272 Comments on Corpulency, 



"July 7. Weighed 16st. 

 July 21. Weighed 14st. lllbs. 

 July 30. Weighed 14st. 4lbs." 

 At this period he became ill, having been seduced from his 

 plans by an accidental debauch, when in a state least fitted 

 for it. He confesses, in a note, that he rewarded his resolu- 

 tion, by a violent outrage on his stomach, eating all kinds of 

 improper things, and suffering accordingly. From the man- 

 ner in which he apostrophises a French pie, it appears to have 

 distributed indigestion to the whole party of convivials, who 

 led him astray. 



Two months elapsed before he resumed his plans. In the 

 mean time he had increased a few pounds. At the end of Sep- 

 tember he resumed his course of vegetable diet. He begins 

 his journal with a pithy observation from his favourite. Dr. 

 Beddoes — '* No one should be content with his stomach till 

 it has recovered that power of digesting vegetables, which it 

 possessed in the light and joyous spring of life, and which it 

 retains to old age, when uninjured by accident or imprudence." 

 « September 5. Weighed 14st. 12lbs. 

 September 19. .. 14 8 

 October 20. .. 14 3 

 November 5. .. 14 1 

 November 21. .. 13 11" 



Here the journal is continued, but so intermixed with per- 

 sonal reflections, that it assumes the detail of hypochondriacal 

 thoughts and feelings, and is a very interesting document — 

 but it ceases to be applicable to the points in question, and 

 only gives us a notion of some of the phantasies of ** a mind 

 diseased." 



Case H. — From a fat Sportsman, 



** Having had some conversation with you upon the subject 

 before, and hearing that you have made it a matter of study, 

 I am desirous of inquiring your opinion further as to the 

 safety and treatment by which weight may be diminished by 

 medicine. 



•« I am growing heavier and fatter than I wish to be, (my or- 

 dinary weight a few years ago was fifteen stone, and I am now 



