Part 9

1st. Ask those who are to eat it, if they like it _THICK_ or _thin_; if the latter, mix well together by degrees, in a pint basin, _one_ tablespoonful of Oatmeal with three of cold water;--if the former, _two_ spoonsful.

Have ready, in a Stewpan, a pint of boiling water or milk--pour this by degrees to the Oatmeal you have mixed--return it into the Stewpan--set it on the fire--and let it boil for five minutes--stirring it all the time to prevent the Oatmeal from burning at the bottom of the Stewpan--skim--and strain it through a Hair Sieve.

2d. To convert this into CAUDLE--add a little Ale--Wine--or Brandy--with Sugar--and _if the Bowels are disordered_, a little Nutmeg or Ginger grated.

Gruel may be made with Broth[112] (No. 490,) or (No. 252,) or (No. 564,) instead of Water--(to make _Crowdie_, see No. 205*,)--and may be flavoured with _Sweet Herbs_--_Soup Roots_ and _Savoury Spices_--by boiling them for a few minutes in the water you are going to make the Gruel with--or ZEST (No. 255)--Pea Powder (No. 458)--or dried Mint--Mushroom Catsup (No. 439)--or a few grains of Curry Powder (No. 455)--or Savoury Ragout Powder (No. 457)--or Cayenne (No. 404)--or Celery Seed bruised--or Soup Herb Powder (No. 459)--or an Onion minced very fine and bruised in with the Oatmeal--or a little Eschalot Wine (No. 402)--or Essence of Celery (No. 409)--or (No. 413)--(No. 417)--or (No. 420), &c.

PLAIN GRUEL, such as is directed in the first part of this Recipe, is one of the best Breakfasts and Suppers that we can recommend to the rational Epicure;--is the most comforting soother of an irritable Stomach that we know--and particularly acceptable to it _after a hard day's work of Intemperate Feasting_--when the addition of half an ounce of Butter, and a teaspoonful of Epsom Salt will give it an aperient quality, which will assist the principal Viscera to get rid of their burden.

"_Water Gruel_" (says Tryon in his Obs. on Health, 16mo. 1688, p. 42,) is "the KING _of Spoon Meats_," and "the QUEEN _of Soups_," and gratifies nature beyond all others.

In the "_Art of Thriving_," 1697, p. 8, are directions for preparing Fourscore Noble and Wholesome Dishes, upon most of which _a Man may live excellent well for Twopence a_ _day_: the author's _Obs._ on _Water Gruel_ is, that "ESSENCE OF OATMEAL" makes "_a noble and exhilarating meal_!"

Dr. FRANKLIN'S favourite Breakfast was a good basin of warm Gruel, in which there was a small slice of Butter with Toasted Bread and Nutmeg--the expense of this, he reckoned at three half-pence.

"Mastication is a very necessary Preparation of solid Aliment, without which there can be no good Digestion."--The above are the first lines in ARBUTHNOT'S _Essay on Aliment_.

This first act of the important process of Digestion, is most perfectly performed, when the flavour, &c. of our Food is agreeable to our Taste;--we naturally detain upon our Palate those things which please it,--and the Meat we relish most, is consequently most broken down by chewing, and most intimately incorporated with the Saliva--this is the reason why what we desire most, we digest best.

Here, is a sufficient answer, to the Folios which have sprung from the Pens of cynical and senseless Scribblers--on whom Nature not having bestowed a Palate, they have proscribed those pleasures they had not Sense[113] to taste, or comprehend the wise purposes for which they were given to us, and

"Compound for Sins they are inclin'd to, By damning those they have no mind to."

How large a share of the business of Digestion is managed by Mastication, has been shown by the experiments of _Spallanzani_[114].

To Chew long, and leisurely, is the only way to extract the essence of our food--to enjoy the taste of it, and to render it easily convertible into laudable Chyle, by the facility it gives to the gastric juices to dissolve it without trouble.

The pleasure of the _Palate_, and the health of the _Stomach_, are equally promoted by this salutary habit, which all should be taught to acquire in their infancy.

The more tender meat is, the more we may eat of it.--That which is most difficult to Chew, is of course most difficult to Digest.

