Part 11
[46] "Stays and stiff Jackets are most pernicious; they disfigure the beautiful and upright shape of a Woman, and injure the Breast and Bowels; obstruct the breathing and digestion; hurt the breast and nipples so much that many Mothers have been prevented by their use from suckling their Children; many hence get Cancers, and at last lose both Health and Life--for they render the delivery of Women very difficult and dangerous both to Mother and Child."--_From_ DR. FAUST'S _Catechism of Health_, 12mo. p. 39. Edinburgh, 1797.
[47] "Stagnant air becomes corrupted in the same manner as stagnant water,--opening windows and making currents of air, are the best means of purifying it."--STRUVE'S _Asthenology_, p. 348.
[48] "The natural heat of the Human Body is 98 of Fahrenheit's Thermometer--any temperature applied to it lower than 98, gives a sensation of Cold, but if the temperature applied is not below 62, the sensation of cold will not continue long, but be soon changed to a sensation of heat, and in this climate, Air, &c. applied to the living man, does not diminish the temperature of his Body, unless the temperature of it be below 62; if it is above that, it increases it."--CULLEN'S _First Lines_, vol. i. p. 130.
[49] "The Cordials, Volatiles, Bracers, Strengtheners, &c. given by common practitioners, may keep up an increased circulation for a few hours, but their action soon subsides.
_"The Circulation of the Blood can only be properly carried on through the medium of Exercise or labour._--See page 38.
"Art cannot come up to Nature in this most salutary of all her operations. That sprightly Vigour, and alacrity of Health, which we enjoy in an active course of Life--that Zest in appetite, and refreshment after eating, which sated Luxury seeks in vain from art, is owing wholly to new blood made every day from fresh food, prepared and distributed by the joint action of all the parts of the Body."--CADOGAN _on Gout_, p. 34.
[50] "There is no rule more essential to those who are advanced in Life, than never to give way to a remission of Exercise. By degrees the demand for exercise may shrink, in extreme old age, to little more than a bare quit-rent; but that quit-rent must be paid, since life is held by the tenure.
"Whoever examines the accounts handed down to us of the Longest Livers, will generally find, that to the very last they used some exercise, as walking a certain distance every day, &c. This is mentioned as something surprising in them, considering their great age; whereas the truth is, that their living to such an age, without some such exercise, would have been the wonder. Exercise keeps off obstructions, which are the principal sources of diseases, and ultimately of death. Motion then is the tenure of life; and old people who humour or indulge an inclination to sloth and inactivity, (which is too apt to grow upon them on the least encouragement), act as unwisely as the poor traveller, who, bewildered in trackless snow, and surprised by a chilling frost, instead of resisting the temptation to sleep, suffers it to steal upon him, though he knows, that, by its fatal blandishments, he can never expect to wake again, but must inevitably perish."--_Institutes of Health_, p. 24.
[51] "The most ignorant person knows, that proper care of the skin is indispensably necessary for the well-being of horses, &c.
"The Groom often denies himself rest, that he may dress and curry his horses sufficiently; it is, therefore, wonderful, that the enlightened people of these days should neglect the care of their own skin so much, that I think I may, without exaggeration, assert, that _among the greater part of men,--the Pores of the Skin are half closed and unfit for use_."--From p. 235 of HUFFELAND'S _Art of Prolonging Life_,--which persons of all ages may peruse with much advantage.
[52] A _thick Crust_ is not always the consequence of the Wine having been very long time in the Bottle--but is rather a sign that it was too little time in the Cask, or has been kept in a very cold cellar.
[53] "Had the man that first filled the _Heidelburgh Tun_, been placed as sentinel to see that no other Wine was put into it, I believe that he would have found it much better at 25 or 30 years old, than at 100 or 150, had he lived so long--retained his senses, and been permitted now and then to taste it--a privilege with which the natives are seldom indulged.
"To give a great price for Wine, and keep it till it begins to perish, is a great pity." I cannot believe that very aged Wine, when bordering on Acid, is wholesome, though some Wine-drinkers seem to prefer it in that state. "Respecting _Port Wine_, there is a great fuss made by some about its _age_, and the _crust_ on the bottle; as if the age and crust on the bottle constituted the quality of the Wine." "Such _crusty_ gentlemen shall not select Wine for me."--YOUNG'S _Epicure_, 8vo. 1815, p. 23, 28, &c.
[54] "Wines bottled in good order, may be fit to drink in six months, (especially if bottled in October), but they are not in perfection before twelve. From that to two years they may continue so; but it would be improper to keep them longer."--_Edinburgh Encyclop. Britan._ vol. xviii. p. 72, Article _Wine_.
