330 frtngs of tbe 1Rofc, IRifle, ant) 6un 



been rendered miserable by palsy, in consequence of 

 the joint effect of cold feet and too stimulating a diet ; 

 that is to say, as much animal food as they could eat, 

 with a pint or perhaps a bottle of wine per day. 

 Be guided by me, my friends, and neither drink nor 

 wade. I know there are old men who have done 

 both, and have enjoyed perfect health ; but these are 

 devil's decoys to the unwary, and ten suffer for one 

 that escapes. I could quote you an instance from 

 this very country, in one of the strongest men I have 

 ever known. He was not intemperate, but he lived 

 luxuriously, and waded as a salmon fisher for many 

 years in this very river ; but before he was fifty, palsy 

 deprived him of the use of his limbs, and he is still a 

 living example of the danger of the system which you 

 are ambitious of adopting. 



Orn. Well, I give up the wine, but I intend to wade 

 in Hancock's boots to-morrow. 



Hal. Wear them, but do not wade in them. The feet 

 must become cold in a stream of water constantly 

 passing over the caoutchouc and leather, notwithstanding 

 the thick stockings. They are good for keeping the feet 

 warm, and I think where there is exercise as in snipe 

 shooting, they may be used without any bad effects. 

 But I advise no one to stand still (which an angler must 

 do sometimes) in the water, even with these ingenious 

 water-proof inventions. All anglers should remember 

 old Boerhaave's maxims of health, and act upon them : 

 ' Keep the feet warm, the head cool, and the body 

 open." 1 



Even Walter Scott, gently and genially as he deals 



