The Art of Invigorating and Prolonging Life Part 1

The Art of Invigorating and Prolonging Life.

by William Kitchiner.

"The choice and measure of the materials of which our Body is composed,--and what we take daily by POUNDS,--is at least of as much importance as what we take seldom, and only by _Grains_ and _Spoonsful_."--DR. ARBUTHNOT on _Aliment_, pref. p. iii.

The Editor of the following pages had originally an extremely Delicate Const.i.tution;--and at an early period devoted himself to the study of Physic, with the hope--of learning how to make the most of his small stock of Health.

The System he adopted, succeeded, and he is arrived at his forty-third year, in tolerable good Health; and this without any uncomfortable abstinence:--his maxim has ever been, "_dum Vivimus, Vivamus_."

He does not mean the Aguish existence of the votary of Fashion--whose Body is burning from voluptuous intemperance to-day, and freezing in miserable collapse to-morrow--not extravagantly consuming in a Day, the animal spirits which Nature intended for the animation of a Week--but keeping the expense of the machinery of Life within the income of Health,--which the Const.i.tution can regularly and comfortably supply.

This is the grand "arcanum duplicatum" for "Living all the days of your Life."

The Art of Invigorating the Health, and improving the Strength of Man, has. .h.i.therto only been considered for the purpose of training[1] him for Athletic Exercises--but I have often thought that a similar plan might be adopted with considerable advantage, to animate and strengthen enfeebled Const.i.tutions--prevent Gout--reduce Corpulency--cure Nervous and Chronic Weakness--Hypochondriac and Bilious Disorders, &c.--_to increase the Enjoyment, and prolong the duration of Feeble Life_--for which _Medicine_, una.s.sisted by DIET AND REGIMEN,--affords but very trifling and temporary help.

The universal desire of repairing, perfecting, and prolonging Life, has induced many ingenious men to try innumerable experiments on almost all the products of the Animal, Vegetable, and Mineral kingdoms, with the hope of discovering Agents, that will not merely increase or diminish the force or frequency of the Pulse; but with an ardour as romantic as the search after the Philosopher's Stone, they have vainly hoped, that _Panaceas_ might be found possessing the power of curing "all the evils that flesh is heir to."

This is evident enough to all who have examined the early Pharmacopias, which are full of heterogeneous compounds, the inventions of interested, and the imaginations of ignorant men.

The liberal and enlightened Physicians of the last and present century have gradually expunged most of these, and made the science of Medicine sufficiently intelligible to those whose business it is to learn it--if Medicine be entirely divested of its Mystery, its power over the Mind, which in most cases forms its main strength, will no longer exist.

It was a favourite remark of the celebrated Dr. John Brown[2], that "if a student in Physic employed seven years in storing his memory with the accepted, but,--unfortunately, in nine cases out of ten,--imaginary powers of Medicine, he would, if he did not possess very extraordinary sagacity, lose a much longer time in discovering the multiform delusions his medical oracles had imposed upon him--before he ascertains that, with the exception of _Mercury_ for the Lues,--_Bark_ for Intermittents,--and _Sulphur_ for Psora--the _Materia Medica_ does not furnish many Specifics--and may be almost reduced to Evacuants and Stimuli:"--However, these, skilfully administered, afford all the a.s.sistance to Nature, that can be obtained from Art!

Let not the uninitiated in Medical Mysteries imagine for a moment, that the Editor desires to depreciate their Importance--but observe once for all--that he has only one reason for writing this Book--which is, to warn you against the ordinary causes of Disorder--and to teach you the easiest and most salutary method of preventing or subduing it, and of recovering and preserving Health and Strength, when, in spite of all your prudence, you are overtaken by sickness, and have no Medical Friend ready to defend you.

Experience has so long proved the actual importance of TRAINING--that Pugilists will not willingly engage without such preparation.

The princ.i.p.al rules for which are,--to go to Bed early--to Rise early--to take as much _Exercise_ as you can in the open air, without fatigue--to _Eat and Drink_ moderately of plain nourishing Food--and especially,--to keep _the Mind_ diverted[3], and in as easy and cheerful a state as possible.

Somewhat such a system is followed at the fashionable watering places--and great would be the improvement of Health that would result from it,--if it was not continually counteracted, by visits to the Ball Room[4] and the Card Table.

A residence in the Country will avail little, if you carry with you there, the irregular habits, and late hours of fashionable Life.

Do not expect much benefit from mere change of _Air_--the purest breezes of the country will produce very little effect, unless accompanied by plenty of regular _Exercise_[5]--_Temperance_--and, above all, _Tranquillity of Mind_.--See _Obs. on_ "AIR" and "EXERCISE."

