food and nourishing Liquors

by an Hour's sparring. If the object be not to reduce the w

ted to by Persons of sound Constitution and of athletic bodily Frame,-it w

jection. I still persevere in the disuse of malt Liquors and Spirits, and Suppers, seldom taking more than four Glasses of Wine as a habit,

dear

very

Bryan Robinson's Essay on the Food and Discharges of

t present neither lean nor fat. In the year 1721 the Morning weight of my body without Clothes, was about 131 Avoirdupois pounds, the daily wei

than before, and had been so for some time. I was then seized with a Paralytic disorder, which obliged me to make an alteration i

t a disproportion, the drink to the meat in h

k to his Meat,

in winter

s, at a med

nk to my m

from all th

he Meat-ab

Food and Disc

8 ounces) of what they were in 1721, I have freed myself for these two years past from the returns of a Sore throat and Diarrh?a,-Disorders I often had, though they were but slight, and never confine

the drink: and that to be freed from chronical disorders contracted by Intemperance-the quantity of food ought to be lesse

urkey, Fowl tame and wild, and Fish. I generally chose the strongest meats as fittest, since they agreed well with my stomach, to keep up the power of my body under this great diminution of my food; I seldom took any Garden stuff-findin

ost uninterrupted Health. p. 91. That Weight is such as enables the Heart t

weight,-is that weight under which the Heart-and the proportion of the weight of the Heart to the weigh

exercise. These lessen the weight of the Body, by wasting its fat, and lessening its Liver; and they increase the weight of the Heart, by

e continued any longer, the Cock will not have that strength and activity which he had before under his a

above 24 hours at his athletic weight, and that a C

owing red colour, his Neck thick, and his Thigh thick and firm;-the day after his complexion is less glowing

compass of time, rise to above a cer

ase of three or four pounds in six or seven days, without being disordered;

od,-or by increasing the Discharges.-The discharges may be in

unces, I have lost 26 ounces;-by fasting a whole da

ew off, by insensible perspiration, one pound of increased weight; by a walk of three hours, he threw off two pounds of increa

lap and ten grains of Calomel, was about 2? Avoirdupois pounds; and the mean quantity of Liquor, drank d

r hours; and Mr. Rye lost twice that quantity in the same time."-

oth of which lessen the weight of the Heart and the quantity of Blood;-the

t nothing can prevent its filling again, and consequently secure good and constant Health-but an exact Diet and Exercise. Purging and Vomiting may lessen the Liver, and reduce it to its just magnit

her Infirmities, cannot use sufficient Exercise, and takes much the same quantity of Sleep, its weight must be lessened by lessening th

nctorius' Medecina Statica. Dr. Heming on Corpulenc

EE

th vain rotati

up for the su

un

interrupted and insufficient Sl

at certain hours, are unable, without injurious violen

ure more or

s her; and all

Habit even fro

Life-or new

rge you by long

ange arrive, and

ealing progres

Art of Prese

convenient Habits:-Custom will soon render the

bad habits, grow

the Weak will gr

is so restorative to the nerves, as sound, and uninterrupted Sle

, which seems to be as necessary nutrimen

r of our Corporeal faculties-let any person try the effect of Intense Application for a few hours-He wi

s circumspect in the task they set their mind

the Poet of H

t Art of Life

stless

at the exercise of the Body, and that of the

any fatigue of Body-the Brain demands a much more abundant supply of the

that wears out

und up with Wine, after Dinner or Supper:) the former is much less expensive-and less injurious to the constitution than either

id, "No, I was only hatching,-I have been writing till I was quite tired-my paper must go to Press to day-so I was taking my u

ing all day in a nerveless and semi-superannuated state-if not asleep, certainly not e

posture, is the best preparative for

he Envy their Talent excites,-the Disappointment they often meet with in their expectations of receiving the utmost attention and respect, (which the world h

al-it is impossible to regulate Sleep by the hour;-when the Mind and the Body have received all th

t me your

that mould

wiser than

always re

mu

nvaried round of joyless, useless self-denial,-a circle of agreeable sensation;-for instance, go not to your Bed till You are tired of sitting up-then remain in an Horizon

