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diff --git a/39219.txt b/39219.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..08246de --- /dev/null +++ b/39219.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7430 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Health, Happiness, and Longevity, by +Louis Philippe McCarty + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Health, Happiness, and Longevity + Health without medicine: happiness without money: the result, longevity + +Author: Louis Philippe McCarty + +Release Date: March 21, 2012 [EBook #39219] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HEALTH, HAPPINESS, AND LONGEVITY *** + + + + +Produced by Bryan Ness, Laura and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + + + + + + + + +[Illustration: Happy Homes are happier if the "NEW HOME"] + +TERMS TO SUIT EVE + +THE NEW HOME SEWING MACHINE CO + +CHAS. E. NAYLOR, MANAGER. + +725 MARKET ST. (History Building), SAN FRANCISCO + + + + + HEALTH, + HAPPINESS, + and LONGEVITY. + + Health without Medicine, Happiness + without Money, + + THE RESULT, + + LONGEVITY. + + BY + + L. P. McCARTY, + + Author of the Annual Statistician and Economist, + SAN FRANCISCO, CAL. + + + SAN FRANCISCO: + CARSON & CO., + 210 POST STREET. + + + + + HEALTH + HAPPINESS + AND + LONGEVITY. + + +Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1890, by + +L. P. McCARTY, + +In the Office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington, D. C. + + + Price, in Flexible Covers, $.75 + Price, in Paper Covers, .50 + + + ADDRESS, + L. P. McCARTY, 814 Cal. St., S. F., Cal. + OR THE BOOK TRADE GENERALLY. + + + CARSON & CO., + Wholesale Agents, 210 Post St., + SAN FRANCISCO, CAL. + + + + +PREFACE. + + + = ... "to know + That which before us lies in daily life + Is the prime wisdom. What is more is fume, + Or emptiness, or fond impertinence, + And renders us, in things that most concern, + Unpractic'd, unprepar'd, and still to seek." + --_Milton's Adam to Angel._= + +Experience is honored. + +This book is the result of experience. + +Man is interested in what pertains to health. + +We are positive that the ideas herein set forth are healthful. + +Our profession is not that of a doctor of chemical medicines. + +We have no hobby to ride or patent panacea to advertise, but desire to +express, in plain, forcible, truthful language, the methods by which +mankind can practically achieve health, happiness and longevity. These +go together. Why should they not? Related, dependent upon each other, +the great objects of human life, the culmination of all physical and +worldly pleasure are contained in them. + +Whether you are the perfect embodiment of a business man or the ideal +disciple of a certain profession, you cannot possibly reach the highest +or even most lucrative grades of your calling without health, happiness, +and their logical consequence, longevity. They will prove trusty +lieutenants. Without them the battle of life will draw to a close in +retreat and end in defeat. + +To assert that the average man can enjoy health without medicine, +happiness without even money, and longevity too, is a broad and sweeping +declaration. In fact, we expect to have opposition from those who have +not tried the formula laid down in the following pages. + +To _keep_ yourself in health without medicine is what we intend to +convey; and we assert that but little or no medicine is necessary to +reach that condition. To have happiness without any money (in the +present condition of society) is not what we claim, but that more +happiness can be extracted from a competency than by more or less. + +To live to good old age means with us 80 to 120 years, to increase with +future generations, when order, regularity, sobriety, cleanliness, and +love for the whole human family, shall be paramount in the political, +moral, and intellectual world. + +The author is living on thirty years of made land. In other words, +according to medical diagnosis, he should have _died_ thirty years ago! +Hence he desires to put before the unhealthy, unhappy, and short-lived +human race the result of his experience of half a century. Having +battled with a score of diseases, a number of which were claimed to be +absolutely incurable--having freed himself entirely of them all--having +been completely restored to health and happiness, he honestly believes +that he has a convincing right to be heard. + +You can now prove for yourself. + + + + +PART I. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + + "Health is the vital principle of bliss, + And exercise of health." + + +_Health_, _Happiness_, and _Longevity_. What a talisman is here! In them +is the magic that can rule all men. No seal, figure, character, engraven +on a sympathetic stone, can equal their single or combined influence. +Say to your fellow-man, "If you follow my direction I will confer upon +you health, happiness, and longevity," and you will receive his lasting +gratitude. He will always be your friend. Money is potent, but these +qualities are, as it were, omnipotent. Money alone cannot bring them; +they alone can make wealth. + +This work is _not_ a _philosophical_ treatise, difficult to read and +more so to comprehend. Its ideas are simple, the result of long +_experience_ and _observation_. Its propositions are easily +demonstrated. Then, my reader, do not think you are perusing the hobbies +of a crank, the fantasies of a dreamer, and the preachings of him who +does not practice. The world has been so flooded with worthless +productions of such characters that we fear we must combat severe +_prejudice_. Will you lay that aside? If so we will not only interest +but instruct you. Agreeing with our premises and conclusions, you will +certainly reap some benefit; not agreeing, you will be tempted to +further investigation, which will inevitably prove the strength of our +position. + +This book was not written at one sitting or many, but it is the +culmination of several _years' preparation_. While the first part is the +result of thorough reasoning and experience, the second is a collection +of