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Another bad habit is that of lying late in bed. The dyspeptic should retire to rest at an early and regular hour, and rise as soon as he awakes in the morning; for, after waking, an indulgence in another nap will probably give him a headache for the day. Sir J. Sinclair has published Dr. Robertson's Return from Greenwich hospital of the Ancient Pensioners, ninety-six of whom were beyond eighty years of age, thirteen beyond ninety, and one beyond one hundred. He questioned these men on their habits of living, with a view to discover the best practical rules of longevity, and he found that they were all early risers. In every thing else they differed. A great many used tobacco;—some were addicted to the bottle; others were water drinkers; but none were found who were slothful in the morning. Longevity, however, is not the greatest blessing produced by this habit; improvement of mind and body are much more valuable. As the morning is the sweetest portion of the day, so is it the best fitted for intellectual and corporeal exercise. We have heard that Sir Walter Scott generally gets through his literary labours between four and nine in the morning; after which he has an unincumbered day for business, exercise, or the pleasure of society. There can be nothing more delicious than the balmy freshness of the morning for at least eight months in the year in our southern climate. Nature then, "sowing the earth with orient pearl," puts on her sweetest smiles; the glistening of the dew drop on the green pastures; the carrolling of the birds; the tranquillity of the herds; the tints of the sky; all combine to sooth the spirits and soften the heart of man; to disengage him from the cares of the world, and to elevate his thoughts to Him, by whom both matter and spirit were created. It is good for man frequently to enjoy such precious emotions, for they have a sanative effect both on his physical and moral na

ture.

The dyspeptic, however, who rises very early, will, perhaps, find it necessary to sleep for an hour during the day. To this there can be no rational objection; but it is recommended that his posture should be recumbent, by which all the limbs will receive their due refreshment from repose. To the nervous, such an hour is invaluable.

It would appear superfluous to recommend to decent people to keep themselves clean, but if we are to judge by the appearance of many, it is by no means unnecessary. Huffeland, in

his Art of Prolonging Life, remarks, "that it is wonderful that men who direct their grooms to curry and dress their horses with such particularity should neglect the care of their own skin so much." He says, "I may, I think, without exaggeration

assert, that among the greater part of men the pores of the skin are half closed and unfit for use." We would suggest to such persons that if they have no regard to the comforts of other people they should not neglect their own. If they were to try the experiment they would not fail to discover that there is positive pleasure in mere bodily cleanliness, exclusive of health. They ought to remember that the skin is a most important part of the animal economy, and that it acts by a direct sympathy on the vital organs. As a proof, let the surface of the body be covered with wet tobacco, and it will be felt in the stomach, head and heart. Swallow some, and the skin becomes cold and clammy. So it is with other articles in greater or less degrees. A long continued excitement of the skin, from hot weather or otherwise, produces indirect debility which never fails to create a loss of appetite and a weakness in the digestive organs: so, on the other hand, a fit of indigestion will sometimes bring on those diseases of the skin called surfeit, erysipelas, &c. We do not hesitate to say that all kinds of filth plastering up the pores, affect the skin injuriously, and contribute to the disorder of the digestion. Habits of scrupulous cleanliness are therefore habits of health, and should be attentively observed. The warm bath, not exceeding 96°, taken frequently about two hours before dinner, is very beneficial to the dyspeptic. Count Rumford, in his Essay on the Warm Bath, observes, "a person may gain fresh health, activity and spirits by bathing every day at two o'clock in the afternoon at the temperature of 96% or 97° Fah. and remaining in the bath half an hour. The idea of going into bed after a warm bath in order to prevent taking cold, is erroneous; no alteration should be made in the clothing, for the body, on exposure to the air, is not more susceptible of catching cold than it was before going into the bath." He reprobates the idea of any advantage being derived from temperate baths of from 55° to 60°, as the animal temperature is 98°, and therefore such baths abstract heat from the body. The cold bath is apt to injure, in all cases, when a reaction is not produced on the skin, or when danger would arise from the blood being driven in from the extremities towards the heart and brain. To some, however, it is productive of a refreshing strength. In all cases, the feet may be dipped into cold water, (salt water, if practicable) at the moment we rise, both in summer and winter, and immediately rubbed very dry. This not only keeps them clean, but excites warmth, which, to them, is most natural and salutary. Cold feet alone will often bring on a fit of dyspepsia.

The last rule that we shall insist on, and one of great importance to the dyspeptic, is to maintain a regularity in the alvine

discharges. A tardiness, a languor, in this respect, disorders the functions of the viscera, and impairs the nervous power; and though, in some instances, no immediate ill effects are perceived, and the person may even feel better at the time, he may rest assured the hour of retribution is not far off. If there is any one fact, well established, on this subject, it is that no cure of dyspepsia can be effected as long as there exists habitual constipation in the patient.

