Part 2
That _Meat_ which is considerably _under_-done, contains more Nutriment than that which is _over_-done, is true enough;--that which is _not done at all_, contains a great deal more--but, in the ratio that it is _Raw_[13], so is it unfortunately difficult of digestion, as _Spallanzani_ (see _Index_) has proved by actual and satisfactory experiments.
OUR FOOD MUST BE DONE--_either by our Cook,--or by our Stomach_,--before Digestion can take place--(see 1st page of _Obs._ on _Siesta_); surely no man in his senses, would willingly be so wanting in consideration of the comfort, &c. of his Stomach, as to give it the needless trouble of Cooking and Digesting also--and waste its valuable energies in work which a Spit or a Stewpan can do better.
Thoroughly dressed BEEF (No. 19), or MUTTON (No. 23), is incomparably the most animating Food we can furnish our Stomachs with, and sound HOME-BREWED BEER, the most invigorating Drink--It is indeed, Gentle Reader, notwithstanding a foolish fashion has banished the natural beverage of Great Britain--as extremely ungenteel.--
"Your Wine tippling, Dram sipping fellows retreat, But your Beer-drinking Briton can never be beat."
_The best Tests of the Restorative qualities of Food_--are a small quantity of it satisfying Hunger,--the strength of the Pulse after it,--and the length of Time which elapses before Appetite returns again:--according to these Rules, the Editor's own experience gives a decided verdict in favour of Roasted or Broiled Beef (No. 19 or 94), or Mutton (No. 26 or 23), as most nutritive,--then Game and Poultry, of which the meat is Brown, (No. 59, or 61, or 74), next Veal and Lamb and Poultry, of which the meat is White--the Fat kinds of Fish, Eels--Salmon--Herrings, &c. and least nutritive, the white kinds of Fish--such as Whiting, Cod, Soles, Haddocks, &c. For further information, see _Oysters_, (No. 181).
The celebrated Trainer, Sir Thomas Parkyns, &c., "greatly preferred BEEF-EATERS--to _Sheep-biters_, as they called those who ate Mutton."
By DR. STARK'S _very curious Experiments on Diet_, p. 110, it appears, that "when he fed upon _Roasted Goose_, he was much more vigorous both in Body and Mind, than with any other food."
That _Fish_ is less nutritive than FLESH--the speedy return of Hunger after a dinner of Fish is sufficient proof--when a Trainer at Newmarket[14] wishes _to waste a Jockey_--he is not allowed _Pudding_, if Fish can be had.
Crabs,--Lobsters (No. 176), Prawns, &c. unless thoroughly boiled, (which those sold ready boiled seldom are), are tremendously indigestible.
_Shell Fish_ have long held a high rank in the catalogue of easily digestible and speedily restorative Foods:--of these _Oysters_ (No. 181), certainly deserve the best character; but we think that they, as well as _Eggs_,--_Gelatinous Substances_,--_Rich Broths_[15], &c. have acquired not a little more reputation for these qualities than they deserve.
OYSTERS are often cold and uncomfortable to Dyspeptic Stomachs--unless warmed with a certain quantity of Pepper, and good White Wine.
_To recruit the Animal Spirits, and produce Strength_, there is nothing like BEEF and MUTTON--moreover, when kept till properly tender, none will give less trouble to the Digestive organs--and more substantial excitement to the Constitution.
The Editor has dined for some years principally upon plainly roasted or boiled Beef and Mutton, and has often observed, that if he changes it for any other Food for several days together--that he suffers a diminution of strength, &c. and is disposed on such days to drink an additional Glass of _Wine_, &c. See _Index_.
However, the fitness of various Foods, and Drinks--and the quantity of Nutriment which they afford--depends very much upon how they are prepared, and as much on the inclination and abilities of the concoctive faculties, which have the task of converting them into Chyle.
It is quite as absurd, to suppose, that one kind of Diet, &c. is equally adapted to every kind of Constitution--as that one Remedy will cure all Diseases.