The following is a brief sketch of the usual METHOD OF TRAINING PERSONS FOR ATHLETIC EXERCISES.

The Alimentary Ca.n.a.l[6] is cleansed by an Emetic, and then two or three Purgatives.--See _Index_.

They are directed to eat Beef and Mutton[7]--rather _under_, than _over_-done, and without either Seasoning or Sauce--_Broils_, (No. 94), are preferred to either _Roasts_ (No. 19), or _Boils_--and stale Bread or Biscuit.

Neither Veal--Lamb--Pork--Fish--Milk--b.u.t.ter--Cheese--Puddings--Pastry--or Vegetables, are allowed.

Beef and Mutton only (fresh, not salted) are ordered;--but we believe this restriction is seldom entirely submitted to.

Nothing tends more to renovate the Const.i.tution, than a temporary retirement to the Country.

The necessity of breathing a pure Air, and the strictest Temperance, are uniformly and absolutely insisted upon by all Trainers;--the striking advantages resulting therefrom, we have heard as universally acknowledged by those who have been trained.

_Mild Home-brewed Ale_ is recommended for Drink--about three pints per day--taken with Breakfast and Dinner, and a little at Supper--not in large draughts--but by mouthfuls, alternately with your food.

_Stale Beer_ often disturbs delicate Bowels--if your Palate warns you that Malt Liquor is inclined to be hard, neutralize it with a little _Carbonate of Potash_;--that good sound Beer, which is neither nauseous from its newness, nor noxious from its staleness, is in unison with the animating diet of Animal Food, which we are recommending as the most effective antidote to debility, &c. experience has sufficiently proved.--There can be no doubt, that the combination of the tonic power of the Hop, and the nourishment of the Malt, is much more invigorating than any simple vinous spirit,--but the difficulty of obtaining it good, ready brewed--and the trouble of Brewing is so great--that happy are those who are contented with Good Toast and Water (No. 463*), as a diluent to solid food--and a few gla.s.ses of wine as a finishing "_Bonne Bouche_."

Those who do not like Beer--are allowed Wine and Water--Red wine is preferred to White, and _not more_ than half a pint, (_i. e._ eight ounces), or four common sized wine gla.s.ses, after Dinner--none after Supper--nor any Spirits, however diluted.

Eight hours' _Sleep_ are necessary--but this is generally left to the previous habits of the Person; those who take active Exercise, require adequate Rest.

BREAKFAST[8] upon meat at eight o'clock--DINNER at two--SUPPER is not advised, but they may have a little bit of cold meat about eight o'clock, and take a walk after, between it and ten, when they go to Bed.

_The Time requisite to screw a Man up to his fullest Strength_, depends upon his previous habits and Age. In the Vigour of Life, between 20 and 35, a Month or two is generally sufficient:--more or less, according as he is older, and as his previous Habits have been in opposition to the above system.

By this mode of proceeding for two or three months--the Const.i.tution of the human frame is greatly improved, and the Courage proportionately increased,--a person who was breathless, and panting on the least exertion--and had a certain share of those Nervous and Bilious Complaints, which are occasionally the companions of all who reside in great Cities--becomes enabled to run with ease and fleetness.

The Restorative Process having proceeded with healthful regularity--every part of the Const.i.tution is effectively invigorated--a Man feels so conscious of the actual augmentation of all his powers, both Bodily and Mental, that he will undertake with alacrity--a task which before he shrunk from encountering.

The clearness of THE COMPLEXION is considered the _best criterion of a Man's being in good condition_--to which we add the appearance of the UNDER-LIP--which is plump and rosy, in proportion to the healthy plethora of the const.i.tution:--this is a much more certain symptom of vigorous Health than any indication you can form from the appearance of the Tongue--or the PULSE, which is another very uncertain and deceiving Index,--the strength and frequency of which, not only varies in different persons, but in the same person in different circ.u.mstances and positions;--in some Irritable Const.i.tutions _the vibration of the Heart varies almost as often as it Beats_--when we walk--stand--sit--or lie down--early in the morning--late in the evening--elated with good news--depressed by bad, &c.--when the Stomach is empty--after taking food--after a full meal of Nutritive food--after a spare one of _Maigre materials_. Moreover, it is impossible to ascertain the degree of deviation from Health by feeling a Pulse--unless we are well acquainted with the peculiarity of it, when the patient is in Health.

The Editor has now arrived at the most difficult part of his work, and needs all the a.s.sistance that Training can give, to excite him to proceed with any hope of developing the subject, with that perspicuity and effect--which it deserves, and he desires to give it.

