No. .12.— 1860-1.] HEALTH AND DISEASE IN CEYLON. 367 



of work thrown on it, and disease is produced unless we 

 adopt one of two courses. We must either increase the 

 action of the lungs, which we may do by active exercise, or 

 we muse decrease the amount of food, especially those 

 articles of food which contain most carbon, such as rich and 

 fat meats and spirituous liquors. This fact is well-known 

 by those who supply the unfortunate geese, whose livers make 

 the celebrated pates de foie gras. They treat them exactly 

 as many of us treat ourselves in India. They are confined in 

 a hot atmosphere, allowed to Uike no exercise, and crammed 

 with quantities of rich food. Many, no doubt, are aware 

 of this, and never think of applying it to their own case. 

 I have heard the same person at one moment expressing an 

 opinion that we required here a large amount of animal food 

 to keep up our strength, and, shortly after, dilating on the 

 impropriety of feeding dogs on meat in a hot climate, as it 

 would inevitably kill them. 



I will now endeavour to point out by what means, in my 

 opinion, we may best preserve our health in this Country. 

 The first thing, without doubt, is a sufficiency of bodily 

 exercise, riding or walking — especially the latter : the best 

 time for this being the early morning ; it is within the power of 

 all of us to obtain this. Cold bathing I need hardly mention, 

 as it is a thing few or none of us neglect ; but the time at 

 which we should bathe is of some consequence, the best time 

 being in the morning, immediately after the ride or walk, — 

 always before a meal, never soon after : the fact of being 

 warm from active exertions offers no objection to the use of 

 the cold bath, that is, we may without danger go under a 

 spout of cold water in a state of active perspiration from 

 violent exercise. The only reason for avoiding sudden 

 immersion in cold water, is, where we are exhausted from 

 fatigue, and the temperature of the body is fast cooling- 

 down. Avoid as much as possible exposure to the sun, 

 never going out in the heat of the day without an umbrella, 

 or a board-brimmed pith hat. It is by no means uncommon 

 to see Europeans in Ceylon, with nothing on their heads 