_To produce the highest degree of Health and Strength_--we must supply the Stomach with not merely that material which contains the greatest quantity of Nourishment--but in making our reckoning, must take into the account, the degree in which it is adapted to the habits and powers of the Organ which is to digest it--the Arms of a Giant are of little use in the Hands of a Dwarf.
_The Plan we have proposed, was calculated for Midsummer-day_,--when plenty of hard Exercise in the open Air will soon create an Appetite for the substantial Diet we have recommended--it is taken for granted, that a Person has the opportunity of devoting a couple of months to the re-establishment of his Health--and that during that time, he will be content to consider himself in the same state as any other Animal out of condition--and disposed to submit cheerfully to such a modification of the rules recommended, as his Medical Adviser may deem most convenient to the circumstances of the Case, and the Age, the Constitution, and previous habits of the Patient, &c. &c.
_Every part of this system must be observed in proportion_--and EXERCISE increased in the same degree, that NOURISHMENT is introduced to the Constitution.
_The best General Rule for Diet_ that I can write, is to Eat and Drink only of such Foods--at such times,--and in such quantities--as Experience has convinced you, agree with your Constitution--and absolutely to avoid all other.
A very different Regimen must be observed by those who live a Life with Labour--or Exercise--or of Indolence,--and at the different Periods of Life.
HUMAN LIFE may be divided into _Three Stages_.
The FIRST, _The period of Preparation_ from our birth, till about our 21st year, when the Body has generally attained the _acmé_ of expansion:--till then, a continual and copious supply of Chyle is necessary, not only to keep our machinery in repair, but to furnish material for the increase of it.
The SECOND from 21 to 42, _The period of Active Usefulness_; during which, nothing more is wanted, than to restore the daily waste, occasioned by the actions of the Vital and Animal Functions.
The THIRD, _The period of Decline_: this comes on and proceeds with more or less celerity, according to the original strength of the Constitution, and the Economy[16] with which it has been managed during the second period. (Age is a relative term,--one man is as old at 40 as another is at 60): but after 42, the most vigorous become gradually more passive[17]--and after 63, pretty nearly quite so.
SIR WILLIAM JONES'S ANDROMETER.
| 3 | 6 | 9 | 12 | +-----+-----+-----+-----+ 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | |--Ideas received through the Senses. |_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_|_| |_______________________|--Speaking, and Pronunciation. |_______________________|--Letters, and Spelling. |_______________________|--Ideas retained in the Memory. 5 |_______________________|--Reading and Repeating. |_______________________|--Grammar of his own Language. |_______________________|--Memory exercised. |_______________________|--Moral and Religions Lessons. |_______________________|--Natural History and Experiments. 10 |_______________________|--Dancing, Music, Drawing, Exercises. |_______________________|--History of his own Country. |_______________________|--Latin. |_______________________|--Greek. |_______________________|--French and Italian. 15 |_______________________|--Translations. |_______________________|--Compositions in Verse and Prose. |_______________________|--Rhetoric and Declamation. |_______________________|--History and Law. |_______________________|--Logic and Mathematics. 20 |_______________________|--Rhetorical Exercises. |_______________________|--Philosophy and Politics. |_______________________|--Compositions in his own Language. |_______________________|--Declamations continued. |_______________________|--Ancient Orators studied. 25 |_______________________|--Travel and Conversation. |_______________________|--Speeches at the Bar, or in Parliament. |_______________________|--State Affairs. |_______________________|--Historical Studies continued. |_______________________|--Law and Eloquence. 30 |_______________________|--Public Life. |_______________________|--Private and Social Virtues. |_______________________|--Habits of Eloquence improved. |_______________________|--Philosophy resumed at leisure. |_______________________|--Orations published. 