[55] "Cork the bottles very closely with good Cork, and lay them on their sides, that the Cork may not dry and facilitate the access of the air. For the greater safety, the Cork may be covered with a coating of cerement applied by means of a Brush, or the neck of the bottle may be immersed in a mixture of melted wax, rosin, or pitch."--ACCUM _on making Wine_, 1820, p. 40.
[56] A PUNCHEON OF BRANDY containing 130 Gallons, after remaining in Cask in a Merchant's Cellar for three years, lost two Gallons in measure, and ten Gallons in strength. The stronger the Spirit, the sooner it evaporates.
The London Dock Company are not answerable for any decrease of quantity in a PIPE OF WINE left under their care, provided it does not exceed one Gallon for each year--which it is supposed to waste in that time.
[57] CORNARO complains that _old_ Wine was very disagreeable to his Stomach, and _new_ wine very grateful; his dose was fourteen ounces, (_i. e._ seven wine-glasses) per day.
[58] "Fermented liquors furnish very different proportions of Alcohol--and it has been sometimes supposed that it does not pre-exist to the amount in which it is obtained by distillation; but some experiments I made upon the subject in 1811 and 1813, and which are printed in the _Phil. Trans._ for three years, tend to show that it is a real educt, and not formed by the action of heat upon the elements existing in the fermented liquor. The following table exhibits the proportion of Alcohol by measure, existing in one hundred pints of Wine."--BRANDE'S _Manual of Chemistry_, 8vo. 1819, p. 400.
Hock 14 Claret 15 Sherry 19 Port 20 Madeira 24 per cent Alcohol.
[59] "It would save many lives if Gin, &c. was not allowed to be sold until reduced to one third the strength of Proof Spirit. People do not at first drink from any liking or desire, but being cold, or faint with hunger or fatigue, they find immediate comfort and refreshment from the use of Spirits--and as they can purchase a dram with less money than they can cover their back, or fill their belly, so they gratify the strongest and least expensive appetite--and insensibly become drunkards."
"Ardent Spirits are not only eminently destructive to the Body, but are the most powerful incentives to Vice of every kind; Drunkenness engenders all other Crimes. Does the Robber pause in his Trade? Does the Murderer hesitate?--they are presently wound up at the Gin shop. Has the Seducer tried his arts in vain? The Brothel is more indebted to this source, than to all the other lures to Seduction."--From _Hints for the Preservation of Health_.--CALLOW, 1813, 12mo. p. 2.
"There are _Three sorts of Drinkers_: one drinks to satisfy Nature, and to support his Body, and requires it as necessary to his Being.
"Another drinks a _degree_ beyond this, and takes a larger dose to exhilarate and cheer his mind, and help him to sleep--these two are lawful drinkers.
"A third drinks neither for the good of the Body or the Mind, but to stupify and drown both."--MAYNWARINGE _on Health, &c._ 12mo. 1683, p. 123.
[60] JOHNSON'S WITTE CURAÇOA takes precedence of all the _Liqueurs_ we have ever tasted.
[61] "The _Blood_ of the _Grape_ appeareth to be Blood, in it is Life, it is from the _Vine_, and that the Plant of life; and that the difference between this Plant, and the Tree of Life in Paradise, were but _magis_ and _minus_, is not so improbable as to be rejected by any, for they will be both granted Plants of Life, and they very much respond in their nature as well as Appellation. What the fruit was that sprang from that in Paradise, is not as yet known, or not so perfectly understood as that of the Vine, the nature of which is so lively as that _Galen_ will affirm it to augment radical heat, which is the way to live for ever."--See Dr. WHITAKER _on the Blood of the Grape_, 16mo. 1654, p. 3 and 31.
[62] In our PEPTIC PRECEPTS, we have pointed out the most convenient ways of counteracting the dilapidating effects of excessive vinous irrigation, which is doubly debilitating,--when you suffer the fascinations of the festive Bowl to seduce You to sacrifice to Bacchus, those hours which are due to the drowsy God of Night.
[63] "More or less _Alcohol_ is necessary to support the usual vigour of the greater number of people even in Health--nothing therefore can be more injudicious than wholly to deprive them of this support when they are weakened by disease--Dyspeptics who have been accustomed to its use, cannot be deprived of it--a very moderate use of Wine can hardly be said to be injurious: we see those who use it in this way, live as long, and enjoy as good health, as those who wholly abstain from it."--Dr. PHILIP, _on Indigestion_, 8vo. 1821, pp. 139 and 144.