The _Food_--_Clothes_--_Fire_--_Air_--_Exercise_--_Sleep_--_Wine_, &c.

which may be most advisable for invigorating the Health of one individual--may be by no means the best adapted to produce a like good effect with another;--at the time of Life most people arrive at, before they think about these things--they are often become the slaves of habits which have grown with their growth, and strengthened with their strength--and the utmost that can be done after our 40th year, is to endeavour very gradually to correct them.

We caution those who are past the Meridian of Life (see _Index_)--to beware of suddenly abandoning established Customs, (especially of diminishing the warmth of their Clothing, or the nutritive quality of what they Eat and Drink), which, by long usage, often become as indispensable, as a Mathematical Valetudinarian reckoned his Flannel Waistcoat was--"in the _ratio_ that my _Body_ would be uncomfortable without my _Skin_--would my _Skin_ be, without my _Flannel Waistcoat_."

We recommend those who are in search of Health and Strength, to read the remarks which are cla.s.sed under the t.i.tles WINE,--SIESTA,--CLOTHES,--"AIR"--"FIRE"--SLEEP--PEPTIC PRECEPTS, &c.

With the greatest deference, we submit the following sketch, to be variously modified by the Medical Adviser--according to the season of the Year--the Age--Const.i.tution--and previous habits of the Patient,--the purpose it is intended to accomplish--or the Disorder it is intended to prevent or cure.

The first thing to be done, is to put the Princ.i.p.al Viscera into a condition to absorb the _pabulum vitae_, we put into the Stomach--as much depends on the state of the Organs of Digestion[9] as on the quality of our Diet:--therefore commence with taking, early in the morning, fasting, about half an hour before Breakfast, about two drams of _Epsom Salts_ (_i. e._ as much as will move the Bowels twice, not more,) in half a pint of warm water.--See _Index_.

The following day, go into a _Tepid Bath_, heated to about 95 degrees of _Fahrenheit_.

The Third day, take another dose of Salts--keeping to a light diet of Fish--Broths, &c. (Nos. 490, 563, 564, and 572). During the next week, take the TONIC TINCTURE, as directed in (No. 569). See _Index_. Thus far--any person may proceed without any difficulty,--and great benefit will he derive therefrom, if he cannot pursue the following part of the System:--

RISE early--if the Weather permits, amuse yourself with Exercise in the open air for some time before BREAKFAST--the material for which, I leave entirely to the previous habit of the Individual.

Such is the sensibility of the Stomach, when recruited by a good night's rest, that of all alterations in Diet, it will be most disappointed at any change of this Meal--either of the time it is taken--or of the quant.i.ty, or quality of it--so much so, that the functions of a delicate Stomach will be frequently deranged throughout the whole Day after.

The BREAKFAST I recommend, is Good Milk Gruel (No. 572), see _Index_, or Beef Tea (No. 563), see _Index_, or Portable Beef Tea (No. 252); a pint of the latter may be made for two-pence halfpenny, as easily as a Basin of Gruel.

The interval between _Breakfast_ and _Eleven_ o'clock, is the best time for Intellectual business--then _Exercise_ again till about _Twelve_--when probably the Appet.i.te will be craving for a LUNCHEON, which may consist of a bit of roasted Poultry,--a basin of good Beef Tea, or Eggs poached, (No. 546), or boiled in the Sh.e.l.l, (No. 547), Fish plainly dressed, (No. 144, or 145, &c.), or a Sandwich (No. 504),--stale Bread--and half a pint of good Home-brewed Beer--or Toast and Water, (No. 463*),--see _Index_,--with about one-fourth or one-third part of its measure of Wine, of which Port is preferred.

The solidity of the LUNCHEON should be proportionate to the time it is intended to enable you to wait for your Dinner, and the activity of the Exercise you take in the mean-time.

Take Exercise and Amus.e.m.e.nt as much as is convenient in the open air again, till past Four--then rest, and prepare for DINNER at _Five_--which should be confined to One Dish, of roasted Beef (No. 19), or Mutton (No. 23), five days in the week--boiled meat one--and roasted Poultry one--with a portion of sufficiently boiled ripe Vegetables--mashed Potatoes are preferred, see (No. 106), and the other fourteen ways of dressing this useful root.

The same restrictions from other articles of Food[10], as we have already mentioned in the plan for Training--_i. e._ if the person trained--has not arrived at that time of Life, when habit has become so strong--that to deprive him of those accustomed Indulgencies, &c. by which his health has. .h.i.therto been supported--would be as barbarous--as to take away Crutches from the Lame.