The Art of Invigorating and Prolonging Life Part 6

_Good Beef Tea_[38], (No. 563), with a little bit of slightly toasted Bread taken about nine o'clock--is a comforting restorative, which will support You through exertions that, without such a.s.sistance, are exhausting--and you go to bed fatigued--get up fevered, &c.

When Performers feel _Nervous, &c._--and fear the circulation is below _Par_,--and too languid to afford the due excitement, half an hour before they sing, &c.--they will do wisely, to wind up their System, with a little "_Balsamum Vitae_."--See "PEPTIC PRECEPTS."--Or tune their throats to the pitch of healthy vibration with a small gla.s.s of JOHNSON'S[39] "_Witte Curacoa_," see (No. 474) and Index, a gla.s.s of Wine, or other stimulus.--

To "Wet your Whistle," is occasionally, as absolutely necessary, as "to rosin the Bow of a Violin."--See "Observations on Vocal Music," prefixed to the Opera of _Ivanhoe_.

ACTORS and SINGERS are continually a.s.sailed by a variety of circ.u.mstances extremely unfavourable to Health--especially from sitting up late at night--to counteract which, we recommend _the Siesta_, and plenty of Exercise in a pure Air.

When they feel _Nervous_--_Bilious, &c. i. e._ that their whole System is so deranged by fatigue and anxiety, that they cannot proceed effectively and comfortably,--they must give their Throats two or three days' rest--cleanse the Alimentary Ca.n.a.l with Peristaltic Persuaders--see Index--and corroborate the Organs of Digestion with the Tonic Tincture (No. 569), see Index.

Strong PEPPERMINT LOZENGES, made by SMITH, Fell Street, Wood Street, Cheapside, are very convenient portable Carminatives:--as soon as they are dissolved, their influence is felt from the beginning to the end of the Alimentary Ca.n.a.l--they dissipate Flatulence so immediately, that they well deserve the name of _Vegetable Ether_; and are recommended to SINGERS and PUBLIC SPEAKERS--as giving effective excitement to the Organs of Voice--as a support against the distressing effects of Fasting too long--and to give energy to the Stomach between Meals.

THE POWER OF THE VOICE depends upon the vigorous state of the circulation supplying the Organs of Voice, with energy to execute the intentions of the Singer or Speaker--without which--the most accurate Ear and experienced Throat, will sometimes fail in producing the exact quality and quant.i.ty of Tone they intend.

That the VOICE is sometimes _too Flat_, or _too Sharp, &c._ is not a matter of astonishment--to those who really understand how arduous a task Singers have sometimes to perform;--it would only be wonderful if it was not--how is the Throat exempted from those collapses which occasionally render imperfect the action of every other fibre and function of our Body?

The _Dyspeptic_, who Tries the effect of Rec.u.mbency after Eating,--will soon be convinced that _Tristram Shandy_ was right enough, when he said, that "both pain, and pleasure, are best supported in an horizontal posture."

"If after Dinner the Poppies of repletion shed their influence on thy Eyelids--indulge thou kind Nature's hint."--"A quiet slumber in a comfortable warm room, favoureth the operation of Digestion--and thou shalt rise, refreshed, and ready for the amus.e.m.e.nts of the Evening."

The _Semi-Siesta_ is a pleasant position--(_i. e._ putting up the feet on a stool about eight inches high;) but catching a nap in a Chair is advisable only as a subst.i.tute when the Horizontal posture is not convenient--when you can, lie down on a Sofa--loosen all ligatures--and give your Bowels fair play.

These opinions,--which are the results of Personal experience--are exactly in unison with those of the following Medical Professors.

"From Eating comes Sleep--from Sleep Digestion."--SANCTORIUS, Sec. iv.

Aph. 59.

"Perhaps one of the uses of Sleep, and of the horizontal posture during that period--may be to facilitate the introduction of Chyle into the Blood."--CRUICKSHANK _on the Absorbents_, p. 95.

"The Brute Creation invariably lay down and enjoy a state of rest, the moment their stomachs are filled. People who are feeble, digest their Dinner best, if they lie down and sleep as most Animals do, when their stomachs are full."--DARWIN'S _Zoonomia_, vol. iv. p. 137.

"Dr. HARWOOD, Professor of Anatomy at Cambridge, took two pointers who were equally hungry, and fed them equally well,--_one_ he suffered to follow the promptings of Instinct--curled himself round till he was comfortable--and went to sleep, as animals generally do after eating--the _other_ was kept for about two hours in constant exercise.

On his return home--the two Dogs were killed.--In the Stomach of the _one_ who had been quiet and asleep, all the food was digested; in the Stomach of _the other_, that process was hardly begun."

"Quiet of Body and Mind for two hours after Dinner, is certainly useful to the Studious, the Delicate, and the Invalid."--ADAIR _on Diet_, p.

44.

"After Dinner, rest for three hours."--ABERNETHY'S _Surgical Obs_. 8vo.

1817, p. 93.

"After Dinner sit a while."--_Eng. Prov._

"If you have a strong propensity to Sleep after Dinner--indulge it, the process of Digestion goes on much better during Sleep, and I have always found an irresistible propensity to it--whenever Dyspeptic symptoms were considerable."--WALLER _on Incubus_, 1816, p. 109.

"Aged Men--and weake bodies, a short _Sleepe_ after Dinner doth help to nourish."--LORD BACON'S _Nat. Hist. Cent._ I. 57.

CLOTHES.

