426 MEALS MEDICINAL. 
sleep, that bedstead would,” said Roker, ‘‘ whether they wanted 
to, or not.” “I should think,” said Sam Weller, (Mr. Pickwick’s 
manservant), eying the piece of furniture in question, with a 
look of excessive disgust, “‘ I should think poppies was nothing 
to it.” 
With regard to peace of mind as essential towards good 
sleep, “‘ beware,” says Dr. Kennedy, “of the theologians who 
have no sense of mirth; they are not altogether human. Keep 
your chin up, don’t take your troubles to bed with you, hang 
them on a chair with your trowsers, or drop them into a glass 
with your teeth.” Pope has sung concerning our garden lettuce : 
“Tf you need rest, 
Lettuce, and cowslip wine,—probatum est.” 
But if the lettuce is taken at supper with the view of promoting 
sleep, it should be had without any vinegar, which would 
neutralize its soporific effects. In his Book of Sallets John 
Evelyn writes enthusiastically about the Lettuce, ‘‘ So harmless 
is it that it may be safely eaten raw; in fevers it allays heat, 
bridles choler, extinguishes thirst, excites appetite, kindly 
nourishes, and, above all, represses vapours, conciliates sleep, 
and mitigates pain, besides the effect it has upon the morals, 
temperance and charity.” ‘‘ By reason,’ concludes Evelyn, 
“of its soporiferous quality, the Lettuce ever was, and still 
continues to be the principal foundation of the universal tribe 
of sallets, because it cools and refreshes, besides its other 
properties, and therefore was held in such high esteem by the 
ancients that divers of the Valerian family dignified and ennobled 
their name with that of Lactucinii. It is botanically distinguished 
as the Lactuca sativa, from the plenty of milk that it hath, and 
causeth.” 
“ Lettuce of lac derivyed is perchaunce, 
For mylk it hath, or yeveth abundaunce.” 
‘‘ With the old Romans” (vegetable feeders) adds Evelyn, 
‘time was before men, in those golden days” (and less sleep 
was needed than now), “ their spirits were brisk, and lively ” : 
“ Ubi dicto citius curata sopori : 
Membra dedit; vegetus prescripta ad munera surgit.” 
“ With shorter, but much sweeter sleep content 
Vigorous, and fresh about their business went.” 