[64] "No man in health can need Wine till he arrives at 40: he may then begin with two glasses in the day: at 50 he may add two more."--See TROTTER _on Drunkenness_, 1804, p. 151.
[65] _Scotch or Irish_ WHISKEY is an infinitely purer spirit than _English_ GIN--which is an uncertain compound of various Essential Oils, &c.
[66] Brandy and _Liqueur_ Merchant, No. 2, Colonnade, Pall Mall.
[67] TO MAKE A QUART OF CURAÇOA.--To a pint of the cleanest and strongest _Rectified Spirit_, (sold by Rickards, Piccadilly,) add two drachms and a half of the _Sweet Oil of Orange Peel_, (sold by Stewart, No. 11, Old Broad Street, near the Bank,) shake it up,--dissolve a pound of good Lump Sugar in a pint of cold water, make this into a Clarified Syrup, (No. 475), which add to the Spirit, shake it up, and let it stand till the following day--then line a funnel with a piece of muslin, and that with filtering paper, and filter it two or three times till it is quite bright;--or dissolve a drachm and a half of Carbonate of Potash in about a quarter pint of the Liqueur by rubbing it together in a mortar--adding it to the Liqueur, and shaking it well up--then incorporate a like quantity of pounded Alum in another quarter pint of the Liqueur--and return it to the Liqueur, shake it well up--and in a little time it will become fine. This Liqueur is an admirable cordial--and a tea-spoonful in a Tumbler of water, is a very refreshing Summer drink, and a great improvement to PUNCH.
_Obs._ We do not offer this Receipt as a Rival to Mr. Johnson's Curaçoa--it is only proposed as an humble substitute for that incomparable Liqueur.
[68] "Il y a pour le Gourmet plus de soixante sortes de vins;--il n'y en a que trois pour le Chimiste;--savoir, les vins mousseux, les vins faits, les vins sucrés. Le sucre existe tout formé par la nature dans les raisins mûrs de tous les pays; sa proportion fait la principale différence des vins; c'est le sucre seul qui établit la fermentation vineuse: si l'on enferme le vin avant qu'elle soit terminée, le gaz, qui était sur le point de s'échapper, reste dans la liqueur, et le vin est mousseux. _Ce gaz est de l'acide carbonique_, le même air qui fait mousser le cidre, la bière, l'hydromel, et les eaux minérales de Seltz, de Chateldon. Il est dangereux à respirer en quantité, puisqu'il asphyxie les animaux; mais il est très-salubre à boire ainsi combiné. Si, au contraire, la fermentation est terminée, le sucre s'est changé dans le vin, en _eau de vie_, qui tient en dissolution le tartre, le principe colorant, et le principe extractif du raisin. Voilà, ce qui constitue les vins faits; ils ne moussent plus, et ils sont plus ou moins généreux suivant les proportions de leurs principes.
"Enfin, quand le sucre naturel au raisin est trop abondant pour fermenter en totalité, une portion reste dans la liqueur sous forme de Sirop, et constitue les vins sucrés d'Espagne, de Constance, etc.--La différence de saveur dépend d'un arôme particulier, propre au raisin de chaque climat."--_Cours Gastronomique_, 8vo. 1809. p. 289.
[69] "The human Stomach is capable, in the adult, of containing about three quarts of water."--BLUMENBACH'S _Physiology_, p. 145.
[70] "By adopting an abstinent plan of diet, even to a degree that produces a sensation of want in the System, we do that which is most likely to create appetite and increase the powers of digestion."--ABERNETHY'S _Surg. Obs._ 68.
[71] To make BEEF or MUTTON TEA.--Cut a pound of lean gravy-meat into thin slices--put it into a quart and half a pint of cold water--set it over a gentle fire where it will become gradually warm--when the skum rises catch it, cover the Saucepan close, and let it continue boiling for about two hours--skim the fat off, strain it through a sieve or a napkin--skim it again--let it stand ten minutes to settle, and then pour off the clear Tea. To make _half a pint_ of BEEF TEA _in five minutes for three half-pence_, see No. 252; and to make good _Mutton Broth for Nothing_, No. 490.
N.B.--An Onion, and a few grains of Black Pepper, &c. are sometimes added. If the Meat is boiled till it is thoroughly tender, mince it and pound it as directed in No. 503 of the COOK'S ORACLE--and you may have a dish of POTTED BEEF for the trouble of making it.