It is not our intention to give rules on the medical treatment of this scourge of social life. We leave that to the physician. It is his duty to make a full examination of each individual case, and to explain to the patient the nature and causes of his disease, with the only mode of permanent cure. When we say permanent cure, we mean a state of health far better than the dyspeptic ever enjoyed before, for such will be the happy effect of the training we have recommended if carefully and unremittingly pursued. "By the process described, the nature of the human frame is totally altered, and in the space of a few months, the form, the character and the powers of the body are completely changed from gross to lean, from weakness to vigorous health, and from a healthless and bloated carcass to one active and untiring; and thus the very same individual, who but a few months before became giddy and breathless on the least exertion, has his health not only improved, but frequently is enabled to run many miles with the fleetness of a greyhound, or in a shortness of time, hardly to be credited, to walk above a hundred." "The training art," says Dr. Jameson, "in his work on the changes of the human body, has arrived to such great perfection in this country, as to throw new lights on the physical changes which the body is capable of receiving from preventive measures, even in advanced years. Its vigour is thereby augmented, the respiration improved, and the skin cleared from its impurities, and so much improved in elasticity, colour and tone, in the space of two or three months, as to denote the perfection of the art." It is true, the above description is intended for the regular prize fighter who has been brought up to that condition by a more rigorous treatment than we have detailed; but the chief difference between them is in the quantum of exercise. Should our readers have any curiosity to see these rules for wrestlers and pedestrians, he will find them in the "Sure Methods," &c.

But after all, whatever state of health may be attained, it should be preserved by constant care, as it may be lost by falling into the old habits of indolence and self-indulgence: "and the last state of that man will be worse than the first."

Of the books at the head of this article we have little to say. They all have their merits, and deserve a serious attention. That of Dr. Paris is replete with important facts and judicious reasoning; but is calculated rather for the profession than the Man of the World. This, however, forms no objection to the work, as it is intended for the profession, and should be studied by them. His rules for investigating the causes, nature and seat of indigestion are worthy of all praise, and should be generally adopted. He is a man of liberal views, not bigoted to any system, and a follower of truth through the road of experiment: one who has seen much, and who reasons well on what he has seen. Dr. Philip too deserves great credit in having so distinctly pointed out the manner in which chymification is conducted, and the influence of the eighth pair of nerves on digestion. His rules of regimen are generally excellent, but he seems to us to depend, as most physicians do, too much on medicine in this disease. Dr. Hall is more exclusively professional than either of the others, and liable to the same remark respecting the use of medicine.

The works, however, to which we would especially direct the attention of the dyspeptic, if he wants more particular instruction, and to which we give a decided preference over all we have seen for general perusal, are the Essay of Dr. James Johnson, and the "Sure Methods of Improving Health, &c." of an anonymous physician of England. They are replete with good sense and sound advice, adapted to the comprehension of all, and though we differ with them upon some minor points, yet we take great pleasure in heartily recommending them to the attention of all who love health and dread the doctor.

We shall now conclude with a few practical rules deduced from the preceding investigations, which, if duly observed, will, in ninety-nine cases out of one hundred, effect the permanent cure of the dyspeptic.

1. Rise early, dip the feet in cold water, and rub them dryuse the flesh brush for ten minutes before dressing.

2. Employ the hours before breakfast in exercise in the open air, and let it become more vigorous as your strength improves. 3. Eat slowly, and in moderation, those things you like, and which you know do not disagree with you.

4. Between breakfast and dinner take one or two hours of exercise either within doors, or in the open air which is the best, and occasionally take a warm bath between 12 and 2 o'clock.

5. Never eat between meals, nor drink within two hours of eating.

6. Dine about 3 o'clock, and observe the rule, No. 3-drink as little as possible at dinner.

7. After dinner, lie down, if so disposed, for an hour, and about 5 or 6 o'clock take exercise in the open air if possible. The more exercise per day, without fatigue, the better.

8. If you must eat, take your last meal at 7 or 8 o'clock, and let it be as light and moderate as possible, avoiding tea and

coffee.

9. Retire to bed at 10, after first using the flesh brush for a few minutes.

10. Be regular in your habits, keep the feet warm, the head cool, and the bowels open.

ART. IX.-Sermons preached in England, by the late Right Reverend REGINALD HEBER, D. D. Lord Bishop of Calcutta ; formerly Rector of Hodnet, Salop; Prebendary of St. Asaph; and Preacher at Lincoln's Inn. New-York. E. Bliss. 1829.

THE American publishers of this work justly remark of its lamented author, that "few individuals of the present age, born and nurtured, and performing their important functions at so great a distance from us, have ever excited such warm or such general interest in their favour. He was, indeed, a scholar, and the republic of letters extends over the whole globe-he was a poet, and increased the literary treasures of a language which is also our mother tongue-but more than all, he was prominent in a cause which breaks down all barriers of distinction between men, and unites those who are engaged in it, in bonds of the most affectionate brotherhood. A devoted friend to the cause of missions during his whole professional life, and at last a voluntary martyr to that sacred cause; it was in this character he excited our deepest interest, and in contemplating it with admiration and respect, his elegant attainments, his extensive learning and poetical inspiration were comparatively unobserved. Now, however, his various excellencies have been placed before us in a strong light, and in him we see and acknowledge 'splendid talents, profound learning, cultivated taste, VOL IV.-No. 7.

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