A facetious observer of the inordinate degree in which some people will indulge their Palate, to the gratification of which they sacrifice all their other senses,—recommends such to have their Soup seasoned with a tasteless purgative, as the Food of insane persons sometimes is, and so prepare their bowels for the hard work they are going to give them!!
To let the Stomach have a holiday occasionally—i. e. a Liquid diet, of Broth and Vegetable Soup, is one of the most agreeable and most wholesome ways of restoring its Tone.
If your Appetite[72] be languid, take additional Exercise in a pure open Air,—or Dine half an hour later than usual, and so give time for the Gastric Juices to assemble in full force;—or dine upon Fish—or Chinese Soup, i. e. Tea.
If these simple means are ineffectual,—the next step, is to produce energetic vibration in the Alimentary tube, without exciting inordinate action, or debilitating depletion; and to empty the Bowels, without irritating them.
Sometimes when the languor occasioned by Dyspepsia, &c. is extreme, the Torpor of the System becomes so tremendous—that no Stimulus will help it, and the Heart feels as if it was tired of beating—a moderate dose of a quickly operating Aperient, i. e. half an ounce of Tincture of Rhubarb, and two drachms of Epsom Salts in a tumbler of hot water—will speedily restore its wonted energy.
The Stomach is the centre of Sympathy;—if the most minute fibre of the human frame be hurt, intelligence of the injury instantaneously arrives;—and the Stomach is disturbed, in proportion to the importance of the Member, and the degree in which it is offended.
If either the Body or the Mind be fatigued,—the Stomach invariably sympathizes;—if the most robust do any thing too much, the Stomach is soon affronted,—and does too little:—unless this mainspring of Health be in perfect adjustment, the machinery of life will vibrate with languor;—especially those parts which are naturally weak, or have been injured by Accidents, &c. Constipation is increased in costive habits—and Diarrhœa in such as are subject thereto—and all Chronic complaints are exasperated, especially in persons past the age of 35 years.
Of the various helps to Science, none perhaps more rapidly facilitate the acquirement of knowledge, than analogical reasoning; or illustrating an Art we are ignorant of, by one we are acquainted with.
The Human Frame may be compared to a Watch, of which the Heart is the Mainspring—the Stomach the regulator,—and what we put into it, the Key by which the machine is wound up;—according to the quantity,—quality,—and proper digestion of what we Eat[73] and Drink, will be the pace of the Pulse, and the action of the System in general:—when we observe a due proportion between the quantum of Exercise and that of Excitement, all goes well.—If the machine be disordered, the same expedients are employed for its re-adjustment, as are used by the Watch-maker; it must be carefully cleaned, and judiciously oiled.
Eating Salads after Dinner,—and chilling the Stomach, and checking the process of digestion by swilling cold Soda Water—we hold to be other Vulgar Errors.