Ql\)C laxmcx's i\\ont\)[ \i btsilor. 



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Hints on Health. 



CAUSES AND ANTIDOTE OF CONSUMPTION. 



The larger the lungs, eind the more perfect their de- 

 velopeinent, the less they are liable to pulmonary con- 

 sumption. That the more thej are exercised, the lar- 

 ger they will become; that as we take active or labori- 

 ous exercise, our lungs will be continually enlarging; 

 and that on the contrary, indolence, want of exercise, 

 &c., will render the lungs smaller, until by absence of 

 air, the air cells will then close up and collapse their 

 walls, as a bird folds up its plumage. I'y this we also 

 learn that pure air, and even cold air, because njore 

 dense, is the best friend of the lungs, and should be 

 resorted to with the greatest confidence, both to pre- 

 vent and cure their diseases. 



It is found in the history of the .American Indians — 

 at one lime numbering many millions of people, and 

 inhabiting from the most extreme point north to Pata- 

 gonia south; embracing all varieties of climate and lo- 

 cation; resting in the frigid, temperate and torrid zones; 

 occupying every variety of situation, on the seaboard, 

 on the borders of the lakes, on the tops of the highest 

 lands, and in the most secluded valleys; on the wide 

 spread and open prairies, and in the luost arid deserts; 

 the countries of the greatest humidity, and where it 

 rarely ever rains, as iu I'eru; yet in all these countries, 

 and everywhere, such a thing as pulmonary consump- 

 tion has never been observed, whilst those people re- 

 mained in their savage state. Bring them into our set- 

 tlements, civilize them, educate them, and let th, in 

 adopt our habits, and they become as liable to con- 

 SUEuption as we ourselves. 



By what peculiarities is the Indian distinguished from 

 the civilized American ? 1st, The American Indian is 

 remarkable for his perfect symmetry of his figure. — 

 "Straight as an Indian," is an old proverb, whose 

 truth is instantly recognized by all who have ever seen 

 the wild Indian; his chest is perfect symmetry, his 

 shoulders and shoulder blades are laid flat against the 

 chest, and the whole weight of his arms, shoulders and 

 shoulder blades, is thrown behind the chest; thus al- 

 ways expanding, instead of contracting it; the naked 

 chest, and the whole person is often exposed to the 

 open air; they are much out doors; indeed, rarely in 

 doors; breathe the pure air, never stoop in gait or 

 walk, and pursue no avocations that contract the chest, 

 or prevent its free expansion; often wash themselves 

 in pure cold water; exercise the lungs freely by athlet- 

 ic exercise, running, racing, the chase, frequently 

 dancing and shouting, &c. most vehemently, nearly ev- 

 ery day. The same holds true in regard to animals. 



Animals in their wild state never have the consump- 

 tion: whilst the same anitnals domesticated have it — as 

 the monkey, the rabbit, the horse, &c. Consumption 

 is the child of civilization; results chiefly from loss of 

 symmetry, and from cUeminacy, induced by loo much 

 clothing, too luxurious living, dissipation, too little ex- 

 ercise, and debilitating diseases and occupations. 



If there is an appellation that would apply to us as 

 a nation, it is round-shouldered. The habit of con- 

 tracting the chest, by stooping, is formed in multitudes 

 at school, by sitting at low tables or no tables; by sit- 

 ting all in a heap, either in school, by not holding 

 themselves erect, either sitting or standing, and it is a 

 matter of habit in a gri at degree, tailors, shoemakers, 

 machinists, clerks, students, seamstresses, all whose 

 occupation causes them to stoop at their work, or at 

 rest, or at their pleasure, or amusements. 



Practice will soon make sitting or standing perfectly 

 erect, vastly more agreeable and less fatiguing than a 

 stooping posture. To persons predisposed to consump- 

 tion, these hints, as regards writing or reading desks, 

 arc of the greatest importance. In v.'alking, the chest 

 should he carried prou<lly erect and straight, the lop of 

 it pointing rather backwards than forwards. The 

 North American Indians, who never had consumption, 

 are remarkable for their perfectly erect, straight walk. 

