A knowledge of the digestibility of different aliments
necessary to the delicate-The two great divisions
are vegetable and animal-The nutritious parts of the
vegetable kingdom are, mucilage, starch, sugar; the
proportion of these contained in esculent plants;
roots, seeds, fruits. Animal substances-Milk the
lowest species of animal diet-various kinds in use.
Animal substances; birds, quadrupeds, modes of
feeding of importance-Fish-The particular kinds of
aliment of less importance than is generally believed.
Except under very particular circumstances, the
'patient a better judge of these than the physician-
examples of. Importance of the patient's confidence
in the skill and integrity of his physician-The quan-
ty of food more hurtful to the delicate than the quality.
Fluids; those that are safest-latitude in regard to
the use of Vinous liquors useful to the dyspeptic-
kinds to be used, and to be avoided. Spirits, their
use and abuse.
Section II.-AIR, its importance to life,
Facts in illustration of-Debilitating effects experienced
from remaining long in crowded apartments explain-
ed-Large towns less healthy than villages, and the
country-reason of this-Kind of situation which the
delicate should choose- Daily exposure to the free air
necessary to health. The manner in which colds are
usually caught; how they may be avoided, and how
they ought to be treated.
Its good effects the probable manner how these are
produced.
Its utility in restoring, promoting, and preserving health; the most proper times for taking it; its importance in the cure and prevention of deformity— The children of the poor less liable to deformity than those of the rich, and boys less than girls; a useful lesson may be learned from the lower animals in this respect. Necessary precautions as to exercise, after deformity has begun-Hurtfulness of all mechanical contrivances-Value of exercise in the cure of chronic diseases; examples of-Superiority of walking. Best times for the delicate to exercise-Tenderness of the feet and corns, an excuse for not walking; how these may be remedied.-Advantages of riding on horseback-Kinds of exercise best adapted for the very feeble-Sailing, riding in a carriage, gymnastics, quoits, fencing, friction; instances of its use in the cure of chronic diseases.-Shuttle-cock; dumbbells; fighting with one's own shadow; speaking; singing. Danger of remaining in a current of air when the body has been much heated by exercise. Section V.-Clothing,
How it should be regulated, and of what materials com-
posed-Advantages of cotton in warm climates-
Flannels, under what circumstances they should be
worn. Propriety of regulating our clothing according
to the seasons of the year.
Its importance to health and longevity-Different con-
stitutions require more or less sleep. Sleep modified
in old people-Sleep may be abused; the effects of
such abuse-Liability of the delicate to lie awake for
some hours during the night; how this may be obviat-
ed-Consequences of over indulgence in sleep-
Night the most proper time for repose--The delicate
require more sleep than the vigorous.
Want of sleep a common complaint with the delicate-
Exhausting the nervous energy the safest means of
procuring sleep-Pain and mental excitement pre-
vents this exhaustion-Tea or coffee will prevent some
from sleeping; the burning of a taper; dosing after
dinner; heat or cold in the feet; keen mental ap-
plication a short time before retiring to rest.
The best means of promoting Sleep,
One of the most certain means of promoting sleep, is exer-
cise during the previous day-Confined bed-rooms un-
favourable to sleep-Sleeping apartments ought to be
well ventilated-Bed curtains unfavourable to health.
The faces of infants ought not to be covered when
asleep-A proper temperature of the body induces
sleep; this is best effected by a regard to the materials
on which we repose, and the manner in which we
cover our bodies-Sleep, periodical-Monotony fa-
vourable to-Sleeping after dinner should be avoid-
ed by the delicate.-Artificial means of promoting
sleep-calmness and equanimity of mind-the use of
the flesh-brush, &c.--Narcotics should not be used
but by the advice of a medical attendant-a pillow
of hops has been found useful. The proper time of
rising in the morning. Advantages of early rising.
CORPULENCY, ..................
By what means it may be safely reduced-Examples.
Medicines not safe to use-Exercise, temperance, and
moderation, the only safe and certain means.
In some cases almost certainly curable; in others incur-
able-The curable species proceeds from indigestion;
incurable kind occasioned by scrofula in the constitu-
tion Reason why incurable-Scrofula of the milder
kind sometimes excited by indigestion Two cases of.
Consumption from Indigestion,
Symptoms of.
Medical Treatment,
Idiopathic, or true Consumption,
Attacks only persons born of scrofulous parents, and those
who have a strong hereditary predisposition to it;
the weakest individuals in such families generally suf-
fer first-All do not die of consumption who have
tubercles in their lungs-Marks of a consumptive ha-
bit-Symptoms of the disease-Hectic fever describ-
ed. Characteristics of the curable and incurable spe-
cies of Consumption.
Regimen for the Consumptive,
Preliminary observations-Emetics, when to be used--
Slowness of the bowels; various means by which this
may be safely obviated. Bitters, what kinds most
useful. Peruvian bark-Subcarbonate of Iron-Mi-
neral Acids-White Oxide of Bismuth-Shower
bath-General blood-letting, disapprobation of-Blis-
ters, their use-Piles, how to treat-Mineral Waters,
Pitkeathly, &c., less useful than they would be, were
they properly managed. Reflections.
Case II. Indigestion, with symptoms of diseased heart, 298
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