CLOTHING.

SLEEP.

CORPULENCY.

MEDICAL TREATMENT.

CASES ILLUSTRATIVE OF THE SUBJECT.

THE AUTHOR'S REASONS FOR LAYING THESE SHEETS

BEFORE THE PUBLIC.

Although it is impossible to revoke the sentence which hath gone forth against man, "of dust thou art, and unto dust thou shalt return," yet there cannot be a doubt that any inquiry which has a tendency to smooth the thorny path of life, and lessen the "ills that flesh is heir to," must be interesting to all, but particularly so to those who have had the misfortune to have feeble and delicate constitutions entailed on them as their birthright, by their progenitors; and also to such as have by their own folly reduced their constitutions, which were originally sound and vigorous, to a participation in the innumerable ailments inseparable from the former. To such, a brother in adversity humbly craves permission to point out the means by which he has been able to mitigate his own sufferings, and to alleviate, or altogether remove those of many others who have come under his observation.

PLAIN RULES

FOR

IMPROVING THE HEALTH.

CHAPTER I.

THE BLOOD-WHENCE DERIVED.

THE blood is that well known fluid which is sent from the heart through every part of the system, in vessels named arteries, and returned to the heart again by another set of vessels named veins,-in its progress circulating through, and supplying all the various tissues of the body with the proper nourishment.

It would be foreign to this inquiry to enter into any elaborate analytical examination of this substance. Suffice it to say, that amongst others, it contains two fluids, one deeply coloured, and another nearly colourless. The colouring matter is contained in small vessels or

bladders, which, according to the best observers, are nearly of a globular form: the blood thus coloured is circulated through the greater part of the system. In some instances, however, by a beautiful contrivance of the All-wise Creator, the colourless part of the blood only is circulated. This is the case in the eyes, the teeth, the nails, and various other structures of the body; in which, if the coloured part were circulated, the functions of these organs would be either impaired, or altogether destroyed. This most important fluid is supplied from the various substances taken into the stomach, under the general term aliment, which are partly changed into blood by a process which I am now to examine, namely, Digestion.

SECTION L-Digestion

Is that power which certain organs of the body possess, of changing the substances taken into it, and assimilating them so as to form the blood, from which, as I have already stated, all parts of the human frame derive their nourishment and support.

The first process of digestion takes place in the mouth, where the food is broken down by the teeth, and intimately mingled with a fluid which is poured into it from a gland situated in each cheek, nearly over the

junction of the jaws. These glands constantly secrete this fluid, which is insensibly swallowed and mixed with the contents of the stomach; but during the process of mastication, they are urged into greater exertion, by the pressure of the muscles which open and shut the jaws; thus yielding a sufficient supply to mix with the food which is masticated.

That the secretion of this fluid is increased by certain states of the stomach, must be familiar to every one, who has witnessed the saliva drop from the mouth of the faithful and patient dog, who seems to number the operations by which his master satisfies the cravings of nature,-well knowing, from experience, that he will then come in for his share. On the same principle, when a person is very hungry, and sees any kind of food that is particularly agreeable to him, this fluid is immediately secreted in greater quantity;—hence, the proverbial expression, that such and such things "will make the mouth water."

But opposite sensations in the stomach are also known to produce similar effects,—such as taking an emetic, and certain other loathings, which occasionally occur.

The food so broken down and mixed, is thrown into the stomach, where it is farther subjected to the action of another fluid secreted by that organ, which has been denominated the gastric (or stomach), juice. By this, the food is assimilated into a viscid fluid substance, called chyme. In this state, it passes out of the sto