Part 12
"The effects of it surpassed his most sanguine hopes: by the use of it, notwithstanding he had naturally a delicate constitution, he weathered the storms of the Revolution," &c., and lived to be 84.
The above is an extract from Dr. BUCHAN'S translation of Mr. DAUBENTON'S _Observations on Indigestion_. This treatise brought Ipecacuanha Lozenges into fashion, as the most easy and agreeable manner of taking it: they contain about one-sixth of a grain, and are prepared and sold by SAVORY and MOORE, Chemists, in Bond Street.
[84] Delicate people, who are accustomed to dine at a certain hour, on certain food, &c., are generally deranged as often as they dine out, and change the hour, &c.
The Editor has a patient who never Dines out without suffering severely for several days after--not from over-eating or drinking, &c., but from the change of Diet, and the time of taking it. His habit is to make a hearty meal off one dish at Five o'clock, and drink with it some good heartening home-brewed Beer, and two or three glasses of Wine--that has not been kept till it has lost its best qualities.
[85] Dr. W. says: "When the Stomach is in a sound state, and Digestion is properly performed, the spirits are good, and the Body is light and easy; but when that organ is out of order, a languor, debility, discontent, melancholy watchfulness, or troublesome dreams, the nightmare, &c. are the consequences. I have often been seized with a slight _Incubus_, attended with a faintness, as if the circulation was a good deal obstructed, before I was fully asleep, which has made me get up suddenly: while I lay awake I felt nothing of these symptoms, except some degree of uneasiness about my stomach; but when I was just about to fall asleep, they began to return again." "In this way I have gone on for two or three hours or more, in the beginning of the night. At last, I found that a dram of _Brandy_, after the first attack, kept me easy the whole night," p. 312.
"When affected with uneasy sensation from wind, I have not only been sensible of a general debility and flatness of spirits, but the unexpected opening of a door, or any such trifling unforeseen accident, has instantly occasioned an odd sensation about my heart, extending itself to my head and arms, &c. At other times, when my stomach is in a firmer state, I have no such feeling: at least, in a very small degree, from causes which might be thought more apt to produce them. Fainting, Tremors, Palpitations of the Heart, convulsive motions, and all those disorders which are called nervous, &c. &c. are often owing more to the infirm state of the first passages, than to any fault either in the Brain or Heart," p. 132, &c.
Dr. Whytt died A.D. 1766, in his 52d year.
[86] "Physicians appear to be too strict and particular in their rules of diet and regimen; too anxious attention to those rules hath often hurt those who were well, and added unnecessarily to the distresses of the sick.--Whether meat should be boiled or roasted, or dressed in any other plain way, and what sort of vegetables should be eaten with it, I never yet met with any person of common sense (except in an acute illness) whom I did not think much fitter to choose for himself, than I was to determine for him."--DR. HEBERDEN _on Diet_.
"When the Stomach is weak, it seems particularly necessary that our food should be nutritive and easy of digestion.
"I may further observe, that its qualities should be adapted to the feelings of the stomach.
"In proof of this proposition, numerous instances might be mentioned of apparently unfit substances agreeing with the Stomach, being digested and even quieting an irritable state of the stomach, merely because they were suitable to its feelings. Instances might also be mentioned of changes in Diet producing a tranquil and healthy state of stomach in cases where medicines had been tried in vain."--ABERNETHY, _Surg. Obs._ p. 68.
[87] "_A Fool_, or a PHYSICIAN _at Forty_, is an adage containing more truth than is commonly believed.--He who has not by that time learned to observe the causes of self-disorder--shows little signs of wisdom; and He who has carefully noted the things which create disorder in himself, must by his own experience possess much knowledge, that a Physician at a pop visit ought not to pretend to."--_Domestic Management_, 1813, p. xxxvi.
[88] "GRILLUS, who, according to the doctrine of _Transmigration_, (as _Plutarch_ tells us) had, in his turn, been a BEAST, discourses how much better he fed and lived then, than when he was turned to MAN again, as knowing then what food was best and most proper for him, which _Sarcophagists_ (flesh-eaters) in all this time were yet to seek."--EVYLYN'S _Acetana_, 12mo. 1699, p. 86.
"Instinct than Reason makes more wholesome Meals."--YOUNG.
"My Appetite is in several things of itself happily enough accommodated to the health of my Stomach; whatever I take against my liking does me harm; but nothing hurts me that I eat with appetite and delight."--_Vide honest_ MONTAIGNE'S _Essay on Experience_, book iii. chap. xiii.
