LON 



LOiN 



liot always avoid. Most persons however 

 have it in their power in some degree to 

 regulate their manner of living by their 

 own choice : and by a little attention to 

 their food, clothing, employment, rest, 

 and temper of mind, might not only con- 

 tribute materially to the prolongation of 

 their lives, but preserve themselves from 

 many diseases, and greatly increase their 

 relish for all the enjoyments of life. 



The importance of wholesome food, for 

 the preservation of health and promoting 

 long life, and the avoiding of excess, 

 whether in eating or drinking, is suffi- 

 ciently obvious. Some instances, indeed, 

 are recorded of persons who have con- 

 tinued to commit excesses, and have 

 lived long ; but these are to be consider- 

 ed in no other light than as exceptions to 

 a general rule ; and it may reasonably be 

 contended, that if such persons lived to 

 a great age, notwithstanding their intem- 

 perance, they would have lived much 

 longer had they followed a different 

 course. Experience will point out those 

 articles of food which are best adapted to 

 the constitution of each individual, and 

 there cannot be a better rule than to ad- 

 here to them as far as circumstances will 

 permit. It may be observed, however, 

 that people in "general, especially those 

 who do not labour, eat much more than 

 nature requires ; that a little abstinence 

 or self-denial may often be of use, either 

 to prevent or to cure disease ; and at any 

 rate, that none but hard working people, 

 the young who are growing fast, or per- 

 sons who are travelling about, should eat 

 more than one full meal each day. 



As to clothing, much must depend on 

 situation and climate ; but it is generally 

 found a useful practice to wear woollens 

 next the skin. It is remarked in many 

 parts of Scotland, that since the use of 

 flannel shirts has been given up by the 

 lower orders, the rheumatism, and other 

 diseases formerly unknown, have become 

 very frequent, and are daily increasing. 

 In the West India islands, if care be taken 

 to make the troops wear flannel shirts, 

 they are generally exempt from various 

 disorders, which otherwise would pro- 

 bably have attacked them. Even the 

 negroes themselves are said to prefer 

 flannel to cotton or linen, and find it a 

 much more comfortable and useful dress. 



Exercise cannot be too much recom- 

 mended ; and as the inhabitants of large 

 towns, and persons engaged in sedentary 

 occupations, cannot take all the exercise 

 abroad that may be necessary for their 

 health, they ought as much as possible to 

 accustom themselves to be walking about 



even in their own house, for though this 

 practice does not make up for the want 

 of exercise abroad, it is certainly the best 

 substitute for it. Exercise is attended 

 with the advantage of creating an inclina- 

 tion to retire early to rest, and of induc- 

 ing sound|sleep. Every one should take 

 all the repose that nature requires, but 

 should never continue long in bed with- 

 out sleeping. Early rising, even if car- 

 ried to an extreme, is far more conducive 

 to health and long life, than late hours 

 at night and slumbering in bed in the 

 morning. 



There is nothing that can tend more to 

 long life than for a person to obtain a 

 complete command of his passions, and 

 in particular to preserve his mind from 

 being ruffled by the occurrences of life. 

 Perhaps there is no maxim more likely 

 to promote good health, and consequently 

 the duration of life, than that of paying a 

 proper attention to temper, temperance, 

 and sleep. By good temper the mind 

 is preserved from disease ; and by tem- 

 perance, the body ; and both the mind 

 and the body, when exhausted, are again 

 recruited and restored to their former 

 strength, by a sufficient quantity of re- 

 pose. 



LONGIMETRY, the art of measuring 

 lengths, both accessible, as roads, &.c, 

 and inaccessible, as arms of the sea, Stc. 

 See SURVEYING. 



LONGITUDE of a star, in astronomy, 

 an arch of the ecliptic, intercepted be- 

 tween the beginning of Aries aiffl the 

 point of the ecliptic cut by the star's cir- 

 cle of longitude. See CIUCLK, &c. 



LONGITUDK of a place, in geography, 

 is an arch of the equator intercepted be- 

 tween the first meridian, and the meri- 

 dian passing through the proposed place; 

 which is always equal to the angle at the 

 pole, formed by the first meridian and the 

 meridian of the place. 



The first meridian may be placed at 

 pleasure, passing through any place, as 

 London, Paris, Teneriffe, &c. but among 1 

 us it is generally fixed at London, or 

 rather Greenwich, and the loiigitudes 

 counted from it will be either east or 

 west, according as they lie on the east 

 or west side of that meridian. The dif- 

 ference of longitude between two places 

 upon the earth is an arch of the equator, 

 comprehended between the two meris 

 dians of these places ; and the greatest 

 possible is 180 degrees, when the two 

 places lie on opposite meridians. 



Since the parallels of latitude always 

 decrease, the nearer they approach the 

 pole, it is plain a degree upon any of 