ng caustic of Care-and blunts even the barbed

pate those heavy clouds of Ennui, which sometimes threaten to eclipse the brightest Minds, and best Hearts.-Child of Woe, lay thy Head on thy pillow, (i

epends on the activity of the habits, and on the Health of the Individual,-in

fit from indulging in the Sies

eaman can sleep as much in five

shortens it,-and recommend you to rise by eight, and retire to rest by eleven; your feel

he causes of their Longevity, they have uniformly agreed in o

ed, and ear

healthy, wealt

t "an Economical Project," and calculated, that the saving that might be made in the C

rits to what is no more than the ordinary pitch of those who are in the vigour of their Life-and must fly from the festive board-or purchase a few hours o

ste of the "Vis Vit?," that Fashion ever invented to consume her foolish Votaries-for Fools they certainly are, who mortgage the com

sium of Bricks and Mortar," may be reckoned how

are so unlucky as to have for next door neighbours-fashionable folks who turn night into day, or such as delight in the sublime Economy of Cindersaving, or Cobweb catching,-it is in vain to seek repose, before the former has

p-with as little mercy, as Macbeth did Malcolm's-and bangs doors, and

vening; the preservation of a Cinder and the destruction of a Cobweb, are the main business of its existence:-the best advice we can give you, gentle Reader-is to send it this li

e his Violoncello, "And his loud voice in Thunder spoke."-The Student above-by way of giving him a gentle hint, struck up "Gently strike the warbling Lyre," and Will. Harmony's favourit

had done fiddling, he began con strepito, and bowled away merrily till the morning dawned.-The enraged Musician did not wait long after daylight, to put in his plea against such proceedings, and received in reply, that such exercise had been ordered by a Physic

hich we have a divine command "to love our neighbour as ourself." "Sic utere tuo, ut alienum non l?das," is the maxim of our

,-Piano-Fortes, &c. in this Metro

ur may be-there are moments when He may render you the most valu

discretion not to offend;-the most humble may have op

to wantonly

indulge her Arms in their full swing-and while she polishes her black-leaded grate to the lustre which is so lovely in the eyes of "the Tidy," the Tat-Too her brush s

ost barbarous custom, and frequently disturbs a whole street before they rouse the drowsy sluggard who sent for him-his Row dy Dow when he reaches the top of the Chimney, and his progress d

s are tremblingly al

coronat

to its natural termination-his whole System is shook by it, and all that sleep has before done for him, is undone in an instant;-

is enables them to take Exercise, which gives them an Appetite, and by taking their food at less distant and more equally divided intervals-they receive a more regular supply of that salutary

n the incessantly irregular habits of a Town-life, is continually interrupted,-some ridiculous Anxiety

ive and intensive Life31 are the inevitable consequence, and are the l

ocal Disorders, which are continually teasing people, but are too insignificant to induce them t

, Intemperance, and Vexation-the two first are under our own immediate control-and Temperance, Industry, and Ac

ile we hope that every thing may come right, the Heart bounds with vigour, an

tence, when Experience has dissipated the theatric illusion with which Hope varnished

and scorn

wrong, the proud

espis'd Love,

of office, a

erit of the un

the past, and anxiety about the future, prevent the enjoyment of the present,-and are the cause of those Nervous and Bilious Disorders, which attack most of

uses of comfort and consolation, instead of fretting about them-if you receive rudeness in return for civility-and ingratitude for kindness, it may move your Pity-but should never excite your Anger-instead of mu

often excites the imaginary presence of that troublesome B

s, need not put on their Night cap, if they do not first bribe their Stomachs to good behaviour b

t habit may have made it indispensable, and we know it is often the most comfortabl

ng sleep, by taking any of the preparations of Opium-they are all injurio

Weariness can snore upon the flint, when

diligent Mastication,-so there can be no

way of a supplement to your Night cap.-One glass, taken when in Bed, immediately before lying

a Feverish state,-the Stomach feeling discontented from being unoccupied, and having nothing to play with:-a small crust of Bread, or a bit of Biscuit well chewed, accompanied or not, as Experience and Instinct will suggest, with a few mouthsful of Mutton or Beef Broth (No.

