KATINO AND DSINKING. 263 



Every meal should consist of a due mixture of 

 solids and fluids. It is a bad thing to eat largely 

 without drinking, and properly mixing the food 

 with the saliva. We should, therefore, never eat 

 hastily, but masticate what we take very well, and 

 drink when we feel a desire so to do. 



The best and most universally palatable drink is 

 pure water. At meal times this is the most proper 

 drink, but there is no objection to weak table 

 beer : children should never be allowed any thing 

 stronger ; and it would be much better for all, to 

 abstain from wine and strong drinks. These sti- 

 mulate the stomach too much ; and in the end in- 

 jure its tone, and bring on indigestion. 



It is a dangerous thing to begin to drink wine 

 and spirituous liquors early in life. God, who has 

 given them to us, has no doubt designed them for 

 our benefit; but no part of his gifts is more abused. 

 As they are not necessary for us in health, we had 

 better avoid them, lest we should be betrayed into 

 that most odious of vices drunkenness. 



In this state we are deprived of reason, and may 

 commit crimes of the most horrid character almost 

 unknowingly ; and even if we escape these, we 

 are objects of detestation, and offend all decency 

 and good manners. Besides this, the constant ex- 

 cessive use of these fluids weakens the stomach, 

 impairs the senses, and brings on dropsy, and other 

 diseases 



We should make it a rule never to eat or drink 

 any thing very hot, as this spoils the teeth and 