"The Stomach gives information when the supplies have been expended, and represents with great exactness the quantity and quality of whatever is wanted in the present state of the machine, and, in proportion as it meets with neglect, rises in its demand, and urges its petition with a louder voice."--DR. WM. HUNTER'S _Introductory Lecture_, 4to. p. 81.
"Take Food in proportion to the quantity of nourishment contained in it, of which the Stomach appears from Instinct to be capable of judging."--J. HUNTER _on the Animal Economy_, 4to. p. 221.
"Prompted by Instinct's never erring power, Each creature knows its proper aliment, Directed, bounded by this power within, Their cravings are well aimed; Voluptuous Man, Is by superior faculties misled; Misled from pleasure--even in quest of Joy." ARMSTRONG'S _Art of Preserving Health_.
"Our stomach is, in general, a pretty good Judge of what is best for it,--thousands have perished for being inattentive to its calls--for one who has implicitly obeyed them."--DR. SMITH'S _Guide in Sickness_, 8vo. p. 59.
"In every case wherein we wish to preserve strength, (as in most chronical complaints) we should be extremely cautious in prescribing a rigid regimen,--especially if it is intended to be long continued."--"Things disagreeable to the palate, seldom digest well, or contribute to the nourishment of the Body."--FALCONER _on Diet_, pp. 7, and 8.
"What is most grateful to the Palate, sits most easy on the Stomach."--ADAIR _on Diet_, p. 28.
"LONGINGS directed by the pure guidance of INSTINCT, and not arising merely from opinion, may not only be satisfied with Impunity, but generally be indulged in with advantage."--WITHERS _on the Abuse of Medicine_, 8vo. p. 233.
[89] "As to the quality of food, although whatever is easy of digestion, singly considered, deserves the preference, yet regard must be had to the palate and to the appetite, because it is frequently found, that what the Stomach earnestly covets, though of difficult digestion, does nevertheless digest better than what is esteemed of easier digestion if the Stomach nauseates it: I am of opinion the patient ought to eat only of _one dish_ at a meal."--SYDENHAM _on Gout_.
"Every Animal but Man keeps to _one dish_--Herbs are the food of this species--Fish of that--and Flesh of a third."--SPECTATOR, No. 95.
"Be content with _one dish_ at a meal, in the choice of that consult your palate."--MANDEVILLE _on Hypochondriasis_, p. 316.
[90] "It is surprising how much the condition and disposition of the Stomach and Intestines will vary in the same person at different times."--WHYTT _on the Nerves_; p. 127.
[91] "Many people, to be sufficiently nourished, must be supplied with food exceedingly stimulating."--STRUVE'S _Asthenology_, 8vo. 1801, p. 280.
[92] "Whosoever dreameth that no _Sick_ Man should be allured to meat, by delightful and pleasant Sauces, seemeth as froward and fantastical as He that would never whet his knife.
"Why hath nature brought forth such variety of Herbs, Roots, Spices, &c. fit for nothing but Sauces, &c. but that by them, the Sick should be allured to feed.
"Abstinence is as dangerous, as Fulness and Satiety is inconvenient."--DR. MOFFETT _on Foods_, 12mo. 1746, p. 343.
[93] "This gentleman had so cold a Stomach, (saith _Suidas_,) that he made a sheath for his Tongue, that he might swallow down his Pottage scalding hot; yea, I myself have known a Shropshire Gentleman of the like quality."--Dr. MUFFETT _on Food_, 4to. 1655, p. 287.
[94] "The Chyle appears to be of the same nature, from whatever aliment it has been extracted; if the medical people in different countries were questioned, each would probably approve of the diet used in their own--and would find plausible arguments to prove its superiority, with numerous and admirable examples among their countrymen in support of their theory.
"An Englishman would probably be of opinion that wheat-bread, and a large portion of animal food, gives the strongest and most substantial nourishment.
"An Irishman, or a Scotsman, would probably maintain that a small portion of animal food,--with plenty of potatoes and oatmeal, is far better adapted to form a vigorous and hardy race. The Laplanders live almost entirely upon Animal food--the Hindoos, Gentoos, &c. never taste any thing but Vegetables."--MOORE'S _Mat. Med._ p. 70.