their first sleep, and have not got to sleep soundly again after-and risen in the morning as tired as when they w

s perhaps the best for the Dyspeptic,-and those

which we pass almost half of our Time, is in modern houses absurdly abridged, to increase that of the Drawing Room, which is often not occupied once in a month:-instead of liv

in a large Room, very ingeniously contrive to reduce it to a small Closet:-Chimney-Boards and Window-Curtains are also inadmissible in a Bed Room; but Valetudinarians who are easi

o three at Feet, on this another Mattress five or six inches in thickness: these should be unpicked and exposed to the a

y day when the weather is not cold or damp-during which the Bed should remain unmade, and t

twelve o'clock, will have the advantage of sleeping in an Atmosphere many degrees cooler, than those who go to bed at ten:-this is extremely important to Nervous Invalids-who however extremely they may suffer from heat, we cannot adv

made-it is commonly lighted only just before bed-time, and prevents Sl

osty weather; and an Invalid has to encounter not only the damp and cold of the Room

ur before you go to Bed-then the air of the room will be comfortably warmed-and certainly more fit to receive an I

SI

eration it deserves-a little attention to the variations of the Pulse, will soon point out the effect they produce on t

ive Faculties are Feeble-should never have any thing C

Stomach, (which is probably not less t

of the Heart, &c.-and all the other troublesome accompaniments of Indigestion.-Th

a good temperature for their dri

d seeking Repose whenever they feel fatigued, especially during (the first half-hour at least of) the business

creased energy it gives to the circulation, and to the organs of Digestion, ca

t indispensable to those whose occup

to be in the most intense exertion between 10 and 12 o'clock at Night,-should avail themselves of the Siesta-whi

ne o'clock-is a comforting restorative, which will support You through exertions that,

hey sing, &c.-they will do wisely, to wind up their System, with a little "Balsamum Vit?."-See "Peptic Precepts."-Or tune their throats to t

cessary, as "to rosin the Bow of a Violin."-See "Observa

remely unfavourable to Health-especially from sitting up late at night-to cou

proceed effectively and comfortably,-they must give their Throats two or three days' rest-cleanse the Alimentary Canal w

m the beginning to the end of the Alimentary Canal-they dissipate Flatulence so immediately, that they well deserve the name of Vegetable Ether; and are recommended to Singers and P

with energy to execute the intentions of the Singer or Speaker-without which-the most accurate Ear and

how arduous a task Singers have sometimes to perform;-it would only be wonderful if it was not-how is the Throat exem

n be convinced that Tristram Shandy was right enough, when he said, that

kind Nature's hint."-"A quiet slumber in a comfortable warm room, favoureth the operation

h;) but catching a nap in a Chair is advisable only as a substitute when the Horizontal posture is

rsonal experience-are exactly in unison wit

from Sleep Digestion."-Sa

ure during that period-may be to facilitate the introduction

chs are filled. People who are feeble, digest their Dinner best, if they lie down and sle

rled himself round till he was comfortable-and went to sleep, as animals generally do after eating-the other was kept for about two hours in constant exercise. On his return

ner, is certainly useful to the Studious, the D

ee hours."-Abernethy's Surg

r sit a whil

tion goes on much better during Sleep, and I have always found an irresistible propensi

eepe after Dinner doth help to nourish

OT

Bed look pretty in the Day time-are left long at the head, that they may cover the Pillows; when they are turned down, You have an intolerable load on yo

strous day all seasons mix," delicate Thermometrical persons will derive much comfort from keeping a Counterpane in reserve

of Cold pointed to by his Fahrenheit40, he may wear a corresponding defence against it:-This mode of adjusting Dress according to the vicissitudes of the weather, &c. is as

earing your Winter Clothes during the first half dozen warm days-You get some fine pers

ess,-which must be as uniform as possible,-in thickness-in quality-and i

ing on Winter garments soon enough, or leaving them off too soon,-will often excite a v

sleeves to them coming down to the wrist-the shortening these sleeves in the warm weather, is as effective an

closely buttoned up to the Chin-the power of doing this is a convenient provision against the sudden alternations from heat to cold-buttoning up this outer garment, will protect the

tton holes to the Cuff of the Coat, (especially of your Great

have your Shoes well warmed-and when you take them from the Fire-put your Slip

you much drier than one thick one, and are more pliable-the Currier's Dubbing is th

degrees above this, in the height of Summer,-falls about as much below, in the depth of

