DIETETICS. 
thai ge, are commonly very unnecessary tor- 
ments, and are very seldom justly applica- 
ble. Frictions on the hypochondria with 
volatile liniments often give very consider- 
able relief. Cold bathing has been advised, 
but generally seems to disagree with per- 
sons of a sedentary constitution, especially 
if advanced in years. 
Upon air and exercise much has been 
written ; and some things have been written 
erroneously. The air of large cities is in- 
disputably injurious to all debilitated inva- 
lids; and to hypochondriacs a pure air is 
peculiarly to be recommended. Yet seclu- 
sion is so baneful that the good effects of a 
purer air will be more than counterbalanced 
if an hypochondriac shut himself up con- 
stantly by his fire-side in his country study ; 
or retire from society into indolence and 
apathy. Cold piercing winds are severely 
felt, and should be avoided : at the same 
time the propriety of hypochondriacs accus- 
toming themselves to bear the open air as 
much as circumstances will allow, must 
ever be impressed upon them ; and proper 
warmth of clothing, particularly about tlie 
feet, must be worn. 
Exercise, short of fatigue, is essential; 
and even a little fatigue must be endured 
by those who, from long sedentary occupa- 
tion, have lost the habit of exertion ; riding- 
on horseback, or in a carriage, sailing, row- 
ing, are all useful ; also moderate walking, 
bowling, or working with a spade in the gar- 
den, and other exercise out of doors attend- 
ed with some labour. It is to be observed, 
however, , of sick-head-ach, that its attacks 
are frequently induced by the motion of a 
carriage, boat, or ship, and that exercise on 
foot or horseback is best for such invalids : 
friction about the hypochondria with a flan- 
nel or flesh-brush, is often serviceable, and 
to be recommended when the debility of 
the patient prevents other kinds of muscu- 
lar action. The military exercise, as prac-, 
tised by our volunteers for a short time 
every day, is also, where it can be adopted, 
of very high advantage. 
The plan ofdiet in this disease is a point of 
much delicacy and management : the same 
mode will seldom answer for any two dis- 
tinct cases. In general the patient is to be 
nourished with whatever ailment he can 
digest, and an equal and uniform reserva- 
tion as to spices is by no means necessary, 
provided that they seem to improve, rather 
than to injure digestion ; his appetite for a 
moderate (piantity of almost any variety of 
food is to be indulged, provided no de- 
rangement of the stomach ensue from it, and 
the juvantia and Icedentia are to be made 
out from observation in each case ; vinegar 
and native vegetable acid commonly are 
prejudicial, yet very frequently ripe fruit is 
beneficial. In general every thing that is 
oily or empyrenmatic must be avoided ; 
mustard, horseradish and the like, are often 
useful in the prevention of flatulency ; some- 
times in long cases of hypochondriasis, 
where vomiting has been a tiresome symp- 
tom, the yolks of eggs boiled hard have 
been digested, and the vomiting in a short 
space of time has ceased ; in these cases it 
is probable that the stomach is in an habi- 
tual state of contraction, as it has been 
sometimes actually found on dissection, and 
mustard or horse-radish, by increasing its 
muscular action, would have been injurious, 
whilst any easily digestible substance nearly 
solid from not occupying much space would 
be retained, and gradually distend the sto- 
mach, or, from causing the muscular effort 
produced in vomiting to cease, give oppor- 
tunity to the stomach to recover its natu- 
ral dimensions ; eggs, however, prepared in 
any way that has been contrived, will not 
always agree, even when this state of sto- 
mach is to be suspected ; but will at times 
be almost immediately rejected, or produce 
much disturbance, when a small quantity of 
gelatinous or mucilaginous food, or even of 
liglit meat, will be digested. 
It is by no means justifiable to prohibit 
light suppers peremptorily ; since, in point 
of theory, we know that digestion and the 
absorption of chyle proceed more regularly 
during sleep than at any other time ; and, in 
point of fact, we know equally that hypo- 
chondriacs are often benefited by light sup- 
pers. Thus much is certain, that the meals 
should always be light and sparing, and 
consequently frequent ; and that, if suppers 
be indulged at all, the hour of dinner should 
be much earlier than is customary in the 
present day. 
With respect to drinks, malt-liquor ought 
but seldom to be allowed. Soda-water 
with wine, commonly forms a most excel- 
lent beverage. It is rarely proper to re- 
quire any large quantity of diluting drink 
to be taken. Coffee generally agrees bet- 
ter than tea ; and sometimes cocoa, or even 
chocolate, if its oily quality do not offend 
the stomach, is very proper for breakfast, 
or in the forenoon. 
Opium, for the mere purpose of procur- 