"In the course of a few years, the produce of several acres of land, a number of large oxen, and many tuns of liquor, are consumed by one individual; whilst he continues nearly the same, whether he drinks the pure stream, or beverage the most skilfully compounded; whether he feeds on a variety of articles produced from the animal and vegetable kingdom, or confines himself to one particular substance; and whether his food is prepared in the most simple manner, or by the most refined and artificial modes that luxury has invented."--_Code of Health_, vol. i. p. 402.
_Facts relative to Diet._--"Dr. B. Franklin, of Philadelphia, informed me that he himself, when a journeyman printer, lived a fortnight on bread and water, at the rate of ten pennyworth of bread per week, and that he found himself stout and hearty with this diet."
"By Sir John Pringle I was told that he knew a lady now 90 years of age, who eat only the pure fat of meat."
"Dr. Cirelli says, that the Neapolitan Physicians frequently allow their patients in fevers, nothing but water for forty days together."--Dr. STARK, _on Diet, &c._ 4to. 1788, p. 92, a work well worth the purchase of any person curious upon this subject. As is also Dr. BRYAN ROBINSON, on _Food and Discharges of Human Bodies_.
[95] "A constant adherence to one sort of Diet, may have bad effects on any Constitution. Nature has provided a great Variety of Nourishment for Human Creatures, and furnished us with Appetites to desire, and Organs to digest them.
"An unerring Regularity is almost impracticable, and the swerving from it, when it has grown habitual, dangerous; for every unusual thing in a human body becomes a stimulus, as Wine or Flesh Meat to one not used to them; therefore _Celsus's_ Rule, with proper moral restrictions, is a good one."--ARBUTHNOT _on Aliment_, pp. 218 and 219.
[96] A PILL is the mildest form of administering Medicine, because of its gradual solution in the Stomach, and the same quantity of the same material, taken in a draught, produces a very different effect.
[97] "He that would have _a clear Head_, must have _a clean Stomach_."--CHEYNE _on Health_, p. 34.
[98] _Quintessence of Lemon Peel_, (No. 418).--Best oil of Lemon, one drachm,--strongest rectified Spirit, two ounces, introduced by degrees, till the spirit kills and completely mixes with the oil. This elegant and useful preparation, possesses all the delightful fragrance and flavour of the freshest Lemon Peel--for which you will find it a satisfactory substitute. A few drops on the Sugar you make Punch with, will instantly impregnate it with as much flavour as the troublesome and tedious method of rubbing the sugar on the rind.
[99] "I have observed that in mature Age, and in the decline of Life, symptoms which are attributed to previous irregularities, to idiosyncracy, to hereditary disposition, to disease, and to approaching old age, frequently arise from Constipation of the Bowels."--HAMILTON _on Purgative Medicines_, 1806, p. 7.
[100] "_Astriction of the Belly_ is commonly a sign of strong Chylopoetick Organs."--ARBUTHNOT _on Aliment_, p. 24.
[101] Beautiful and full ripe Hot-house Grapes may be procured in the greatest perfection at the Fruit Shops in Covent Garden, almost all the year round--and the Editor has frequently given them to delicate women, who have been afflicted with feverish complaints, to the quantity of a Pound per day, with the most satisfactory effect--they were extremely grateful in cooling their parched mouths, and at once most agreeably and effectually supplied the place of both Saline Draughts and Aperient Medicine.
[102] "People who have Relaxed Bowels have seldom strong thoughts or strong bodies."--LOCKE _on Education_, sec. 23.
"The cure for relaxed _Nerves_ (the source of all chronic disorders) must necessarily begin at the Stomach. He who attempts to cure a Nervous distemper without _firm Bowels_--labours in vain; for it is impossible that the Constitution of those who have _Slippery Bowels_--should ever be braced."--CHEYNE _on Long Life_, p. 107.
[103] "To make TOAST AND WATER.--Cut a bit of the upper crust of Bread, about twice the thickness Toast is usually cut--toast it carefully, till it be completely browned all over, but not at all blackened or burnt: put this into a jug, and pour upon it as much boiling water as you wish to make into drink--cover the jug--let it stand till cold. The fresher made--the better. _Obs._--A roll of fresh thin cut Lemon Peel or dried Orange Peel, infused with the Bread, is a grateful addition, and makes a very refreshing Summer drink--and when the proportion of the fluids is destroyed by profuse perspiration, may be drank plentifully. Let a large jug be made early in the day, it will then become warm by the heat of the Air, and may be drank freely with impunity; cold Water fresh drawn from a well cannot without danger."