From 30 to 40 (according to the tenderness of the meat) has been calculated as the mean number of Munches, that solid meat requires, to prepare it for its journey down _the Red Lane_; less will be sufficient for tender, delicate, and easily digestible white meats.

The sagacious _Gourmand_, will calculate this precisely,--and not waste his precious moments in useless Jaw-work, or invite an Indigestion by neglecting _Mastication_.

I cannot give any positive rules for this, it depends on the state of the Teeth[115]; every one, especially _the Dyspeptic_, ought to ascertain the condition of these useful working tools; and to use them with proportionate diligence, is an indispensable exercise which every rational Epicure will most cheerfully perform, who has any regard for the welfare of his Stomach[116].

It has been recommended, that those whose Teeth are defective, should mince their meat--this will certainly save trouble to both Teeth and Stomach--nevertheless, it is advisable, let the meat be minced ever so fine, to endeavour to mumble it into a pulp before it be introduced to the Stomach--on account of the advantage derived from its admixture with the SALIVA.

"By experiment, I determined the quantity of _Saliva_ secreted in half an hour, to be _whilst the parts were at rest_, four drachms,--whilst _eating_, five ounces four drachms."--STARK _on Diet_, p. 99.

MASTICATION is the source of all good Digestion;--_with its assistance_, almost any thing may be put into any stomach with impunity:--_without it_, Digestion is always difficult, and often impossible: and be it always remembered, it is not merely what we eat, but what we digest well, that nourishes us.

The sagacious _Gourmand_ is ever mindful of his motto--

"Masticate, Denticate, Chump, Grind, and Swallow."

The four first acts, he knows he must perform properly,--before he dare attempt the fifth.

Those who cannot enjoy a savoury morsel on account of their Teeth, or rather on account of the want of them, we refer to the note at the foot of p. 260, and also have the pleasure to inform them, that PATENT MASTICATORS are made by PALMER, _Cutler, in St. James's Street_.

To those who may inadvertently exercise their Masticative faculties on unworthy materials--or longer on worthy ones than nature finds convenient, we recommend "Peristaltic Persuaders." See page 235.

When either the _Teeth_ or _Stomach_ are extremely feeble, especial care must be taken _to keep Meat till it is tender_--before it is cooked--and call in the aid of the _Pestle_ and _Mortar_.--And see Nos. 10,--18,--87,--89,--175,--178; from 185 to 250,--502--542--and especially 503. Or dress in the usual way whatever is best liked--mince it--put it into a Mortar--and pound it with a little Broth or melted Butter,--Vegetable,--Herb,--Spice,--Zest, No. 255, &c.--according to the taste, &c. of the Eater.--The business of the Stomach is thus very materially facilitated.

"Mincing or Pounding Meat--saveth the grinding of the Teeth; and therefore (no doubt) is more nourishing, especially in Age,--or to them that have weak teeth; but Butter is not proper for weak bodies,--and therefore, moisten it in pounding with a little Claret Wine, and a very little Cinnamon or Nutmeg."--LORD BACON'S _Natural History_, Century 1.--54.

This is important Advice for those who are afflicted with "_Tic Douloureux_,"--the paroxysm of which is generally provoked by the exercise of Eating,--and the Editor has known that dreadful disorder cured by the Patient frequently taking food thus prepared in small portions, instead of a regular meal.

The TEETH should be cleaned after every meal with a "TOOTH PRESERVER," (_i. e._ a very soft brush,) and then rinsed with _tepid_ water--_never neglect this at night_;--nothing destroys the Teeth so fast as suffering food to stick between them--those who observe this rule, will seldom have any occasion for _Dentifrices_--_Essences of Ivory_--_Indurating Liquid Enamels_, _&c._

But it is the rage just now with some Dentists, to recommend Brushes so hard, that they fetch Blood like a Lancet wherever they touch; and instead of "_Teeth Preservers_," these should rather be termed "_Gum Bleeders_."

Not even a Philosopher can endure the TOOTHACH patiently--what an overcoming agony then it must be to a _Grand Gourmand_!--depriving him of the means of enjoying an amusement which to him is the grand solace for all sublunary cares.--To alleviate, and indeed generally to cure this intolerable pain--we recommend

_Toothache and Anti-rheumatic Embrocation_, (No. 567.)

Sal Volatile--three parts. Laudanum--one part.