 Next to ibis, it is of va.st impoitancc to the consump- 

 tive, to breathe well; he should make a practice of 

 taking long breaths, sucking in all the air he can, and 

 hold it in the chest as long as possible. On going into 

 the cold air, instead of shrinking from it, draw ii] a long 

 breath of pure cold air. Do this a hundred times a 

 day, if you have any symptoms of weak lungs, as it 

 will cure you; should you have a slight cold, be in the 

 habit of drawing in a fall chest of air. 



Luxurious feather or ilnvvn lii'ds should he avoided, 

 as they greatly tend to ellcminale the system, and re- 

 duce the strength, for this reason beds should be 

 elastic, but rather linn and bard; straw beds, hair 

 mattrasses, these on n feather bed are well : u most 

 excellent mattrasa is made by coiobing out the husks 

 or shucks that cover the ears of lndi.cn corn. 1 first 

 met these beds iu Italy; they are delightful, told 

 sleeping rooms are in general best, ispecialiy for per- 

 sons In health; they should nivcr be much healed for 

 any person, but all should be comfort.ably warmin bed. 

 — Dr. S. S. Fitch on Coniumption. 



THE CONSKQUKNCES OF SMOKING. 



Tlie wide-spn^ad habit of smoking has not yet had 

 duo medical uttcutioii paid to it uud iXi uuu:>c>iueuccd. 



It is only by two or three years' observations that Dr. 

 Laycock had become fully aware of the great changes 

 induced iu the system by the abuse of tobacco, and of 

 the varied and obscure forms of disease 'o wliich espe- 

 cially excessive smoking gave origin. He proceeded 

 to state some of them as they were met with in the 

 pharyngical mucous membrane, the stomach, the lungs, 

 the heart, the brain, and the nervous system. The to- 

 bacco consumed by habitual smokers varied from half 

 aii ounce to twelve ounces per week, the usual quanti- 

 ty from two to three ounces. Inveterate ciaar suiokers 

 will consume from four to five dozen per week. 



The first morbid result is an inflammatorv condition 

 of the mucous membrane of the lips and tongue; then 

 the tonsils and pharynx sufler — the mucous membrane 

 becoming dry and congested. If the thorax be exam- 

 ined well, it will be found slightly swollen, with con- 

 gested veins meandering over the surface, and here and 

 there a streak of mucus. Action ascends upwards into 

 the posterior nares, and there is a discharge from the 

 upper part of the pharynx, and irritation is felt within 

 the anterior nares. 1 be eye beconjes aflected with 

 heat, slight redness, lachryniation, and a peculiar spas- 

 modic action of the orbicularis muscle, experienced to- 

 gether with intolerance of light on awaking from sleep 

 in the morning. The frontal sitmses do not escape, but 

 there is a heavy, dull ache in their region. 



Descending down the jilimentury canal, we come to 

 the stomach, where the results, in extreme cases, are 

 symptoms of gastritis. Pain, tenderness, and a con- 

 st.ait sensation of sickliness and desire to expectorate, 

 belong to this atii'riion. 



The action of the heart and lungs is impaired by the 

 influence of the narcotic on the nervous system; but a 

 morbid state of the larynx, trachea and lungs results 

 from the direct action of the smoke. 1'he voice is ob- 

 served to be rendered hoarser, and with a deeper tone. 

 Sometinies a short cough results; and a case of ulcer- 

 ation of the cartilages of the larynx came under the 

 doctor's notice. 1 he patient was such a slave to the 

 habit, that be hardly e\er had the pipe tii.l of his 

 mouth. Similar suiliirings have been caused by simi- 

 lar practices in other instances. 



Another form is a sliglit tickling low down in the 

 pharynx or trachea; and the p-itinnt coughs, or rather 

 hawks up, a grumous-looking blood. It is so alarming 

 as to be niistakeable for pulmonary hiemoptysis. 