35 |_______________________|--Exertions in State and Parliament. |_______________________|--Civil Knowledge mature. |_______________________|--Eloquence perfect. |_______________________|--National Rights defended. |_______________________|--The Learned protected. 40 |_______________________|--The Virtuous assisted. |_______________________|--Compositions published. |_______________________|--Science improved. |_______________________|--Parliamentary Affairs. |_______________________|--Laws enacted, and supported. 45 |_______________________|--Fine Arts patronized. |_______________________|--Government of his Family. |_______________________|--Education of his Children. |_______________________|--Vigilance as a Magistrate. |_______________________|--Firmness as a Patriot. 50 |_______________________|--Virtue as a Citizen. |_______________________|--Historical Works. |_______________________|--Oratorical Works. |_______________________|--Philosophical Works. |_______________________|--Political Works. 55 |_______________________|--Mathematical Works. |_______________________| } |_______________________| } |_______________________| }Continuation of former Pursuits. |_______________________| } 60 |_______________________| } |_______________________|--Fruits of his Labour enjoyed. |_______________________|--A glorious Retirement. |_______________________|--An amiable Family. |_______________________|--Universal Respect. 65 |_______________________|--Consciousness of a Virtuous Life. |_______________________| } |_______________________| } |_______________________| }_Perfection of Earthly Happiness_. |_______________________| } 70 |_______________________|--Preparation for ETERNITY.
_The most common cause of Dyspeptic Disorders_, which are so prevalent at the commencement of the Third Period of Life--is an increasing indolence, inducing us to diminish the degree of the active Exercise we have been in the habit of taking--without in a corresponding degree diminishing the quantity of our Food--on the contrary, people seem to expect the Stomach to grow stronger and to work harder as it gets Older, and to almost entirely support the Circulation without the help of Exercise.--
As the activity of our existence--and the accommodating powers of the Stomach, &c. diminish--in like degree--must we lessen the quantity--and be careful of the quality of our Food, eat oftener and less at a time--or Indigestion--and the multitude of Disorders of which it is the fruitful parent, will soon destroy us.
The System of CORNARO has been oftener quoted, than understood--most people imagine, it was one of rigid Abstinence and comfortless Self-denial--but this was not the case:--his Code of Longevity consisted in steadily obeying the suggestions of Instinct--and Economizing his Vitality, and living under his income of Health,--carefully regulating his temper--and cultivating cheerful habits.
THE FOLLOWING IS A COMPENDIUM OF HIS PLAN--_in his own words_.
He tells us that _when Fourscore_
"I am used to take in all twelve ounces of solid nourishment, such as Meat, and the yolk of an Egg, &c. and fourteen ounces of drink:--I eat Bread, Soup, New-laid Eggs, Veal, Kid, Mutton, Partridge, Pullets, Pigeons, &c. and some Sea and River Fish.
"I made choice of such Wines and Meats as agreed with my Constitution, and declined all other diet--and proportioned the quantity thereof to the strength of my Stomach, and abridged my Food--as my years increased.
"Every one is the best judge of the food which is most agreeable to his own Stomach,--it is next to impossible, to judge what is best for another;--the Constitutions of men are as different from each other as their complexions."--p. 36.
"1st. Take care of the quality.
"2dly. Of the quantity--so as to eat and drink nothing that offends the Stomach, nor any more than you can easily digest: your experience ought to be your guide in these two principles when you arrive at _Forty_: by that time you ought to know that you are in the midst of your life; thanks to the goodness of your Constitution which has carried you so far: but that when you are arrived to this period, you go down the hill apace--and it is necessary for you to change your course of life, especially with regard to the quantity and quality of your diet--because it is on that, the health and length of our days do radically depend. Lastly; if the former part of our lives has been altogether sensual--the latter ought to be rational and regular; order being necessary for the preservation of all things, especially the life of man.--Longevity cannot be attained without continence and sobriety[18]."
"At _thirty_ Man suspects himself a Fool, Knows it at _forty_, and reforms his plan."
