By too long Fasting, Wind accumulates in the Stomach, especially of those who have passed the meridian of Life—and produces a distressing Flatulence—Languor—Faintness—Giddiness—Palpitation of the Heart, &c.
If the Morning has been occupied by anxiety in Business,—or the Mind or Body is fatigued by over-exertion—these symptoms will sometimes come on about an hour or two before the usual time of Dining,—well masticating a bit of Biscuit, and letting a strong Peppermint Lozenge (see [page 99]) dissolve in the mouth as soon as you feel the first symptoms of Flatulence,—will often pacify the Stomach, and prevent the increase of these complaints.
Dr. Whytt, whose observations on Nervous Disorders, (like this work), are valuable, inasmuch as they are the authentic narrative of his own Experience—says, page 344, “When my Stomach has been weak, after I have been indisposed, I have often found myself much better for a glass of Claret and a bit of bread, an hour or more before Dinner, and I have ordered it in the same way to others, and again in the evening, an hour or more before Supper, with advantage.”
There is no doubt of the propriety of Dr. W.’s prescription, the Editor’s own feelings bear witness to it. For those who are just recovering from Diseases which have left them in a state of great Debility, a glass of Wine and a bit of Bread,—or a cup of good Beef Tea, (see [page 96]) are perhaps as good Tonics as any,—they not only remove Languor, but at the same time furnish Nutriment.
We have known weak Stomachs, when kept fasting beyond the time they expected,—become so exhausted—they would refuse to receive any solid Food,—until restored to good temper,—and wound up by some Wine, or other stimulus—as Instinct proposed.
Feeble Persons, who are subject to such sudden attacks, should always travel armed with a Pocket Pistol charged with a couple of glasses of White Wine, or, “Veritable Eau de Vie,”—a Biscuit, and some strong Peppermint or Ginger Lozenges, or see “Tablettes de Bouillon” (No. 252):—when their Stomach is uneasy from emptiness, &c. these crutches will support the Circulation,—and considerably diminish, and sometimes entirely prevent the distressing effects which Invalids suffer from too long a Fast[80].
What a contrast there is between the materials of the morning meal A.D. 1550, when Queen Elizabeth’s Maids of Honour began the day with a Round of Beef,—or a Red Herring, and a flaggon of Ale—and in 1821, when the Sportsman, and even the day-Labourer, breakfast on what Cooks call “Chinese Soup,” i. e. Tea.
Swift has jocosely observed, such is the extent of modern Epicurism, that “the World[81] must be encompassed—before a Washerwoman can sit down to Breakfast,” i. e. by a voyage to the East for Tea, and to the West for Sugar.
In The Northumberland Household Book for 1512, we are informed that “a Thousand Pounds was the sum annually expended in Housekeeping,—this maintained 166 Persons,—and the Wheat was then 5s. 8d. per quarter.
“The Family rose at six in the morning,—my Lord and my Lady had set on their Table for Breakfast, at Seven o’clock in the morning,