The action of tobacco-smoking on the heart is de- 

 pressing; and some individuals who feel it in this or- 

 gan more than others coniplain of an uneasy sensation 

 about the left nijiple — a distressing feeling, not amount- 

 ing to faintness, bnt allied to it. The action of the 

 heart is observed to be feeble and irregular. .An unea- 

 sy feeling is also experienced in or beneath the pectoral 

 muscles, and oftener on the right side than on the left. 



On the brain, the use of tobacco appears to diminish 

 the rapidity of cerebral action, and check the flow of 

 ideas through the mind. It diflers from opium and 

 henbane, and rather excites to wakefulness, like green 

 tea, than composes to sleep — induces a dreaniiness 

 which leaves no impression on the memory, lea\ing a 

 great susceptibility, indicated by a trembling of the 

 bands and irritability of temper. Such are secondary 

 results of smoking, b^o are blackness of the teeth and 

 gumboils; there is also a sallow paleness of the com- 

 plexion, an irresoluteness of disposition, a want of life 

 and enei'gy, and, in constant smokers who do not drink, 

 a tendency to pulmonary phthisis. 



Dr. W'rigbl, of Birmingham, in a communication to 

 the author, fully corroborates his opinions; and both 

 agree that smoking produces gastric disorders, coughs, 

 and infiammatorv aireelions of the larynx and pharynx, 

 diseases of the heart, and lowness of spirits; and, in 

 short, is very injurious to the respiratory, circulating, 

 alimentary and nervous systems. 



sons the best illustration of, what such a matron should 

 be. She shared, with a smiling bravery, all the earli- 

 er wanderings and necessities of her husband. Wheth- 

 er the teniporary occupant of some log or frame hovel 

 attached to a trading post of the great southwest, were 

 it necessary for the husband to take up his quarters in 

 his double capacity of trader and naturalist — or as a 

 sharer of honors regal — so far as artistic and scientific 

 iipprcciation could make them — bestowed upon him 

 amid the imposing luxuries of European life, .she was 

 always the calm, wise, cheerful hclfcr as well as sym- 

 pathiser. A noble relic of that almost exploded school 

 of matrons who recognised the compact of marriage as 

 a sacred unification of pvrpose as well as life — she 

 does not seem to have aimed at a higher honor than 

 that of being the true wife of John J. Audubon. In 

 this is her greatest glory; for a common wotnan, with 

 the fears and weaknesses of conimou character, would 

 soon have crushed the gossamer life of his fine enthu- 

 siasm beneath the weight of vulgar cares and appre- 

 hensions. 



So far from this being the case, she appears to have 

 been so entirely identified with his successes that it 

 would be impossible to separate licr from our loving- 

 recognition of them. She was his resolute companion 

 in many of those long journeys he found it necessary 

 to make in his early days to the far West, fche cross- 

 ed the Alleghanies with him on horseback, at a tin.e 

 when there existed no other facilities for making tin; 

 journey. She shared with him the wayside of the 

 mountaineer, laughed with him over the petty incon- 

 venience of the travel, and shared the lovely enthusi- 

 asm which burst forth when its accidents threw in his 

 way a long-coveted or enlii-ely new specimen. When 

 it became necessary ibr him to sink bis Jacob's staff 

 here and there, and to leave her with his little family 

 amidst strange associations fur long months together, 

 he could go with the calm feeling that, as with the fa- 

 vorite bird of his own disiovcry, (the Bird of ^Vash- 

 ington) his eyrie would be safe in the jealous strength 

 of his mate, and open and warm Ibr him on his re- 

 turn. 



Mow many a dark hour amid the deep shadows of 

 savage woods has such reposeful trust made luminous 

 with joy and faith to him. flow manv gloomy defi!es 

 can be passed, how many cold and sudden plunges I ' 

 endured, how many fierce and extra\ag.iut exigeui n > 

 be faced by that deep abiding assurance which I'eels 

 and knows that there is bcvond all this a warm nest- 

 ling-place, a true heart to welcouje, and a home! 

 Some of the most noble, unpremeditated expressions 

 of tenderness we remember are to be found in his 

 " Biography of Birds," referring to the anticipated 

 delight of such reunions with his family. 