Mix and rub the part in pain therewith frequently. If the Tooth which aches is hollow, drop some of this on a bit of cotton, and put it into the Tooth,--if the pain does not abate within an hour--take out the cotton, and put another piece in--changing it every hour four or five times, till the pain ceases.

In a general Face-ach, or sore Throat--moisten a piece of flannel with it and put it to the part affected,--rub any part afflicted with Rheumatism night and morning, and in the middle of the day. I have frequently cured old and inveterate Rheumatic affections with this Liniment.

INDEX.

Actors, Hints to, concerning their Health, 96

Ale, 11, 144 Stale ditto, how to make fresh, 11

Abernethy, Mr., quoted, 9, 41, 49, 102, 159, 178, 238

Abstinence, cheapest Cure for Intemperance, 159

Athletic weight, what, 59

Air, on the change of, 8 Do. Note at foot of 66 Stagnant, Dr. Struve's Obs. on, 114 General Obs. on change of, &c., 119 not always advisable 121

Animal Food, 10

Alcohol, proportion of, in Wines, Brandy, Gin, &c., 138 Dr. Philips's Obs. on 145

Arbuthnot, Dr., quoted, 1, 19 Obs. on Mastication 250

Anxiety of Mind, Evils arising from, 85 to 87 Do. Sir John Sinclair on, Note to, 86 Do. Dr. Whytt, do., 86 Do. Sir Thomas Barnard, do., 86 Do. Dr. Colton, do., 86

Appetite, to refresh, 163 Three Sorts of, in Note to, 163 Varieties of, 169 Montaigne's Obs. on, 200

Aperients, what the best, 215 what they ought to do, 219 Lord Bacon's Obs, 219 Mr. Locke's do., 221 Dr. Hamilton's do., 221 best time to introduce them to the Stomach, 235 for Children, 237

Astringents, 232

Bacon, Lord, his Obs. on Aperients, 219 on Food for those whose Teeth are defective, 263

Barclay, Captain, quoted, 3, 7 his Diet during his extraordinary walk, 13

Balsamum Vitæ, 97

Brown, Dr., his Obs. on the Materia Medica, &c., 5

Bath, tepid, 126

Brain, the two ways of fertilizing, 68

Bed Room, 90 Curtains, 91

Bed, best, 91 ventilated, 92 Do. in hot weather, 92 A Fire in, 93 Clothes, 103 Ditto, ditto, in cold weather, 104

Beef, 10, 22, 31 eaters preferred to Sheep-biters, 29 Tea, how to make, 96, 182 a good Tonic, 182 on the digestibility of, 177 Obs. on, by Bryan Robinson. By the Editor. By Mr. Astley Cooper, 177

Beer, 11, 23, 28, 144

Breakfast, 20 Do. of Beef Tea recommended after hard drinking, 161 of Queen Elizabeth, A.D. 1550, 184 of a Washerwoman in A.D. 1821, 184

Bread, Liquid, 144 Crust of, wonderful virtues of, 169

Broils, 26

Broths, in what degree nutritive, 30 excellent Mutton, 254

Breath, _Rose Jujubes_ for those who have not a remarkable sweet, 234

Blumenbach on the Pulse, 45

Bowels, constipated, how to regulate, 220 relaxed, do., 228

Braces, 111

Bons Vivants, hint to, 122 Do. do., 207 and 208

Brandy, how much it wastes in keeping, 135 where to buy it, 141

Bilious Attack, 172 Disorders, 238

Bishop, Essence of, 248

Bouillon, Tablettes de, 179 Do. how to make, 251

Cadogan, Dr., Address to him quoted, 169 quoted, 83

Calcavella Wine, 154

Calomel, 242

Cellar, the temperature of a good, 133 on the management of, 134

Cheyne, Dr., quoted, 87, 216

Corpulency, to reduce, 29, 50, 64 Authors who have written thereon, 64 by walking, 62 by fasting, 62 by purging, 62 Panacea for, 125

