Dyspeptic Invalids will find 75 a good temperature for their drink at Dinner, and 120 for Tea, &c.
Persons who are in a state of Debility from Age,—or other causes,—will derive much benefit from laying down, and seeking Repose whenever they feel fatigued, especially during (the first half-hour at least of) the business of Digestion—and will receive almost as much refreshment from half an hour’s Sleep—as from Half a Pint of Wine.
The Restorative influence of the recumbent Posture, cannot be conceived—the increased energy it gives to the circulation, and to the organs of Digestion, can only be understood by those Invalids who have experienced the comforts of it.
The Siesta is not only advisable, but indispensable to those whose occupations oblige them to keep late hours.
Actors especially, whose profession is, of all others, the most fatiguing—and requires both the Mind and the Body to be in the most intense exertion between 10 and 12 o’clock at Night,—should avail themselves of the Siesta—which is the true source of Energy—half an hour’s repose in the horizontal posture, is a most beneficial Restorative.
Good Beef Tea[38], (No. 563), with a little bit of slightly toasted Bread taken about nine o’clock—is a comforting restorative, which will support You through exertions that, without such assistance, are exhausting—and you go to bed fatigued—get up fevered, &c.
When Performers feel Nervous, &c.—and fear the circulation is below Par,—and too languid to afford the due excitement, half an hour before they sing, &c.—they will do wisely, to wind up their System, with a little “Balsamum Vitæ.”—See “[Peptic Precepts].”—Or tune their throats to the pitch of healthy vibration with a small glass of Johnson’s[39] “Witte Curacoa,” see (No. 474) and [Index], a glass of Wine, or other stimulus.—
To “Wet your Whistle,” is occasionally, as absolutely necessary, as “to rosin the Bow of a Violin.”—See “Observations on Vocal Music,” prefixed to the Opera of Ivanhoe.
Actors and Singers are continually assailed by a variety of circumstances extremely unfavourable to Health—especially from sitting up late at night—to counteract which, we recommend the Siesta, and plenty of Exercise in a pure Air.
When they feel Nervous—Bilious, &c. i. e. that their whole System is so deranged by fatigue and anxiety, that they cannot proceed effectively and comfortably,—they must give their Throats two or three days’ rest—cleanse the Alimentary Canal with Peristaltic Persuaders—see [Index]—and corroborate the Organs of Digestion with the Tonic Tincture (No. 569), see [Index].