their Fortieth Year,-depends upon minute and unremitting attentions to Food,-Clothes,-Exe

f a few salutary precepts, a delicate Constitution will last as long, and afford its P

ernal air is not higher than 40. Some susceptible Constitutions require this additional clot

n hung up in a cold damp Hall, as it often is, it will contribute about

,-and large44 enough to let every movement be made wit

nt Exercise45, suffer extremely from the pressure of tight Waistbands-Garters, &c. which are the

have produced more inconvenience than they have removed-for if the inferior Viscera get thereby more freedom of action-the superior suffer for it-and, moreover, Ruptures are much more frequent-the Girdle which formerly pr

reeches, is the elastic

of the Blood, &c. are the cause of many Chronic

I

hes and our coverings at night should be gradually increased. "After the age of 35, it m

uld have a Southern aspect-when the Thermometer is below 30, the proper place for people beyond 60, is their own Fire-side:-many of the disorders and Deaths of perso

g of cold air out-this is best done by Double Windows, see page 91, and double Doors,-at least take care that your Sashes fit close,-t

ntilated47 by a current of fresh Air-at least once every day, when the weather is not ver

can make warm in Fifteen-therefore, initiate your Domestics in these first principles

ch will open an aperture to admit the external air-when the apartment is heated above the deg

ay-may be occasionally pumped by moving the d

65.-Those who have resided the best part of their Life in warm climates-will like the latter best. While we rec

e in July, or in January,-those who are susceptible of Cold, must tell their Se

ary precept, sit shivering and murmuring, and refuse to employ the Coal-merchant, as

ose of Epsom Salts, and a Broth Diet, and retiring to rest an hour

mfort and convenience to myself, (particularly at the beginning and the end of wint

ing day-piled up as high as the grate will admit, and placed loosely in rather large fragments-in order that the draft may be free-a bit or two of fresh coal may be added to the cinders when once they are lighted, but no small coal must be thrown on at first, for the reason above s

put on afterwards if wanted. I have frequently known my fire lighted at 8 o'clock in the morning, continue burning till 11 at night, without any thing being done to it: when apparently quite out, on being stirred, you h

I

ith Oxygen, i. e. the vivifying part of the atmosphere:-that great benefit is received from what is called change of air is true enough-it is seldom considered th

y of rural scenes, which invite him to be almost constantly taking Exercise in the open Air, and retiring to rest at an early hour-and thus, instead of being surrounded by irritations unfavourabl

dible, and must arise either from the imperfection of the Eudiometer giving erroneous results, or from the air being impregnated with matter unfriendly to Health, which the instruments employed to analyze it

, and enjoy Health, in situations appa

us kinds of Air-as the Stomach has from various kinds of Aliment:-the Poor man who feeds on the co

long accustomed to, is as unadvisable as a change in the Food we have been

-must beware (especially during any exacerbation of his infirmity) of leaving it-

RCI

action, all th

tion of the u

es upon, mainta

tility. She dreads

hile she moves.

r Health on E

e his work fo

epend upon the truth of the advice which Sir Charles Scarborough gave to the Duchess o

rved from obstructions,-Appetite increased, and Digestion improved in all its stages,-the due distribution of nourishmen

which is the Panacea for the prevention of Corpulence)-see page 50-and should, at least once a-day, pr

Secretion and Absorption, and

dry with a cloth:-this is better for the Hair than the best "Bear's Grease," and will beautify the Co

ts for the preservation of Healt

d wiped every Day with a wet towel;-a Tepid Bath of the like temperature once a fortnight will also conduce much to both health and comf

I

à juger et à bien choisir: et les plus habiles gourmets sont

rally twice spoiled-before it

irst, by over-loading it w

,-this, it is the taste now to call "Flavour,"-and Wine is not liked, till it has lost so much of its exhilarating power, that you may drink a Pin

Porter:-is it not astonishing that the Legislature have not ordered a Standar

irable to the respectable Wi

at present, by vending Wine in Bottles of inferior dimension, impose on the

ttles of Wine expects to re

allon, according to the l

id Ounces. Drachms

28 = 1024

unces in a leg

2 quarts in t

nces i

84 by it, and the quotient will give you the number of

not contain more

ttles, 1 Pint,