Customs, 17 Dr. Armstrong's Obs. on. Struve's do., 65

Crabs, 30

Colton, his Obs. on Intemperance, 34

Cornaro, a compendium of his system in his own words, 38 liked New Wine, 136

Cold Food and Drink, bad for the Dyspeptic and Gouty, 94

Cold, the frequent cause of Palsy, 113 an easy way to get rid of one, 117

Chronic Disorders, common cause of, 63 importance of Regimen in, 202

Cooper, Mr. Astley, quoted 177

Condiments, the excessive use of common, 210

Chimney Sweeping, 81 Boards, 91

Clothes, 103 how to adjust them to a nicety, 104 Disorders arising from change of, 106 J. Stewart's Obs. on, 106 tight and thin very injurious, 110

Coat, 106 Great one, where to keep, 110

Corks, Obs. on, 134

Cosmetic, 125

Crowdie, 250

Curaçoa, 141 how to make, 150

Cucumber, how to eat, 171

Claret, 153

Cheese, 171

Chyle, Dr. Moore's Obs. on the, 212 Sir John Sinclair's do., 213

Cinnamon Lozenges, aperient, 224 Tincture, 233 how to make, 244

Cramp in the Stomach, remedy for, 189

Costiveness, habitual, how to cure, 222 Do. by a Supper or Breakfast, 224 Do. by Grapes, 224 Do. fresh or dried Fruits, 224 Do. Cinnamon or Ginger Lozenges, 224 Do. Salad Oil, &c., 225

Darwin, Dr., quoted, 178

Diet, a general rule for, 33 The proportion of Meat to Drink, 57 Facts relative to, 213

Death, sudden in the night, a common cause of, 193

Digestibility of various Foods, 176

Digestion, the process of, how long about, 176 Spallanzani's Obs. thereon, 176 when it goes on merrily, 203 how exquisitely perfect in Children, 208

Dinner, 21 to 24 a Ban Yan, 24 best time for, 179 Hour of, A.D. 1570, 183 Dr. Cogan's Obs. on, 183 Mr. Warner's do., 183 Mr. Pye's do., 183 in the Northumberland Household Book for A.D. 1512, 184 Hour of in 1821, Verses on, 186 at Night, and Supper in the Morning, 186

Dining out, 114 & 153 bad effects from, 191

Doors, double, 91

Dogs, 80

Dyspeptic Disorders, the common cause of, 38 Do., 83 Persons should have warm Food, 94 & 95 when extreme, remedy for, 164 Hint to, 260

Drinkers, three sorts of, 141 Thermometer for, 142 Hints for hard, 162 Do., 164

Drinking, the Economy of, 144

Diarrhœa, 228 Rules for those subject to, 230

Eating, good, 172

Ear, instance of a fine one, 47

Edmonds, Mr. the Dentist 260

Eggs, how nutritive, 30

Ennui, remedy for, 73

Exercise, the indispensable importance of, 8 Mr. Abernethy on, 9 Dr. Cheyne, 9 must be increased, &c., 33 Neglect of, the great cause of Indigestion, 38 Obs. on the importance of, 122 Do. by Cowper, 122 Do. by Armstrong, 122 Do. by Dr. Cadogan, 123 Do. Sir Chas. Scarborough, 123

English Melodies, 233

Epicurism, Dr. Swift's Obs. on, 185

Eudiometer, 120

Economy of Drinking, 144

Epsom Salt, 217 the most agreeable way to take it, 218

Essence of Meat, how to obtain, 251 Oatmeal, 256

Fat, what makes animals, 64

Fasting a day, effect of, 62 too long, the bad effects of, and how to avoid them, 175, 180, 182

Feasting, intemperate, to remove the disorders arising from, 160

Falconer, Dr. quoted, 25

Fish not so nutritive as Flesh, 29 and 30 Shell, do., 30

Forty-Winks, a nap of, 23

Forty, a Man at, 199

Food, what easiest of Digestion, 26 Test of the relative restorative powers of Meat, Poultry, and Fish, 28 Scale of, do., 28 Gelatinous, 30 what most invigorating, 31, 32 the Editor's own experience, 31 how important to Health, &c., 49 for those whose Teeth are defective, 263

Flannel Waistcoats, 106

Franklin, Dr. his Economical Project, 75

Fashionable Society, disorders of, 83

Fitzgerald, Mr. quoted, 84

Flatulence, the common cause of, and how to prevent and remove it, 99, 172, and 175