The Wife of Audubon. — We have lately no- 

 ticed, says the Boston Transcript, the last publication 

 of the distinguished naturalist, J. J. .Audubon, on the 

 " Vi\ipareus (Quadrupeds of North .America"- — a work 

 eviu'-ing the zeal of an indefatigable explorer into the 

 wilds of nature, and bis reliance upon that overruling 

 Providence who not only created a world for man's 

 habitation, but who matle also "the high bills to be a 

 refuge for the goats and the slony rocks fiir the co- 

 nies." An excellent man is John James .Audubon, 

 and he has been blessed through life with an exempla- 

 ry partner in all his cares — a true, kind companion, 

 who has certainly proved in the words of Kuowlcs, 

 that 



*' Wlan a pnort wniimn 

 Is fitly mated, ''Iu: iiiuw^ duuljly good, 

 llii« ^oud see'' r liel'ere." 



A late nundjer of the American Review has the fol- 

 lowirig beauliful extract in r<'b'renco to IMrs. Audubon 

 — truly a Inlp meet for h(M- gifted husband : 



iNlr. Audubon nuirricil, e.-irly, a daughter of the 

 Bakcvvells of I'.ngland. The i'amily nanx' — so well 

 known iu Ibis country^is a sufficient pronunciation of 

 h(u- prolii)ble woilhlness lo share ibe ibrtuncs of such 

 a man. Hut apart from all such exiraneous cunsidcra- 

 liuus, her lil'o IS the Lc^t couiiueulary upon, and bc( 



Marriage Comi'Ahed with Single Life. — 

 Marririge is a school and exercise of virtue; and though 

 marriage has cares, yet the single life hath desires 

 which are more troublesome, and more dangerous, 

 and often end in sin; v\hile the cares are but instances 

 of duty and exercises of piety; and, therefore, if sin- 

 gle life hath more jirivacy of devotion, yet marriage 

 hath more necessities and more variety of it, and is 

 an exercise of more graces. 



Marriage is the proper scene of piety and patience, 

 of the duty of parents and the charity of relations: 

 here kindness is spre:id abro;;d, and love is united and 

 made firm as a centre; marriage is the nursery of 

 Heaven. The virgin sends prayers to God, bnt she 

 carries but one soul to bim; but the state of marriage 

 fills up the nundiers of the elect, and li-illi in it the la- 

 bor of love, and ihe delicacies of friendship, and bles- 

 sings of society, and the union of hands and hearts. 



It hath in it less of beauty, bnt more of safely, than 

 the single life; it bath more care, but less danger; it 

 is more merry and more sad; is fuller of sorrows and 

 fuller of joys; it lies under more burdens, bul is sup- 

 ported by all the slreiigtlis of love and chaiity,and 

 these burdens are delightful. 



Marriage is the molhcr of the world, and preserves 

 kin"don s, and fills cities, and churches, and Heaven 

 itself. Celibacy, like the fly in the heart of an apple, 

 dwells in pi-rpefual sweetness, ' but sits alone, and is 

 confined and dies in perpi'tu.-d singularity; but mar- 

 riage, like Ihe useful bee, builds a house am! gathers 

 sweelness from every flower, and labors and unihs 

 into republics, and sends out colonies, and feeils Ibe 

 world with delicacies, and obey.s their king, and keeps 

 order, and exercises many xirtues, and promotes the 

 interest of mankind, and is that stale of good lliinga 

 of which I iod hath designed the present coustilutiou 

 of the woM.—J>iihup.Taylur. 



.A.NECDOTE or Washinoto.n.— W'lieii the Anier- 

 iciiii troops were (piiiilcicil til Newluirgli, N. \., 

 ut ihf end of llie Kev<)kilii)iiiiiy «ur, ninl the sol- 

 diers wiic stirred up to lebellioii nfjainsl the 

 "uveriiiiiciit liy llie tiiiiiotis niioiiyiiioiis letters, 

 wliieli it lias since heeii nsrertniiieil were written 

 hy Gen. Aiiiistroiif, then a .Major in llie nriny, 

 Ucii. Waihiiijjuni convened llic cfliccis for liic 