[104] Dr. Pemberton recommends the following Bolus:--
℞ Kino. pulv. ℈j. Confect. Opiat. gr. xii. Misc. Fiat bolus, ter quotidie sumendus.
See his _Observations on the Diseases of the Abdominal Viscera_, 8vo. 1807, p. 140.
[105] Here followed, in the first Edition, some _Observations on Singing_. See page 98 of this book--But most of them are taken out, and will shortly be published by Messrs. Hurst and Robinson, No. 90, Cheapside, as part of the Prefatory matter of "THE ENGLISH MELODIES," selected by the Author of this work, from the Library of Wm. Kitchiner, M. D.
[106] "A knowledge how to regulate the alvine evacuation, constitutes much of the prophylactic part of Medicine; hence, how necessary it is to advise those who either wish to preserve good Health, or are in quest of the lost treasure, to attend to this circumstance."--HAMILTON _on Purgatives_, p. 7.
"How much it behoves those who have the charge of young people, particularly of the female sex, to impress them with the propriety, nay with the absolute necessity of attention to the regular state of the Bowels; and to put it in their power, by the use of proper means, to guard against constipation; and at the same time to watch over them, lest, through indolence, they neglect a circumstance which, promoting in the gay season of youth, the enjoyment of health and happiness, opposes a sure barrier against the inroads of chlorosis, &c., always a distressing, and sometimes a fatal complaint."--_Ibid._ p. 76.
[107] "There are three things which I consider as necessary to the cure of disorder.
"_1st_, That the Stomach should thoroughly digest all the food that is put into it.
"The patient perceiving the necessity of obtaining this end, becomes attentive to his Diet, and observes the effect which the quantity and quality of his food and medicines have upon his feelings, and the apparent powers of his Stomach.
"_2dly_, That the residue of the food should be daily discharged from the Bowels: here, too, the patient, apprised of the design, notes what kind and dose of purgative medicine best effect the intention, and whether it answers better if taken at once, or at intervals.
"_3dly_, That the secretion of Bile should be right, both with respect to quantity and quality. In cases wherein the secretion of Bile has been for a long time deficient or faulty, I recommend unirritating and undebilitating doses of Mercury, (_i. e._ pil. hydrarg.) to be taken every second or third night till the stools become of the wet rhubarb colour."--P. 90.
"Any kind of Brown, which dilution will not convert into yellow, I should consider as unhealthy."--P. 36.
See MR. ABERNETHY'S _Surgical Observations_.
[108] "A popular hypothesis is now very prevalent, which attributes nearly all Diseases to a disturbed state of THE LIVER--for which, Mercurial drugs are lavished almost indiscriminately. The folly of expecting to repel this, or any other opinion which is favourable to the natural indolence of mankind, is obvious, especially when it is at the same time upholden by the empirical interests of greedy individuals."--A. CARLISLE _on Old Age_, 2d edit. p. 88.
[109] "It is a dubious question, whether WORMS or the _Violent Purgatives_ which are forced into the human Stomach, by the decisive energy of medical logic, to destroy and expel them, have been most destructive to the human species."--WITHERS _on the Abuse of Medicine_, 8vo. 1794, p. 19 and 117.
[110] "MERCURY and ANTIMONY, elaborated into Poisons by Chemistry--i. e. _Calomel_, _Emetic Tartar_, _James's Powders_, &c. have torn many a Stomach into rags, so that it could never bear common food after."--CADOGAN _on Gout_, 8vo. 1771, p. 79.
[111] The flavour of _Coxwell's Citric Acid_ is much more agreeable than the _Tartaric_, which, being cheaper, is sometimes substituted for it.