[72] "Il y a trois sortes d'appétits; celui que l'on éprouve à jeûn; sensation impérieuse qui ne chicane point sur le mets, et qui vous fait venir l'eau à la bouche, à l'aspect d'un bon ragoût. Je le compare au désir impétueux d'un jeune homme qui voit sourire la beauté qu'il aime.--_Le second_ appétit est celui que l'on ressent lorsque, s'étant mis à table sans faim, on a déjà goûté d'un plat succulent, et qui a consacré le proverbe, _l'appétit vient en mangeant_. Je l'assimile à l'état d'un mari dont le cœur tiède s'échauffe aux premières caresses de sa femme.--_Le troisième_ appétit est celui qu'excite un mets délicieux qui paraît à la fin d'un repas, lorsque, l'estomac satisfait, l'homme sobre allait quitter la table sans regret. Celui-là trouve son emblème dans les feux du libertinage, qui quoique illusoires, font naître cependant quelques plaisirs réels. La connaissance de cette métaphysique de l'appétit doit guider le Cuisinier habile dans la composition du premier, du second et du troisième service."--_Cours Gastronomique_, p. 64.
[73] "It is but INCREASING or _diminishing_ the velocity of certain fluids in the animal machine,--to elate the Soul with the gayest hopes,--or to sink her into the deepest despair; to depress the HERO into a _Coward_--or advance the _Coward_ into a HERO."--FITZOSBORNE'S _Letters_, 1. viii.
[74]
"SALT, PEPPER, and MUSTARD, ay, VINEGAR too, Are quite as unwholesome as CURRY I vow, All lovers of Goose, Duck, or Pig, he'll engage, That eat it with Onion, Salt, Pepper or Sage, Will find ill effects from 't," and therefore no doubt Their prudence should tell them,--best eat it without! But, alas! these are subjects on which there's no reas'ning, For you'll still eat your Goose, Duck, or Pig, with its seas'ning; And what is far worse--notwithstanding his huffing, You'll make for your Hare and your Veal a good stuffing: And I fear, if a Leg of good Mutton you boil With Sauce of vile Capers, that Mutton you'll spoil; And tho', as you think, to procure good Digestion, A mouthful of Cheese is the best thing in question: "In _Gath_ do not tell, nor in _Askalon_ blab it, You're strictly forbidden to eat a _Welsh Rabbit_." And _Bread_, "the main staff of our life," some will call No more nor no less,--than "the worst thing of all."--
See THE LADY'S _Address to Willy Cadogan in his Kitchen_, 4to. 1771.
Some Minute Philosopher has published an 8vo. pamphlet of 56 pages! on the omnipotent "_virtues of a Crust of Bread eaten early in the morning fasting!!_" We have no doubt it is an admirable Specific for that grievous disorder of the Stomach called Hunger.
[75] Are very crude indigestible materials for a weak Stomach, unless warmed by (No. 372);--with the assistance of which, and plenty of Pepper, you may eat even _Cucumber_ with impunity.
[76] DR. RADCLIFFE, who succeeded better by speaking plainly to his Patients, than some of his successors have by the most subtle Politeness,--when asked what _was the best Remedy for Wind in the Stomach_, replied, "That which will expel it quickest"--inquiring of the Ventose subject whether the Wind passed _per Ascensum_, _vel per Descensum_, observing,--that the former is the most aggravated state of _Ventriloquism_, the latter a sign that the Bowels are recovering their Healthful Tone.
[77] "My Stomach digests food so slowly, that I cannot study for five or six hours after a very sparing dinner."--SPALLANZANI _on Digestion, &c._, vol. i. p. 280.
"If the quantity of Food be given, its Quality will cause a difference in the time of digesting; for instance, slimy and viscid meats are longer in digesting in the Stomach than meats of a contrary nature; the flesh of some young animals is not so soon digested as the flesh of the same animals arrived at their full growth; thus _Veal_ and _Lamb_ are not so soon digested as _Beef_ and _Mutton_.
"A man who took a vomit every second night for some months, observed, that when he had taken CHICKEN for Dinner, he always threw it up undigested, but never threw up any of his Food undigested when he made his Dinner of _Beef_ or _Mutton_."--BRYAN ROBINSON _on the Food and Discharges of Human Bodies_, 1748, p. 95.
Beef and Mutton seem to give less trouble to the Editor's Stomach than any kind of Poultry.