Feet, when cold, 108 should be kept very clean, 126

Fire, on the management of a, 113 plan of lighting, 117

Garters, 111

Goose roasted, how invigorating, 29 the Latin for it, 171

Grog, the strength of, 89

Gruel, various ways of making and flavouring, 248 Tryon's Obs. on, 255

Gin, proportion of Spirit in, 139

Ginger Lozenges, 173 Aperient, 224

Ginger, Tincture of, how to make, preferable and more convenient than the powder, 247

Gourmand's motto, 262

Gum-bleeders, 264

Hatching, 68

Health, Happiness, and Longevity, Pope's recipe for, 42

Heat, external, promotes Digestion, 158 and 159

Heartburn, remedy for, 161

Heart, palpitation of, 173

Horizontal Refreshment, 23

Heberden, Dr. his Obs. on Regimen, 198

Hunter, J. on digestibility of dressed and raw Meats, 27

Hunger, 180

Heidelburgh Tun, 131

Hours, early one's, how Healthful, 74 late, the bane of the delicate and nervous, 75

Huffeland quoted, 126

Jackson, Mr. teacher of Sparring, 51

Jameson, Dr. quoted, 35

Ice after Dinner, 167

Jones, Sir William, his Andrometer, 36

Jellies, in what degree nutritive, 30

Jockey, to waste one, 29

Inebriation, how to relieve the indispositions arising from, 160 when doubly debilitating, 162

Indigestion, 48 common cause of, 38 how to relieve, 157 Do. when extreme, 164 often caused by Anxiety of Mind, 172 Daubenton recommends Ipecacuanha for, 189

Ivanhoe, the preface to it quoted, 98

Johnson, his Curaçoa, 98, 141 Brandy, &c., 141

Irish Whiskey, 149

Intemperance, how to cure the Chronic complaints occasioned by it, 58

Instinct, the best guide in the choice of Aliment, 198 Dr. Heberden's Obs. on, 198 Mr. Abernethy, do., 198 from Domestic Management, 199 from Evylyn, 200 from Young, 200 from Montaigne, 200 from Dr. W. Hunter, 200 from J. Hunter, 201 from Dr. Armstrong, 201 from Dr. Smith, 201 from Dr. Adair, 201 from Dr. Withers, 202 from Dr. Sydenham, 202 from Spectator, 202 from Dr. Mandeville, 203

Kitchiner, Dr. quoted, 47

Life, how to live all the Days of, 2 and 42 the Meridian of, 17, 43 divided into Three Stages, 33 and 34 calculation showing the rate of Self-Consumption, 44 Do. of the expectations of, at various ages, 45 Do. note at foot of p., 83 what the great Art of, 67 Literary men, not long-lived, 69 a country, 82

Lavement, 228

Lettsom, Dr. his moral and physical Thermometer, 142

Lemon Peel, how to make Quintessence of, 218

Lip, under, plump and rosy, the most certain criterion of Health, 15

Liver, how to render Healthful, 63 Complaints, 239

Liver, Mr. Carlisle's Observations on, 239

Lobsters, 30

Locke, Mr. quoted, 221

Liquid Bread, 144

Luncheon, 21, 175

Lungs, 121

Longings, especially in Acute Diseases, 202 Withers' Obs. on, 202

LOZENGES, 60 sorts made by Mr. Smith, Fell Street, Wood Street, Cheapside, 234

Magnesia, an uncertain Medicine, 161

Mastication, how important to Digestion, 88 Dr. Arbuthnot Obs. on, 256 Spallanzani ditto, 258 calculation of the mean number of Munches requisite, 259

Masticators, patent, where to buy, 262

Mathematical Valetudinarian, a calculation of, 18

Mattress, of Horse-hair, 91

Matrimony, 70 best ages for, 70

Meat _under_-done, 27 _over_-done, 27 thoroughly done most digestible, 27 Essence of, 251 Minced, recommended by Lord Bacon, 263

Mercury, Obs. on, 240

Measure, Lyne's glass, 129

Madeira, 134 Obs., 154

Mind, how important tranquillity of, 9 the vigour of, decays with that of the Body, 50 exertion of, more exhausting than that of the Body, 66, 67, and 87 Anxiety of, paralyses Digestion, 67 Anxiety of, a common cause of Indigestion, 172

