246 An EJfay on Longevity. 



which is, that the glands of the throat are much relaxed*, arid 

 very apt to be afVeded by cold. It has been found by expe-* 

 rience, an excellent cuftom to ufe cold inftead of hot water, 

 though the latter may be employed in warming the razor, 

 which adds to the comforts of (having. Perfons apt to have 

 fore throats, if they fufpect they have caught cold, mould, as 

 foon as poifible, gargle their throats with fpirits, which may 

 alfo be applied with much advantage to the outfide of the 

 throat. 



4. Perfons who hunt or ride much, are greatly expofed to 

 get wet, and catch diforders in confequence thereof, of which 

 multitudes of all ages have periihed. The remedy, however, 

 is a very fimple one. Whenever fuch a eircumftance hap- 

 pens, particularly to any perfon not accuftomed to get wet, 

 he mould as quickly as poflible rub his feet with a towel dipt 

 in rum or any other fort of fpirits, the effect of which in re- 

 ftoring the animal heat of the whole body is almoft inftanta- 

 neous. This practice, I underhand, has been found of the 

 greateft fervice. abroad, and the great Frederick of Pnrifia re- 

 commended it ftrongly to his fokliers to adopt it; though, in 

 general, they were much more inclined to drink their brandy 

 than to make this ufe of it. 



The next particulars which it may be proper to advert to, 

 are the fkin, the teeth, and the eyes. 



It is well known that the health of the individual depends 

 much upon the ftate of the fkin, and that good health can 

 never be enjoyed unlefs when it performs its functions pro- 

 perly. For that purpofe, it is necefiary that it mould be kept 

 in a clean ftate. The attention paid to this fubject by antient 

 lawgivers, and founders of religious fyftems, cannot be too 

 much recommended. Thcv actually made the keeping the body 

 clean, by frequent warning, part of the facred duty of each 

 individual. The ufe of linen, and the cuilom of throwing 08 

 the drefs of the day, when going to lleep, (which is not the 

 cafe with Afiatic, but fortunately is now fo general with Euro- 

 pean nations,) renders bathing much lefs eflential, but itill 

 the practice is too much neglected in this country ; and in 

 large towns, furniftiing the people with the means of bathing 

 commodioufly ought to be a part of the general police*. 



It is impoflible too ftrongly to recommend an early and 

 conftant attention to the teeth. Jn former times, when per- 

 fons lived with great fimplicity, the teeth feldom failed until 

 the body was on the verge of dillblution ; but now, it is hardly 



* The fhower baths, and wafhingthc bedy with wet fponges, have been 

 found of great ufe in various complaints, *nd a great prricivative againft 

 catching cold. 



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