By the small quantity of Food, and great proportion of his Meat to his Drink, this noble Venetian, at the age of _forty_, freed himself, by the advice of his Physicians, from several grievous disorders contracted by intemperance, and lived in health of body, and great cheerfulness of mind, to above an hundred.--Briefly, the secret of his Longevity seems to have been, a gradually increasing Temperance "in omnibus"--and probably, after a certain time of Life, abstinence from the "opus magnum."
The source of physical and moral Health, Happiness, and Longevity,--
"Reason's whole pleasure, all the Joys of Sense Lie in three words, Health, peace, and competence. But Health consists in temperance alone; And Peace, oh Virtue! Peace is all thy own."
POPE.
_Intensive Life_, can only be purchased at the price of _Extensive_.
If you force the Heart to gallop as fast during the second, as it does during the first stage of life--and make the steady fire of 42, to blaze as brightly as the flame of 21,--it will very soon be burnt out.
Those who cannot be content to submit to that diminution of action ordained by nature, against which there is no appeal,--as it is the absolute covenant, by the most attentive and implicit observance of which we can only hope to hold our lease of life comfortably,--will soon bring to the diminished energy of the Second Stage of Life--the Paralysis of the Third.
From 40 to 60, a witty French author tells us, is "_La belle saison[19] pour la Gourmandise_;"--for the artificial pleasures of the Palate, it may be, and the _Bon Vivant_ cultivates them as the means of prolonging the vigour of Youth--and procrastinating the approach of Age.
Restoration may certainly be considerably facilitated, by preparing and dressing food so as to render it easily soluble--if the secret of Rejuvenization be ever discovered; it will be found in the Kitchen.
Very soon after we pass the _Meridian of Life_, (which, according to those who train men for athletic exercises, and to Dr. Jameson,[20] is our 28th, and to Dr. Cheyne, about our 35th year,) the elasticity of the Animal System imperceptibly diminishes,--our Senses become less susceptible, and are every hour getting the worse for wear, however Self-Love, assisted by your Hair-dresser, and Tailor, &c. may endeavour to persuade you to the contrary.
Digestion and Sleep are less perfect--the restorative process more and more fails to keep pace with the consuming process--the body is insufficiently repaired, more easily deranged, and with more difficulty brought into adjustment again; till at length the vital power being diminished, and the organs deteriorated,--Nourishment can neither be received, or prepared and diffused through the constitution--and Consumption so much exceeds Renovation, that decay rapidly closes the scene of Life.
One may form some Idea of _the Self-consumption of the human body_, by reflecting that the pulsation of the Heart, and the motion of the Blood connected with it, takes place 100,000 times every day; _i. e._ on an average
the pulse[21] beats 70 times in a minute, multiplied by 60 minutes in an hour, ---- 4200 24 hours in a day, ----- 16800 8400 ------ 100800 pulsations in a day.
What Machine, of the most adamantine material, will not soon be the worse for wear, from such incessant vibration--especially if the Mainsprings of it are not preserved in a state of due regulation?
The generative faculties, which are the last that Nature finishes--are the first that fail.--Economy in the exercise of them--especially before and after the second period of Life--is the grand precept for the restoration and accumulation of Strength, the preservation of 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 creating--what may be a salutary subduction of the superfluous health of the Second--during the Third period of life, will be a destructive sacrifice of the strength of both the Mind and the Body.--See also the 9th chapter of the _First_ Edition of WILLICH _on Diet_. 8vo. 1799.
The next organical defect, (we perceive too plainly for our self-love to mistake it,) is manifested by THE EYE[22]. To read a small print--you must remove it from the Eye further than you have been accustomed to do--and place it in a better light.
The FALSETTO Voice now begins to fail, and THE EAR loses some of its quickness--several extraordinary Musicians have been able till then, if a handful of 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 to that excellent Organ Player, Mr. Charles Wesley, he said, "At the age of twenty, I could do it myself--but I can't now." He was then in his 55th year.