Mellifluous Aromatics, 234

Mutton, 10-22 Digestibility of, 177 Chops, delicately stewed, 254 Broth, excellent, 254

Midnight, one hour's rest before, worth two after, 74

Mock Turtle recommended, 206 Birch's ditto, 206 Kay's ditto, 206

Mountain Wine, 154

Mulled Wine, to make extempore, 248

Nap of 40 winks, 69

Noisy Neighbours, hints to, 76 to 82 Actionable Nuisances, 80

Nervous Disorders, 83 Dr. Whytt's Obs. on, 181 people should keep a register of their Health, 197

Nightmare, chief cause of, 87 Obs. on, 189 and following pages. the Editor's case of, 190 remedies for, 192, 193 Dr. Whytt's case of, 194 Mr. Waller's Essay on, 195

Northumberland Household Book, 185

Oysters, 30 not so nutritive as supposed, 30, 171

Opium, Obs. on, 88 Lozenges, 233

Orange Peel, for nervous people, 243

Palpitation of the Heart, the cause and cure of, 173 Do. oftener arises from Indigestion, than from Organic Disease, 173

Pocket Pistol, how to charge a, 182

Parkins, Sir Thomas, preferred Beef-Eaters to Sheep-Biters, 91

Parliament, hints to Members of, 179

Portable Soup, 249

Party-Walls, their thinness, 76

Peppermint Lozenges, 99, 173, 233

Peptic Precepts, 156

Prawns, 30

Perspiration, the panacea for Corpulence, 125

Pulse, an uncertain Index, 16 Scale of its pace at various ages, 45 when languid, 73

Peck, Mr., his Geographie de la Gourmandise, 185

Piano-Fortes, 80

Position, the influence of, in alleviating Disease, 97

Port, the contents of a Pipe of, 130 Obs. on, 137 how to purchase, 140

Purgatives, bad effects of violent, 157 Ditto, 240 Ditto, 241

Peristaltic Persuaders, 215, 219 how to make, 235 when to take, 227, 236 for Children, 237

Pills, the advantages of, 216

Ragout, a restorative, when advisable, 204

Regimen, Dr. Heberden's Obs. on, 198 Dr. Armstrong's Do., 213 Celsus' Do., 215 Dr. Arbuthnot's Do., 215 importance in chronic Complaints, 202

Restorative, Extempore, 206

Ratcliffe, Dr., quoted, 172

Riding, useful to reduce Corpulence, 52

Robinson, Dr. Bryan, extract from his Essay on Food and Discharges, 56 his own regimen, 58

Rhubarb, tincture of, to make, 217

Rhubarb Pill, recommended by Dr. Pemberton, 220

Rheumatism, remedy for, 265

Ruptures, 112

Relaxed Bowels, 228 Locke on, 228 Cheyne on, 229

Salad Oil, remedy for Constipation, 225

Salt, the best Sauce, 210

Sanctorius, the proportion of his Meat to his Drink, 57

Sauces recommended by Dr. Moffet, 208

Siesta, the, 68 recommended, 94 Do. by Sanctorius, 101 Do. Cruickshank, 101 Do. Dr. Darwin, 102 Do. Dr. Harwood, 102 Do. Dr. Adair, 102 Do. Mr. Abernethy, 102 Do. Eng. Proverb, 103 Do. Waller, 103 Do. Lord Bacon, 103

Semi-Siesta, 23, 101

Senna, tincture of, 217

Second Courses, Obs. on, 167

Scribblefast, Counsellor, his case, 78

Shell Fish, 30

Scudamore, Dr., quoted, 177

Sleep, 12 to 65 Struve, Dr., Obs. on the importance of, 71 time required to, 73 Dr. Cheyne's remark on, note to, 87 Exercise, the best source of it, 88 other means of inviting it, 88

Senses, few people have one perfect, 257 Mr. Stewart's division of, into noxious and innocent, 257

Supper, 24 the best for those who dine late, 24 Do. for those who dine early, 24 Obs. on its influence on Sleep, 87 Obs. on a solid one, 88

Supper, best for the Dyspeptic, 90 in the Morning, 186

Singers, hints respecting their Health, 96

Stark, his experiments on Diet, 29 Obs. on the Saliva, 261