£43 An Efflij Q/i Longevity* 



The particulars conne&ed with food, clothing, habitation, 

 air, and exercife, are fo univerfally known', and the prin- 

 ciples regarding each fo fully eftahlifhed, that it is finely im- 

 necerTary to dwell upon them at any length. 



In regard to food, experience will point out thofe articles 

 which are belt adapted for the eonltitutiou of each indivi- 

 dual; and there cannot be a better general rule than to ad- 

 here to them as clofely as poffible. It may be obferved, 

 however, that people in general, efpccially thofe who do not 

 labour, eat much more than nature requires ; that a little 

 abftinence or felf-dcnial may often be or ufe, either to pre- 

 vent or to cure difeafe *j and at any rate, that none but 

 hard-working people, or thofe who are in the very prime of 

 life, or growing faft, or travelling about, fhould eat more 

 than one full meal each day. 



18. Violent exercife, fhortly after a meal, ought never to be undertaken. 



19. When the body is in a languid (late, all the limbs mould be vigo- 



rously ftretched. 



20. Drink mould never be taken on an empty ftomach ; as, in that 



ftate, it cannot fail to prove exceedingly hurtful by agitating the 

 nerves. Galen fays, in the fecond Aphorifm, 21, If a hungry 

 perfon drink wine before he eat, he will fpeedily be attacked with 

 fpafms and delirious fyrnptotns. Nor mould wine be taken (ha- 

 bitually) after meals; becaufe it unnaturally accelerates the di- 

 geftion, propels the food before it is properly digefted, and lays 

 the foundation of obftruftions and putridity. 



21. Wine mould never be taken immoderately ; and it would be ad- 



vifable, as much as poiTjble, to abftain from its ufe, becaufe it 

 affects the brain : hence, no perfon of a weak organization 

 fhould venture to drink it, unlefs in fmall quantities, or di- 

 luted. Serapio remarks, " Wine fills the head with many va- 

 " pours." 

 *2. The bread mould be of the beft quality, foft, (not too ftale,) and 

 mixed with a fmall portion of fait. 



23. Cheefe, and all the artificial preparations of milk, ought to be avoid- 



ed ; though pure milk, when mixed with fugar, may not be deem- 

 ed unwholefome during the fummer. Milk and water, or whey, 

 is a falutary beverage at all feafons. 



24. Fifh fhould be feldom eaten, and then they ought to be tender and 



well drelTed, with the addition of vinegar, fpices, and other 

 fauces. 



25. Oyfters, and all fhell-fifh, fhould be avoided, becaufe they afford 



only a cold, flow, and vifcous nourifhment." 



There are many ufeful hints in thefe Rules, though fome of them are not 

 applicable to general -ufe, according to the modern fly ie of living. 



• After a difeafe is removed, if there is much IafTimde and weaknefr, 

 nothing will be found more ufeful than to take a mill of bread and a 

 ela 1 ^ of verv old and rich fweet wine at noon. This plan was nrongly 

 recommenced to me by fome intelligent perfons on the Comment, who 

 had reaped much benefit from it. 



As 