[112] PORTABLE SOUP, _or_ GLAZE.--(No. 252.)--Desire the Butcher to break the bones of a Leg or a Shin of Beef, of 10 pounds weight (the fresher killed the better), put it into a Soup-pot (a DIGESTER is the best utensil for this purpose) that will well hold it; just cover it with cold water, and set it on the fire to heat gradually till it nearly boils, (this should be at least an hour);--skim it attentively while any scum rises,--pour in a little cold water, to throw up the scum that may remain,--let it come to a boil again, and again skim it carefully: when no more scum rises, and the broth appears clear, (put in neither Roots nor Herbs nor Salt,) let it boil for eight or ten hours, and then strain it through a hair sieve into a brown stone pan; set the Broth where it will cool quickly; put the meat into a sieve, let it drain, make Potted Beef (No. 503),--or it will be very acceptable to many poor families. Next day remove every particle of _Fat_ from the top of it, and pour it through a Tammis or fine sieve as quietly as possible into a Stewpan, taking care not to let any of the settlings at the bottom of the stone pan go into the Stewpan, which should be of thick Copper, perfectly well tinned; add a quarter of an ounce of whole Black Pepper to it, let it boil briskly, with the stewpan uncovered, on a quick fire: if any scum rises, take it off with a skimmer; when it begins to thicken, and is reduced to about a quart, put it into a smaller stewpan; set it over a gentler fire, till it is reduced to the thickness of a very thick Syrup; take care that it does not burn,--_a moment's inattention now will lose you all your labour, and the soup will be spoiled_:--take a little of it out in a spoon and let it cool; if it sets into strong Jelly, it is done enough;--if it does not, boil it a little longer, till it does;--have ready some little pots, such as are used for Potted Meats, about an inch and a half deep, taking care that they are quite dry;--we recommend it to be kept in these pots, if it is for home consumption--(_the less it is reduced, the better is the flavour of the Soup_)--if it be sufficiently concentrated to keep for six months;--if you wish to preserve it longer, put it into such bladders as are used for German Sausages,--or if you prefer it in the form of Cakes, pour it into a dish about a quarter of an inch deep; when it is cold, turn it out and weigh the Cake, and divide it with a paste-cutter into pieces of half an ounce and an ounce each; place them in a warm room, and turn them frequently till they are thoroughly dried;--this will take a week or ten days; turn them twice a day;--when well hardened, if kept in a dry place, they may be preserved for several years in any climate.
This extract of Meat makes excellent "_Tablettes de Bouillon_," for those who are obliged to endure long fasting.
_Obs._--The uses of this concentrated _Essence of Meat_ are numerous. It is equally economical and convenient for making _extempore_ Broths, Sauces and Gravies for Hashed or Stewed Meat, Game, or Poultry, &c.
You may thicken it and flavour it as directed in (No. 329);--to make _Gravy_, Sauces, &c. take double the quantity ordered for _Broth_.
If you have time and opportunity, as there is no seasoning in the Soup, either of Roots, Herbs, or Spice, boil an Onion with or without a bit of Parsley, and Sweet Herbs, and a few corns of Allspice, or other Spice, in the water you melt the Soup in, which may be flavoured with Mushroom Catsup (No. 439),--or Eschalot Wine (No. 402),--Essence of Sweet Herbs (No. 417),--Savoury Spice (Nos. 421, or 457),--Essence of Celery (No. 409), &c. or Zest (No. 255);--these may be combined in the proportions most agreeable to the palate of the Eater--and are as portable as Portable Soup, for a very small portion will flavour a Pint.
The Editor adds nothing to the solution of this Soup, but a very little ground Black Pepper and some Salt.
_Mem._ THIS PORTABLE SOUP is a most convenient article in Cookery--especially in _Small Families_, where it will save a great deal of time and trouble. It is also _Economical_, for no more will be melted than is wanted--so there is no waste.
SHIN OF BEEF, weighing nine pounds, and costing 1_s._ 10-1/2_d._ produced nine ounces of concentrated Soup, sufficiently reduced to keep for several months. After the boiling, the Bones in this joint weighed two pounds and a quarter, and the Meat two pounds and a quarter.
As it is difficult to obtain this ready-made of good quality--and we could not find any proper and circumstantial directions for making it, which on trial answered the purpose,--and it is really a great acquisition to the Army and Navy--to Travellers, Invalids, &c.--the Editor has bestowed some time, &c. in endeavouring to learn--and to teach how it may be prepared in the easiest,--most economical and perfect manner.
The ordinary selling price is from 10_s._ to 12_s._--but you may make it according to the above Receipt for 3_s._ 6_d._ per Pound--_i. e._ for 2-1/2_d._ per Ounce, which will make you a Pint of Broth.
Those who do not regard the expense, and like the flavour, may add the lean of Ham, in the proportion of a pound to eight pounds of Leg of Beef.
It may also be flavoured, by adding to it, at the time you put the Broth into the smaller Stewpan, Mushroom Catsup, Shallot Wine, Essences of Spice or Herbs, &c.;--we prefer it quite plain--it is then ready to be converted in an instant into a basin of Beef Tea for an Invalid, and any flavour may be immediately communicated to it by the Magazine of Taste (No. 463.)