The best General Rule for Diet that I can write, is to Eat and Drink only of such Foods—at such times,—and in such quantities—as Experience has convinced you, agree with your Constitution—and absolutely to avoid all other.

A very different Regimen must be observed by those who live a Life with Labour—or Exercise—or of Indolence,—and at the different Periods of Life.

Human Life may be divided into Three Stages.

The First, The period of Preparation from our birth, till about our 21st year, when the Body has generally attained the acmé of expansion:—till then, a continual and copious supply of Chyle is necessary, not only to keep our machinery in repair, but to furnish material for the increase of it.

The Second from 21 to 42, The period of Active Usefulness; during which, nothing more is wanted, than to restore the daily waste, occasioned by the actions of the Vital and Animal Functions.

The Third, The period of Decline: this comes on and proceeds with more or less celerity, according to the original strength of the Constitution, and the Economy[16] with which it has been managed during the second period. (Age is a relative term,—one man is as old at 40 as another is at 60): but after 42, the most vigorous become gradually more passive[17]—and after 63, pretty nearly quite so.

SIR WILLIAM JONES’S ANDROMETER.

36912
1
—Ideas received through the Senses.
 
—Speaking, and Pronunciation.
—Letters, and Spelling.
—Ideas retained in the Memory.
5 —Reading and Repeating.
—Grammar of his own Language.
—Memory exercised.
—Moral and Religions Lessons.
—Natural History and Experiments.
10 —Dancing, Music, Drawing, Exercises.
—History of his own Country.
—Latin.
—Greek.
—French and Italian.
15 —Translations.
—Compositions in Verse and Prose.
—Rhetoric and Declamation.
—History and Law.
—Logic and Mathematics.
20 —Rhetorical Exercises.
—Philosophy and Politics.
—Compositions in his own Language.
—Declamations continued.
—Ancient Orators studied.
25 —Travel and Conversation.
—Speeches at the Bar, or in Parliament.
—State Affairs.
—Historical Studies continued.
—Law and Eloquence.
30 —Public Life.
—Private and Social Virtues.
—Habits of Eloquence improved.
—Philosophy resumed at leisure.
—Orations published.
35 —Exertions in State and Parliament.
—Civil Knowledge mature.
—Eloquence perfect.
—National Rights defended.
—The Learned protected.
40 —The Virtuous assisted.
—Compositions published.
—Science improved.
—Parliamentary Affairs.
—Laws enacted, and supported.
45 —Fine Arts patronized.
—Government of his Family.
—Education of his Children.
—Vigilance as a Magistrate.
—Firmness as a Patriot.
50 —Virtue as a Citizen.
—Historical Works.
—Oratorical Works.
—Philosophical Works.
—Political Works.
55 —Mathematical Works.
}
}
}Continuation of former Pursuits.
}
60 }
—Fruits of his Labour enjoyed.
—A glorious Retirement.
—An amiable Family.
—Universal Respect.
65 —Consciousness of a Virtuous Life.
}
}
}Perfection of Earthly Happiness.
}
70 —Preparation for ETERNITY.

The most common cause of Dyspeptic Disorders, which are so prevalent at the commencement of the Third Period of Life—is an increasing indolence, inducing us to diminish the degree of the active Exercise we have been in the habit of taking—without in a corresponding degree diminishing the quantity of our Food—on the contrary, people seem to expect the Stomach to grow stronger and to work harder as it gets Older, and to almost entirely support the Circulation without the help of Exercise.—