246 TKANSACTIONS OF THE HORTICULTUEAL 



Perhaps if we should change the style and habits of living of 

 our own people, or that of Great Britain to those of China, there 

 would be a loss of vitality, and our Anglo-Saxon nature become en- 

 feebled. Disease and death would cut short the span of life. If this 

 be true, we learn there are national and race idiosyncrasies that it is 

 impossible to transcend, without violating the laws of health, and 

 bring suffering, by sickness, to our homes. 



It is said in the days when Doctors Rush and Physic were in the 

 zenith of their professional glory, a young lady of a goodly family 

 and much promise was sinking into a decline, or, in other words, was 

 consumptive. As money was plenty in the family, they called for 

 the best skilled doctors in the Quaker City. An able council con- 

 vened to devise means to ward off the silent footsteps of disease 

 and death. After giving the young lady a careful examination in 

 their grave council, they directed her doors and windows should be 

 so arranged as to exclude all drafts of air from entering her rooms. 

 She must live on a spare diet and be bled twice a month. After re- 

 ceiving their grave advice, she asked: "If I follow your direction, 

 about how long do you think I will live?" They replied, "About 

 two years!" — (about eighteen months too much). She very spirit- 

 edly replied: "If I have but two years to live I am not going to 

 spend it in prison; I am going to have a good time." Accordingly 

 she went into gay society, attended balls and theaters, lived on the 

 best food to be had, and denied herself of no pleasure within her 

 reach. It was not long before this gay bird of pleasure attracted a 

 Romeo, and before the two years were up she was a wife, and lived 

 to raise a large family. Good living, exercise, sun-light and cheerful 

 society did it all. A hundred years has wrought wonders in the 

 healing art and in all departments of life, and a hundred years to 

 come will work out still greater blessings to our homes and to the 

 race. 



Dr. Humphrey — I think, as a rule, horticulturists should be 

 long-lived. Living much of the time in the open air, among trees, 

 fruits and flowers, and using fruit and vegetables largely as a diet, is 

 conducive to health and longevity. 



Mr. Patterson, of Missouri — I think there is one important 

 omission in this paper. Fruit should be upon the table three times 

 a day. I was for many years subject to biliousness, but after I be- 

 came a horticulturist and used fruit as a regular diet it passed away, 

 and I enjoy much better health than before. 



Dr. Hall — If 1 had written all in my mind, the paper would 

 have been much too long for this occasion. I entirely agree with 

 Mr. Patterson in relation to the benefits of a fruit diet. 