The following is copied from Dr. Scudamore on Gout, 2d Edition, p. 509, being some of the Experiments related by Mr. Astley Cooper in his lecture delivered at the Royal College of Surgeons in 1814, which have only been published in Dr. S.'s book, who informs us, they were performed upon Dogs, with a view to ascertain the comparative solvent power of the gastric juice upon different articles of food.
"_Experiment 5._
Food. Form. Quantity. Animal killed. Loss by Digestion.
Cheese. Square. 100 pints. 4 hours. 76. Mutton. ----- ----- ----- 65. Pork. ----- ----- ----- 36. Veal. ----- ----- ----- 15. Beef. ----- ----- ----- 11.
"_Experiment 6._
Food. Form. Quantity. Animal killed. Loss by Digestion.
Beef. Long & Nar. 100 pints. 2 hours. 0. Rabbit. ----- ----- ----- 0. Cod Fish. ----- ----- ----- 74.
"_Experiment 9._
Roast Veal Do. 100 pints. 2 hours. 7. Boiled do. Do. ----- ----- 30.
[78] "Those who have _weak stomachs_, will be better able to digest their food, if they take their meals at _regular hours_; because they have both the stimulus of the aliment they take, and the periodical habit to assist digestion."--DARWIN'S _Zoonomia_, vol. i. p. 454.
"We often tease and disorder our Stomachs by fasting for too long a period, and when we have thus brought on what I may call a discontented state of the organ, unfitting it for its office, we set to a meal, and fill it to its utmost, regardless of its powers or its feelings."--ABERNETHY'S _Surg. Obs._ p. 70.
[79] "A Philosopher being asked what was _the best time to dine_, answered,--For a Rich man, when he could get a Stomach;--for a Poor man, when he could get Meat."
[80] "When four hours be past, after Breakfast, a man may safely taste his Dinner,--the most convenient time for dinner, is about _eleven of the clocke_ before noone,--in 1570, this was the usual time of serving it in the University of Oxford,--elsewhere about noone,--it commonly consisted of boyled biefe, with pottage, bread and beere, and no more,--the quantity of _biefe_ was in value an _halfe-penny_ for each mouth,--they supped at five of the clocke in the Afternoon."--_Vide_ COGAN'S _Haven of Health_, 1584, p. 187.
_Early_ hours were as _Genteel_ in Dr. Cogan's time, as _late_ ones are now, 1821.
"Perhaps none of our Old English customs have undergone so thorough a change, as the hours of rising,--taking refreshment--the number of meals per day--and the time of retiring to rest.
"The stately dames of Edward IV.'s Court, rose with the Lark, despatched their dinner at eleven o'clock in the forenoon, and shortly after eight were wrapt in slumber.--How would these reasonable people (reasonable at least in this respect) be astonished could they but be witnesses to the present distribution of time among the Children of Fashion!--Would they not call the perverse conduct of those who _rise_ at one or two, _dine_ at eight,--and retire to bed when the morning is unfolding all its glories, and nature putting on her most pleasing aspect,--absolute insanity!!"--WARNER'S _Antiq. Cul._ p. 134.
"The modern hours of eating are got to an excess that is perfectly ridiculous. Now, what do people get by this? If they make Dinner their principal Meal, and do not wish to pall their appetite by eating before it--they injure their health. Then in Winter they have two hours of candlelight before Dinner, and in Summer they are at table during the pleasantest part of the Day; and all this, to get a LONG MORNING,--_for Idle People, to whom one would suppose the shortest morning would seem too Long_."--PYE'S _Sketches_, 12mo. 1797, p. 174.
[81] Mr. Peck, Grocer, &c., No. 175, Strand, has printed a very ingenious chart of the "_Geographie de la Gourmandise_."--"A Map of the four quarters of the World, intended to show the different parts from whence all the articles in his catalogue are imported."--See also "CARTE GASTRONOMIQUE DE LA FRANCE," prefixed to that entertaining work, "COURS GASTRONOMIQUE," 8vo. 1809.
[82] "A Wag, on being told it was the fashion to dine later and later every day, said, He supposed it would end at last in not dining till _to-morrow_!!"
[83] "It is at the _commencement of Decline_, _i. e._ about our 40th year, that the Stomach begins to require peculiar care and precaution. People who have been subject to Indigestions before, have them then more frequent and more violent; and those who have never been so afflicted, begin to suffer them from slight causes: a want of attention to which too frequently leads to the destruction of the best constitutions, especially of the studious, who neglect to take due exercise. The remedy proposed is Ipecacuanha, in a dose that will not occasion any nausea; but enough to excite such an increased action of the vermicular movement of the stomach, that the phlegm may be separated and expelled from that organ.