“Oportet sanorum, sedes esse figuratas.”
This ought to make them content,—but the Constipated are for ever murmuring about a habit—which, if managed with moderate care,—is the fundamental basis of Health and Long Life. A little attention to Regimen will generally prevent it—a simple Laxative will suffice to remove it—and neither will be often necessary, for those who observe a deobstruent Diet—take proper Exercise in a pure Air—sufficient liquid Food—and eat freely of Butter, Salt, and Sugar.
The peculiarity of most Constitutions is so convenient, that almost all Costive persons—by attending to the effects which various things produce upon their Bowels—may find, in their usual Food and Drink, the means of persuading their sluggish Viscera to vibrate with healthful celerity.
A Supper or Breakfast of thin Gruel, (No. 572,) with plenty of Butter and Salt in it,—ripe Fruits, particularly Grapes[101],—Oranges,—Strawberries,—Raspberries,—Mulberries,—Marmalade,—Honey,—Treacle,—roasted Apples,—stewed Prunes,—Figs,—Raisins,—Tamarinds,—French Plumbs, &c.;—will almost always produce the desired effect.
Two or three strong Cinnamon or Ginger Lozenges, (see [page 234],) gradually dissolved in the mouth when the Stomach is empty, will act as an Aperient on many persons.
Salad Oil is a very pleasant Peristaltic Persuader:—by the following means it may be introduced (as a supper) to the most delicate Stomach,—without any offence to the most fastidious Palate.
Put a table-spoonful of Sherry into a wine-glass—on this a table-spoonful of Olive Oil—on this another table-spoonful of Sherry—or rub together a table-spoonful or two of Oil, with the yolk of an Egg boiled hard, (No. 547,) add a little Vinegar and Salt to it, and eat it at Supper as a Sauce to a Salad (No. 138*) of Mustard and Cresses,—or Lettuce,—Radishes,—Button Onions,—Celery,—Cucumber, &c.;—or cold boiled Asparagus,—Brocoli,—Cauliflower,—Carrot,—or Turnip,—Kidney or French Beans,—or Pease;—or Pickled Salmon, (No. 161,) Lobster, (No. 176,) Shrimps, Herrings, Sprats, (No. 170**,) or Mackarel, (No. 168,) or as a Sauce to cold Meat, &c.
You may give it an infinite variety of agreeable flavours; the ingredients to produce which are enumerated in (No. 372) of “the Cook’s Oracle.”
Hypochondriac people are fond of taking Medicine at certain times, the spring and fall,—at the full or the new Moon, &c. whether they want it or not.—For those in Health to attempt to improve it by taking Physic, is absurd indeed. Remember the epitaph on the Italian Count—
“I was well—
Wished to be better—
Took Physic—and died.”