About the same time, the Palate is no longer contented with being employed as a mere shovel to the Stomach,--and as it finds its master becomes every day more difficult to please--learns to be a more watchful Purveyor.
After 40,--the strongest People begin to talk about being _Bilious_, or _Nervous_, &c. &c. and the Stomach will no longer do its duty properly--unless the Food offered to it is perfectly agreeable to it--when offended, _Indigestion_ 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 process--arise all those miseries of Mind and Body, which drive Fools to get drunk, and make Madmen commit suicide:--without due attention to Diet, &c. the Third period of Life is little better than a Chronic Disease.
As our assimilating powers become enfeebled, we must endeavour to entertain them with food so prepared, as to give them the least trouble, and the most nourishment[23].
In the proportion that our Food is restorative, and properly digested--our bodies are preserved in Health and Strength--and all our faculties continue vigorous and perfect.
If it is unwholesome, ill-prepared, and indigestible--the Body languishes, and is exhausted even in its youth--its strength and faculties daily decrease, and it sinks beneath the weight of the painful sensations attendant on a state of Decay.
Would to Heaven that a Cook could help our Stomachs, as much as an Optician can our Eyes: our Existence would be as much more perfect than it now is, as our Sight is superior to our other Senses.
"The vigour of the Mind decays with that of the Body--and not only Humour and Invention, but even Judgment and Resolution, change and languish, with ill constitution of Body and of Health."--Sir WILLIAM TEMPLE.
The following account of the successful REDUCTION OF CORPULENCE AND IMPROVEMENT OF HEALTH, the Editor can vouch for being a faithful statement of Facts.
30 January, 1821.
MY DEAR SIR,
In consequence of the Conversation I had with you, upon the advantages I had derived from Exercise and attention to Diet in the reduction of Weight, and your desire that I should communicate as far as I recollect them, the particulars of my Case; I have great pleasure in forwarding to you the following Statement.
I measure in height six Feet and half an Inch,--possess a sound Constitution and considerable activity.--At _the age of_ _Thirty_ I weighed about 18 Stone--two years afterwards I had reached the great weight of nineteen Stone, in perfect Health, always sleeping well and enjoying good Appetite and Spirits--soon after, however, I began to experience the 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 removed by cupping in the temple. I lost four ounces of blood from the temple; and thinking that the loss of a little more might be advantageous, I had eight ounces taken from the back; and in order to prevent the necessity, as far as possible, of future bleeding, I resolved to reduce the system--by increasing my Exercise and diminishing my Diet.
I therefore took an early opportunity of seeing Mr. Jackson, (whose respectability and skill as a teacher of sparring is universally acknowledged,) and after some Conversation with him, determined upon acting under his Advice.
I accordingly commenced _Sparring_, having provided myself with flannel Dresses, which I always used, being extremely careful on changing them to avoid the risk of cold, and I recollect no instance in which I was not successful.
I also had recourse to _Riding_ Schools, riding without stirrups, so as to have the advantage of the most powerful exercise the Horse could give;--these exercises I took in the morning in the proportion probably of sparring twice a week, and riding three or four times.
Frequently at night I resumed my Exercise,--_Walking_ and sometimes _Running_, generally performing about five miles an hour, till I again produced perspiration; every other Opportunity I could resort to of bodily exercise I also availed myself of.
In respect to diet, I had accustomed myself to Suppers and drinking excellent Table Beer in large quantities, and for probably ten Years, had indulged myself with Brandy and Water after Supper:--this practice I entirely discontinued, substituting Toast and Water with my Dinner, and Tea and a good allowance of Toast for Supper, always avoiding copious Draughts.
I left off drinking malt Liquor as a habit, and indeed, very seldom drank it at all.--I took somewhat less meat at Dinner, avoiding Pies and Puddings as much as possible, but always took three or four Glasses of Port after dinner.