■of tlie 'Stomach. 283 



to conclude, aside from all experience on the subject, 

 that as the fatigues of the day, among such people, are 

 chiefly before dinner, considerable food, and that of a 

 nourishing kind, should be taken at breakfast ; instead of 

 the breakfast usually taken, viz. several cups of very 

 strong coifee, with a little toast, or bread and butter. — ■ 

 To all dyspeptics particularly, I would recommend a far 

 different course. Instead of eating immoderately at din- 

 ner, and taking a profusion of spices, and sauces, and 

 drinking large quantities of porter, brandy, and v/ine, and 

 thus unfitting themselves for thought, or business, the 

 remainder of the day, let them make a more equal dis- 

 tribution of their food, at their different meals. Let them 

 cat meat at breakfast ; let them dine early ; and then 

 thej^ will be inclined to eat moderately at dinner. In this 

 way the stomach will usually fail of being filled with 

 acidity and flatulence, and of being overloaded. The 

 customary employments may then be pursued after din- 

 ner, as well as before. It will doubtless be supposed, 

 that this course is not precisely suited to those, who lie 

 in bed half of the forenoon. Onlv one kind of fresh meat 

 should generally be eaten at a time. Salt pork, or ham, 

 with fresh meat, I have not found hurtful. It is a good 

 rule, however, to eat of but few dishes at once. Varie- 

 ty from day to day, may be useful, but not on the same 

 day. Hearty suppers are always improper for weak 

 stomachs : a few mouthfuls of cold meat, and a crust of 

 bread just before going to bed, v\'ill often be of service. 

 It prevents the acid from corroding the coats of the stom- 

 ach, lessens or removes that xmpleasant wakefulness 

 which sometimes takes place in consequence of it, and 

 relieves the sickness and faintness, which is by some per- 

 sons experienced, on first getting up in the morning. — 

 Where this complaint is troublesome, food should be ta- 

 ken immediately after getting up, or a little before. 



Hot food or drinks are hurtful to the teeth, and weaken 

 the stomach. Drinking large quantities of watery drinks, 

 is always prejudicial to weak stomachs, and of stimu- 

 ating drinks, dangerous, The quantity of drinks 

 should be small, and little or nothing drunk between 

 ^aeals, unless in ^ ery hot weather. A large quantity of 

 vatery drinks may, perhaps, among other ill effects, di- 



