The Art of Invigorating and Prolonging Life Part 7

As we advance in Age--the force of the circulation being lessened, the warmth of our Clothes and our coverings at night should be gradually increased. "After the age of 35, it may be better to exceed, rather than be deficient in clothing."--ADAIR'S _Cautions_, p. 390.

Cold often kills the infirm and the aged, and is the proximate cause of most Palsies;--it is extremely desirable that Bed and Sitting Rooms for Winter occupation, should have a Southern aspect--when the Thermometer is below 30, the proper place for people beyond 60, is their own Fire-side:--many of the disorders and Deaths of persons at this period of Life--originate from irregularity in Diet, Temperature, &c. by Dining out, and frisking about, joining in Christmas Gambols, &c. in Cold weather.

_The Art of making a room comfortably warm_, does not consist merely in making a very large Fire in it--but depends as much on the keeping of cold air out--this is best done by _Double Windows_, see page 91, and double Doors,--at least take care that your Sashes fit close,--that the beads of the window frames are tight--stop the aperture between the skirting boards and the floor with putty--and list the Doors.

We suppose it almost needless to say that every room in the house should be thoroughly ventilated[47] by a current of fresh Air--at least once every day, when the weather is not very damp--or cold. By making a Fire accordingly--this may be done almost every Day in the Year.

If You leave the Door open for _Five_ minutes--it will let in more cold air than your Fire can make warm in _Fifteen_--therefore, initiate your Domestics in these first principles of the _Economy of Caloric_,--and when the Weather is cold, caution them to keep Doors shut.

A regular Temperature may be preserved by a simple contrivance attached to a Thermometer, which will open an aperture to admit the external air--when the apartment is heated above the degree desired (_i. e._ about 60 for common const.i.tutions,) and exclude it when it falls below it.

A Room, which is in constant occupation all day--may be occasionally _pumped_ by moving the door backward and forward for several minutes.

We do not advise Invalids to indulge themselves in heating their rooms to a higher temperature[48] than from 60 to 65.--Those who have resided the best part of their Life in warm climates--will like the latter best.

While we recommend the Aged and Infirm to be kept comfortably warm--they must at the same time cautiously avoid excess of heat.

When the Thermometer tells them that the external air is under 60,--whether it be in July, or in January,--those who are susceptible of Cold, must tell their Servants to keep a small fire--especially if the Weather be at the same time damp.

Those who, from caprice, or parsimony,--instead of obeying this comfortable and salutary precept, sit shivering and murmuring, and refuse to employ the Coal-merchant, as a subst.i.tute for the Sun--may soon spend in Physic, more than they have saved in Fuel.

By raising the temperature of my Room to about 65, taking a full dose of Epsom Salts, and a Broth Diet, and retiring to rest an hour sooner than usual, I have often very speedily got rid of _Colds_, &c.

The following _Plan of Lighting and managing a Fire_, has been attended with great comfort and convenience to myself, (particularly at the beginning and the end of winter, when a very small fire is sufficient), and I think considerable saving of coals.

Fill your Grate with fresh coals quite up to the upper bar but one, then lay in your f.a.ggot of wood in the usual manner, rather collected in a ma.s.s, than scattered, that a body of concentrated heat may be produced as soon as possible; over the f.a.ggot place the cinders of the preceding day--piled up as high as the grate will admit, and placed loosely in rather large fragments--in order that the draft may be free--a bit or two of fresh coal may be added to the cinders when once they are lighted, but no small coal must be thrown on at first, for the reason above stated:--when all is prepared, light the wood, when the cinders becoming in a short time thoroughly ignited--the gas rising from the coals below, which will now be effected by the heat, will take fire as it pa.s.ses through them, leaving a very small portion of smoke to go up the Chimney.

The advantage of this mode of lighting a fire is, that small coal is better suited to the purpose than large--except a few pieces in front to keep the small from falling out of the Grate--it may be kept in reserve, to be put on afterwards if wanted. I have frequently known my fire lighted at 8 o'clock in the morning, continue burning till 11 at night, without any thing being done to it: when apparently quite out, on being stirred, you have in a few minutes a glowing fire: it will sometimes be necessary to loosen, or stir slightly the upper part of the fire if it begins to cake--but the lower part must not be touched, otherwise it will burn away too soon.

AIR.

Many Invalids are hurried into their Grave--by the indiscreet kindness of their friends forcing them from the comforts of Home--for the sake of Air more abounding with _Oxygen, i. e._ the vivifying part of the atmosphere:--that great benefit is received from what is _called_ change of air is true enough--it is seldom considered that there is also a change in most of the other circ.u.mstances of the patient--many, of infinitely more importance, than that which derives all the credit of the Cure.

For instance, if a person living in a confined part of the City--neglecting exercise, hara.s.sed all day by the anxieties of Business, and sitting up late at Night, &c. be removed to the tranquillity of rural scenes, which invite him to be almost constantly taking Exercise in the open Air, and retiring to rest at an early hour--and thus, instead of being surrounded by irritations unfavourable to Health, enjoying all the "_jucunda oblivia vitae_" which are favourable to it--such a Change will often do wonders, and sufficiently account for the miraculous cures attributed to--_Change of Air_.

