Comments on Corpulency. 273 



increased to nineteen.) The exercise I take does not prevent 

 it at all. / should not quite like to be put on a regimen of absti- 

 nence, but upon some system which, with moderate living, might 

 gradually bring me back to about my old standard. All this 

 time I am quite well, and should have little to complain of, 

 were I not fond of sports which I pursued with greater con- 

 venience when I was thinner, and did I not observe that per- 

 sons inclined to increase in size, lose their activity rather too 

 soon in life." 



Observations. — This gentleman was an ardent sportsman, 

 took excessive exercise, went through great exertion every 

 morning, and in the afternoon rewarded his virtuous labours by 

 eating, drinking, and sleeping — the fatigue of his sporting 

 pleasures being previously sustained by an occasional draught 

 of stout ale. He did me the favour of a visit, when I found, 

 as he had stated, that he was in excellent health, but his size 

 interfered with his plans, — '' he could not get through the woods 

 so easily as he used to do," and " it was not so easy as for- 

 merly to find a horse to carry him." " Now what do you re- 

 commend me to do ?" **Keep your eyes open, and yckir mouth 

 shut." *' Poh ! Nonsense ! that won't do for me — give me 

 something to take — have you no pills ?" The same question 

 has been so often repeated to some very able practitioners, 

 that with Moliere's doctor, they answer, — ** Prenez des pillules, 

 Prenez des pillules." 



The pills this gentleman was in search of were to counteract 

 the eifects of a dose of strong ale, two gallons a day being his 

 moderate allowance. As he was not only a meriy fellow but 

 a scholar, I gave him the opinion of an old poet on the subject 

 of ale : — 



Nil spissius ilia, 



Dum bibitur, nil clarius dum mingitur, inde 

 Constat, quod multas faeces in corpore linquat. 



He laughed, and replied with great good humour, " I see 

 how it is — if I am aZe-ing all day, it follows of course, I must 

 be ai^-ing all night. Egad ! I can't help it, I should die with- 

 out it, and I had rather die with it." 



It is incredible the quantity of malt liquor that some men 

 swallow, to the amount of many gallons. The Welsh are great 