Of all the Customs of Clothing, the most extremely absurd is the usual arrangement of _Bed Clothes_, which in order as the chambermaid fancies to make the Bed look pretty in the Day time--are left long at the head, that they may cover the Pillows; when they are turned down, You have an intolerable load on your Lungs, and that part of the Body which is most exposed during the day--is smothered at night--with double the quant.i.ty of Clothes that any other part has.

Sleep is prevented by an unpleasant degree of either Heat or Cold; and in this ever-varying climate, where often "in one monstrous day all seasons mix," delicate Thermometrical persons will derive much comfort from keeping a Counterpane in reserve for an additional covering _in very Cold Weather:_ when some extra clothing is as needful by Night,--as a great coat is by Day.

A Gentleman who has a mind to carry the adjustment of his Clothes to a nicety--may have the shelves of his Wardrobe numbered 30, 40, 50, 60, &c. and according to the degree of Cold pointed to by his Fahrenheit[40], he may wear a corresponding defence against it:--This mode of adjusting Dress according to the vicissitudes of the weather, &c. is as rational as the ordinary practice of regulating it by the Almanack, or the Fashion, which in this uncertain Climate and capricious Age--will as often lead us wrong, as right.

Leave off your Winter Clothes late in the Spring;--put them on early in the Autumn. By wearing your Winter Clothes during the first half dozen warm days--You get some fine perspirations--which are highly salutary in removing obstructions in the cutaneous pores, &c.

_Delicate and Dyspeptic persons are often distressed by changing their Dress_,--which must be as uniform as possible,--in thickness--in quality--and in form,--especially (Flannel, or indeed) whatever is worn next to the Skin.

The change of a thick Waistcoat for a thin one--or a long one for a shorter one--not putting on Winter garments soon enough, or leaving them off too soon,--will often excite a violent disorder in the Lungs--or Bowels, &c. and exasperate any const.i.tutional complaint.

Those who wear _Flannel Waistcoats_, are recommended to have their new ones about the middle of November, with sleeves to them coming down to the wrist--the shortening these sleeves in the warm weather, is as effective an antidote against extreme Heat--as lengthening them, and closing the Cuff of the Coat, is against intense Cold.

Our COAT[41] should be made so large--that when b.u.t.toned we may be as easy as when it is unb.u.t.toned, so that without any unpleasant increase of pressure on the Chest, &c. we can wear it closely b.u.t.toned up to the Chin--the power of doing this is a convenient provision against the sudden alternations from heat to cold--b.u.t.toning up this outer garment, will protect the delicate from many mischiefs which so often arise in this inconstant climate from the want of such a defence; and the additional warmth it produces will often cure slight Colds, &c.

Another way of acc.u.mulating Caloric, is to have two sets of b.u.t.ton holes to the CUFF of the Coat, (especially of your Great Coat,) one of which will bring it quite close round the wrist.

When the Circulation is languid, and your _Feet are Cold_--wear worsted Stockings, have your Shoes well warmed--and when you take them from the Fire--put your Slippers[42] to it--that they may be warm and comfortable for you on your return home.

_In Wet Weather_ wear Shoes with double upper-leathers--- two thin leathers will keep you much drier than one thick one, and are more pliable--the Currier's Dubbing is the best nourisher of Leather--and renders it as soft as satin, and impervious to Water.

The mean temperature of England is about 50 degrees of Fahrenheit--it sometimes rises 25 degrees above this, in the height of Summer,--falls about as much below, in the depth of Winter--and in Summer frequently varies from 20 to 30 degrees between Mid-day and Midnight.

_The restoration, and the preservation of the Health, especially of those who have pa.s.sed their_ FORTIETH _Year_,--depends upon minute and unremitting attentions to Food,--Clothes,--Exercise, &c. which taken singly may appear trifling--but combined, are of infinite importance.

"_If you are careful of it, Gla.s.s will last as long as Iron._" By a regular observance of a few salutary precepts, a delicate Const.i.tution will last as long, and afford its Proprietor as many Amus.e.m.e.nts, as a Strong Body,--whose Mind takes but little care of it.

Invalids are advised to put on a Great Coat when they go out, and the temperature of the external air is not higher than 40. Some susceptible Const.i.tutions require this additional clothing when the Thermometer falls below 50; especially at the commencement of the Cold weather.

A GREAT COAT must be kept in a Room where there is a Fire,--if it has been hung up in a cold damp Hall, as it often is, it will contribute about as much to your Calorification,--as if You wrapped a Wet Blanket about You.

_Clothes_ should be warm enough to defend us from Cold[43],--and large[44] enough to let every movement be made with as much ease when they are on,--as when they are off.

Those whose employments are sedentary,--especially hard Students--who often neglect taking sufficient Exercise[45], suffer extremely from the pressure of tight _Waistbands_--_Garters, &c._ which are the cause of many of the mischiefs that arise from long sitting--during which they should be loosened.

_Braces_ have been generally considered a great improvement in modern dress--because they render the pressure of the Waistband unnecessary, which when extremely close is certainly prejudicial--but we have always thought they have produced more inconvenience than they have removed--for if the inferior Viscera get thereby more freedom of action--the superior suffer for it--and, moreover, _Ruptures_ are much more frequent--the Girdle which formerly prevented them being removed,--and, instead of that useful and partial horizontal pressure, in spite of the elastic springs which have been attached to the Braces, the whole body is grievously oppressed by the Vertical Bands.

The best material for Breeches, is the elastic worsted stocking stuff.

_Tight Stays_--and _Braces_--obstruct the circulation of the Blood, &c.

are the cause of many Chronic Complaints, and often create Organic Diseases[46].

FIRE.