Some other Causes of Maladies may also be referred to the Article of Food, tho' less grievous and less frequent, into a full Detail of which it is very difficult to enter: I shall therefore conclude that Article with this general Remark; that it is the Care which Peasants usually take in eating slowly, and in chewing very well, that very greatly lessens the Dangers from a bad Regimen: and I am convinced they constitute one of the greatest Causes of that Health they enjoy. We may further add indeed the Exercise which the Peasant uses, his long abiding in the open Air, where he passes three fourths of his Life; besides (which are also considerable Advantages) his happy Custom of going soon to Bed, and of rising very early. It were to be wished, that in these Respects, and perhaps on many other Accounts, the Inhabitants of the Country were effectually proposed as Models for reforming the Citizens.
§ 12. We should not omit, in enumerating the Causes of Maladies among Country People, the Construction of their Houses, a great many of which either lean, as it were, close to a higher Ground, or are sunk a little in the Earth. Each of these Situations subjects them to considerable Humidity; which is certain greatly to incommode the Inhabitants, and to spoil their Provisions, if they have any Quantity in Store; which, as we have observed, is another, and not the least important, Source of their Diseases. A hardy Labourer is not immediately sensible of the bad Influence of this moist and marshy Habitation; but they operate at the long Run, and I have abundantly observed their most evident bad Effects, especially on Women in Child-bed, on Children, and in Persons recovering of a preceding Disease. It would be easy to prevent this Inconvenience, by raising the Ground on which the House stood, some, or several, Inches above the Level of the adjacent Soil, by a Bed of Gravel, of small Flints, pounded Bricks, Coals, or such other Materials; and by avoiding to build immediately close to, or, as it were, under a much higher Soil. This Object, perhaps, may well deserve the Attention of the Publick; and I earnestly advise as many as do build, to observe the necessary Precautions on this Head. Another, which would cost still less Trouble, is to give the Front of their Houses an Exposure to the South-East. This Exposure, supposing all other Circumstances of the Building and its Situation to be alike, is both the most wholesome and advantageous. I have seen it, notwithstanding, very often neglected, without the least Reason being assigned for not preferring it.
These Admonitions may possibly be thought of little Consequence by three fourths of the People. I take the Liberty of reminding them, however, that they are more important than they may be supposed; and so many Causes concur to the Destruction of Men, that none of the Means should be neglected, which may contribute to their Preservation.
§ 13. The Country People in Swisserland drink, either 1, pure Water, 2, some Wine, 3, Perry, made from wild Pears, or sometimes Cyder from Apples, and, 4, a small Liquor which they call Piquette, that is Water, which has fermented with the Cake or Husks of the Grapes, after their Juice has been expressed. Water however is their most general Drink; Wine rarely falling in their Way, but when they are employed by rich Folks; or when they can spare Money enough for a Debauch. Fruit Wines and the [12] Piquettes are not used in all Parts of the Country; they are not made in all Years; and keep but for some Months.
Our Waters in general, are pretty good; so that we have little Occasion to trouble ourselves about purifying them; and they are well known in those Provinces where they are chiefly and necessarily used. [13] The pernicious Methods taken to improve or meliorate, as it is falsely called, bad Wines, are not as yet sufficiently practiced among us, for me to treat of them here: and as our Wines are not hurtful, of themselves, they become hurtful only from their Quantity. The Consumption of made Wines and Piquettes is but inconsiderable, and I have not hitherto known of any ill Effects from them, so that our Liquors cannot be considered as Causes of Distempers in our Country; but in Proportion to our Abuse of them by Excess. The Case is differently circumstanced in some [14] other Countries; and it is the Province of Physicians who reside in them, to point out to their Country-Men the Methods of preserving their Health; as well as the proper and necessary Remedies in their Sickness.
Chapter II.
Of the Causes which aggravate the Diseases of the People. General Considerations.
Sect. 14.