104 Dr. dikin on preferving Health 
confiderably of a vegetable nature. It is well 
known that the chyle does not immediately lofe 
its peculiar properties, and mix undiftinguifliably 
with the blood ; and that the milk, chat fecretion 
the moft fpeedily and abundantly feparated from 
the blood, pofifefles many properties in common 
with vegetable fubftances. As to their other pre- 
fervative, the Jwallowing of raw frozen meat , I am 
at a lofs to account for any falutary effetts it 
may have, except as an aliment rendered eafy of 
digeftion, by the power of froft in making fub- 
flances tender. 
To proceed to the next important article, that 
of drink. It appears, that in all the unfuccefsful 
inftances, vinous and fpirituous liquors were 
■ufed, and probably in confiderable quantities. 
Thus, in one of the Dutch journals, notice is 
taken, that an allowance of brandy began to 
be ferved to each man as foon as the middle of 
September. Writers on the fcurvy feem almofl: 
unanimoufly to confider a portion of thefe liquors, 
as an ufeful addition to the diet of perfons expofed 
to the caufes of this difcafe ; and due deference 
ought certainly to be paid to their knowledge 
and experience : but, convinced as I am, that 
art never made fo fatal a prefent to mankind 
as the invention of diddling fpirituous liquors, 
and that they are feldom or never a necelTary, 
but almofl: always a pernicious article in the diet 
qf men in health, I cannot but look with peculiar 
fatisfa&ioi? 
