PRECAUTIONS. 303 



mild and gentle, bringing out the delicious 

 sweetness of this month of flowers, and accom- 

 panied as it sometimes is in favoured spots by 

 the music of our groves. But, surely you are not 

 an advocate for encountering weather, whether 

 pelting rain or driving storm, likely to be in- 

 jurious to health. 



PISCATOR. In asking^ you seem to be for- 

 getting your own rule. In reply, I would 

 remark, an angler should be hardy. One of the 

 uses of angling, as I think I said in praising 

 the exercise, is, that it checks effeminacy. 

 At the same time I would not have health 

 neglected or seriously endangered ; and with 

 proper precautions, we need entertain no fear 

 on this score. 



AMICUS. What are the proper precautions 

 you allude to. I should be glad to be informed 

 of them. 



PISCATOR. They are but few ; such as continu- 

 ing exercise on getting wet, and putting on 

 dry clothes, and especially flannel next the 

 skin, immediately on cessation from exercise. 

 A warm bath is a luxury mostly out of reach on 

 such occasions, but a foot-bath is commonly 

 available, and it is not to be despised : if one is 

 cold, the warmth of the water is presently 