Chemical Philosophers a.s.sert indeed--that a Gallon of the unsavoury Gas from Garlick Hill, gives as high a proportion of _Oxygen_, as the like quant.i.ty of the ethereal element of Primrose Hill:--this seems incredible, and must arise either from the imperfection of the _Eudiometer_ giving erroneous results, or from the air being impregnated with matter unfriendly to Health, which the instruments employed to a.n.a.lyze it, have not the power of denoting:--let any one thread the mazes of a crowded city, and walk for the same s.p.a.ce of time in a pleasant Country--the animal spirits will soon testify, which is the most exhilarating.

However, people certainly do live long, and enjoy Health, in situations apparently very unfavourable to Animal Life.

Our Omniscient Creator has given to our Lungs, the same faculty of extracting nutriment from various kinds of Air--as the Stomach has from various kinds of Aliment:--the Poor man who feeds on the coa.r.s.est food, is supported by it in as sound Health, as the Rich man who fares sumptuously every day.

Well then, in nine cases out of ten, to change the Atmosphere we have been long accustomed to, is as unadvisable as a change in the Food we have been used to--unless other circ.u.mstances make it so, than the mere change of Place.

The Opulent Invalid who has been long indulged with a Home arranged to his humour--must beware (especially during any exacerbation of his infirmity) of leaving it--it would be almost as desperate a procedure as to eject an Oyster from his Sh.e.l.ls.

EXERCISE.

"By ceaseless action, all that is subsists, Constant rotation of the unwearied wheel That nature rides upon, maintains her health, Her beauty, her fertility. She dreads an instant's pause, And lives but while she moves."--COWPER'S _Task_.

"The wise, for Health on EXERCISE depend; G.o.d never made his work for Man to mend."

The more luxuriously you live, the more Exercise[49] you require,--the "_Bon Vivant_" may depend upon the truth of the advice which Sir Charles Scarborough gave to the d.u.c.h.ess of Portsmouth, "You must Eat less,--or take more Exercise[50]--or take Physic,--or be Sick."

Exercise is the grand power to promote the Circulation through the capillary vessels, by which the const.i.tution is preserved from obstructions,--Appet.i.te increased, and Digestion improved in all its stages,--the due distribution of nourishment, invigorates the Nervous System, gives firmness and elasticity to the Muscles, and strength to every part of the System.

Exercise, to have its full effect, must be continued till we feel a sensible degree of _Perspiration_,--(which is the _Panacea for the prevention of Corpulence_)--see page 50--and should, at least once a-day, proceed to the borders of fatigue, but never pa.s.s them,--or we shall be weakened instead of strengthened.

Health depends upon perpetual Secretion and Absorption, and Exercise only can produce this.

After Exercise, take care to get cool gradually--when your Head perspires, rub it, and your Face, &c. dry with a cloth:--this is better for the Hair than the best "Bear's Grease," and will beautify the Complexion beyond "_La Cosmetique Royale_," or all the Red and White Olympian Dew that was ever imported.

One of the most important precepts for the preservation of Health, is to take care of _the Skin_[51].

In Winter, the surface of the Body, the Feet, &c. should be washed twice or thrice a Week, with water of the temperature of about 98, and wiped every Day with a wet towel;--_a Tepid Bath_ of the like temperature once a fortnight will also conduce much to both health and comfort. Some advise that the surface of the Body be wiped every morning with a wet sponge, and rubbed dry after, with not too fine a cloth.

WINE.

"Le Vin est l'un des produits de la nature les plus difficiles a juger et a bien choisir: et les plus habiles gourmets sont souvent mis en defaut."--_Manuel du Sommelier_, Paris, 1817, p. 1.

Wine, especially Port, is generally twice spoiled--before it is considered fit to be drank!!!

The _Wine-Maker_ spoils it first, by over-loading it with _Brandy_ to make it keep.--

The _Wine-Drinker_ keeps it till time has not only dissipated the superabundant spirit,--but even until the acetous fermentation begins to be evident,--this, it is the taste now to call "_Flavour_,"--and Wine is not liked, till it has lost so much of its exhilarating power, that you may drink a Pint of it, before receiving that degree of excitement,--which the Wine-drinker requires to make him Happy. We mean a legal PINT containing 16 ounces.

The measure of a BOTTLE OF WINE ought to be as definitive, as that of a POT OF PORTER:--is it not astonishing that the Legislature have not ordered _a Standard and Stamped Quart_, for the Wine-merchant--as they have a Pot for the Publican?

This would be equally as desirable to the respectable Wine-merchant,--as to the Public.

It would protect the former against the injurious compet.i.tion of those who at present, by vending Wine in Bottles of inferior dimension, impose on the unwary purchaser under pretence of selling at a lower than the Market price.

The purchaser of a Dozen Bottles of Wine expects to receive Three Gallons of Wine.

_Proportions of the Wine Gallon, according to the last London Pharmacopia_:--

Gallon. Pints. Fluid Ounces. Drachms. Minims or Drops.

1 = 8 = 128 = 1024 = 61,440