the best modern data on prominent diseases and their remedies, with +our own annotations. Both sections represent thoughtful and painstaking +labor. Even if you are so bold as to maintain that you possess health, +happiness, and are sure of longevity, we believe you cannot fail to find +practical, valuable truths in these pages. Whether you are an editor, +merchant, lawyer, doctor, minister, or day-laborer, we hope at least to +entertain you. Are we right? Read and judge. + +From the mythological times of _AEsculapius_ down to the present day, +votaries of medical science have been compounding, diagnosing, and +prescribing for helpless, suffering humanity. For many ages this +condition may have been a necessity, but in the light of our present +civilization, sound common sense is the best physician. That _doctors_ +cannot be trusted to be right in every instance or even in a majority of +them is shown by practical experiments. They certainly are well proved +to be an inharmonious crowd by the experience of a _Boston Globe_ +reporter, who recently called upon ten regular physicians on the same +day, and described his symptoms in exactly the same language to each. He +received ten prescriptions, of which no two were alike, and a majority +were utterly inconsistent each with the other. _Nellie Bly_, the famous +lady writer of the New York _World_, had a cold and went to over fifty +of the city's leading physicians, in October, 1889, asking them to +prescribe for her. They did, and among the collection there were no two +alike, and many diametrically opposite in nature and effect! + +In a lecture recently delivered before the Cooper Medical College, San +Francisco, Cal., on the subject of "Quacks and Quackery," by Prof. L. C. +Lane, the speaker said: "Every good thing in the world has been +counterfeited, and in these advanced times the work is so well done that +it takes an expert to detect the true from the false. Everything is now +more or less adulterated, especially the food we consume. The three +great professions also of theology, law, and medicine, have been and are +grossly counterfeited, especially the latter, which opens up the widest +field for imposture." + +As the above quotations, without an explanation, might convey the idea +to the reader that the author considers that doctors, dentists, and +specialists are no longer a necessity, I will say, Under the present +state of society, they are not only indispensable, but absolutely a +necessity. When you are ill, and do not know what is the matter with +you, or if you know the nature of your ailments, and do not know a +remedy, seek a first-class physician; take his advice in every +particular until he either cures you or you are convinced he cannot. I +am not a prophet, nor the son of one, but I will venture an opinion that +before the close of the next century, the position of the minister, +teacher, and physician will be filled by one and the same person. The +teacher _then_ will fill the most exalted position on the earth. He will +not only instruct how to navigate the air without collision, but how not +to catch cold at 30,000 feet elevation in your shirt sleeves, and _who_ +and _what_ is _God_. His school-house will sit upon the most elevated +spot in his district, with light reflected from all four sides; it will +be at least fifty feet from the floor of his school-room to the ceiling; +and in place of a steeple, there will be a dome, containing a 100-inch +refractor telescope, and with the extra timber not used for a _steeple_, +the seats will be made more comfortable, and pure filtered water will be +supplied for the pupils to drink. + +It is granted that the majority of mankind appreciate health, desire +happiness, and expect longevity. With this as an incentive, why not +strive to win the prize? Do not depend on the doctor, do not think some +drug must be applied or imbibed for every ill; there are other methods. + +Perhaps we can aid you to the true enjoyment of life if you will +_impartially_ weigh our _argument_. Here is an _editor_ suffering from +nervousness. He consults a physician, who hands him an opiate so that he +can sleep. Better if he had given up all thought of his paper and +battles of words, on leaving his office, and allowed his throbbing, +weary brain a deserving rest. Then the cells of this brainy tissue would +cease to be gorged with blood, and sleep would positively follow. Again, +there is a _clergyman_ every Sunday beseeching his flock to obey the +commandments of the _Bible_; while every day, through carelessness, he +is breaking the laws of health. If an _all-wise Being_ gave us our +bodies as homes of our souls, did he not mean that we should promote the +happiness of the soul by providing for it a healthy residence? What +logic and strength exist in a religion that does not countenance such +philosophy? The majority of mankind admire a well-developed _physique_. +The minister wishes and prays to influence the masses of men. Can he +reach them effectively, can he point to himself as an example, can he +sway them by any reasoning or eloquence, when he himself has a husky +voice, a pallid face, and a weakened figure? Indeed, the cowled, +decrepit monk could lead the world in the darkness of the middle ages; +but in the brightness of the nineteenth century his scepter is +powerless. + +_Health_, _Happiness_ and _Longevity_ seem to be all that is required +for mortal man. They are the foundation, the superstructure, and the +apex respectively of the great _Pyramid_ of life. Who would desire more +than the possession of perfect health, the realization of happiness, the +achievement of ripe old age, retaining all the pleasurable attributes of +Perfected Manhood, experiencing all these until called upon to surrender +this present house of clay for a more advanced state, whatever that may +be? Such degrees of soundness, felicity, and age, which we have +mentioned, are within the reach of all who desire them, if they will +observe the rules implied in the following terms, arranged in the order +of their importance: Regularity, Cleanliness, Temperance (or +moderation), Morality, and Self-control. It is safe to state the +proposition that there is not one in a thousand of those induced to +peruse this humble effort, who will not claim to possess one or more of +the foregoing virtues, while a fair minority will urge that they are +characterized by all of them. + +That your _egoism_ may not get the better of you in the start and bias +you before reading my talk, I will frankly say that there is hardly a +person living to-day who is either regular, cleanly, temperate, moral, +or self-controlled. It is a fact that some have made fair efforts in +those lines of action, but we shall attempt to prove that not any have +perfected themselves in a single attribute above mentioned. With us, +regularity, cleanliness, temperance, morality, and self-control are so +interlaced as to become synonymous terms, the perfection of any one of +which means the consummation of all, while their master could laugh at +sorrow, pain, and even death, for through long years they would pass his +door and forget to knock. Just in proportion as we approximate these +virtues, correspondingly will our _lives_ be prolonged and our +_happiness_ intensified. _Fear_ will not prostrate us because + + "Death rides on every passing breeze, + He lurks in every flower." + +As modifying the foregoing partially, let us understand, however, that +it is possible to have health and longevity to a wonderful degree +without cleanliness, temperance, morality, and self-control, on one +vital consideration. That is, the _continual_ exercise of _regularity_. +Here we have the corner-stone of the whole structure of health, the +cardinal first law. But can we be happy without the generous employment +of _all_ these virtues? Obviously and fortunately, we cannot. _Health_ +is also the chief _desideratum_ to happiness. As disease creeps through +the physical frame, as aches and pains increase and torment our bodies, +our _doubts_ supplant _faith_ in the _Source_ of all goodness. + +After a quarter of a century's constant devotion, in sackcloth and +ashes, as it were, attempting to free the body from the shackles of +pulmonary consumption, and growing gradually worse during the whole +period, the majority of devotees, we think, would begin to inquire, "Are +our prayers lacking sincerity? or is the Source of goodness at this time +otherwise occupied? or may it not be that this for which I ask, I must +seek by personal action?" We will try this self-helping method; if +success comes, we will return to the same altar with a more exalted idea +of a higher Source. Cleansed of our maladies, we will have a clearer +perception of who and what is God. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + + "There is naught like universal co-operation to promote universal + achievement." + + +_Individuals_ may seek and obtain health through the agencies already, +and to be, suggested. To keep in health, their _neighbors_ must be +induced or compelled to adopt the same course. This is not an absolute +law, but manifestly is very essential. Supposing your own house, +sidewalk, alley, or yard, are comparatively immaculate, it will be +impossible to live without constant danger and exposure if your friend +(or enemy in this sense) has an untidy house, a dirty sidewalk, and a +filthy yard, in your proximity. Then how encouraging to note that health +is as contagious as disease. It even spreads with greater rapidity. +Health is gladly welcomed; disease is shunned like a deadly poison. All +over the world past and contemporary history proves that, once started, +health spreads at a rate that disease cannot follow. What will surely +result? Healthful communities will make healthful municipalities; +healthful municipalities will end in commonwealths and nations of like +character. The whole earth will be leavened. From a record of 34 years +as the average _duration_ of human life, the thermometer of universal +progress will point to the threescore and ten, or 70 years. + +If you were induced to smile at the close of the last sentence, it shows +that you are not lost to all sense of appreciation--but quietly put on +your sober cap for a moment and read a few facts on _vital statistics_. +The average length of life up to twenty years ago was 33 years, now it +has reached about 34.8 years. This has not been caused by the _whole_ +world becoming more healthful--indeed, some portions of the earth, +including sections of the United States, have retrograded, and the +former limit of _mortality_ has been lowered--but by the health of a +number of _organizations_, _sects_, and individuals who have increased +their standards of regularity, cleanliness, temperance, morality, and +self-control. Thus the average rate of mortality has been raised nearly +2%. An interesting fact which is new to the majority of persons is this, +that the whole sect of _Friends_, or _Quakers_, live an average of 58 +years per individual. In the thirty-two years from 1850 to 1882 they +raised the average six years, or about one year in five. With this +ratio, which is itself increasing, the plurality of Quakers will be +centenarians in less than two hundred years--in half that time if +assisted by the world at large. By the foregoing it will be seen that +the whole organization of Friends live 70% longer than the general age +allotted to mankind, which includes them to make up the universal rate. +Another noticeable feature in connection with the Quakers' life is this, +the deaths among them average 18 in every thousand; in the general +population, 22 per thousand; while the amount given to charities per +inhabitant in that sect is $7.78, and in the total population the +average is $1.46. Why this difference in longevity to so marked a +degree? + +The _prohibitionist_ will give this reason, that the Friends dissipate +less; the religionists will say they are more truthful, more godly. +While each of the aforementioned reasons have a healthful tendency, +there is a more scientific conclusion, for it is a well-known fact that +there are thousands of cases of longevity of men and women who lack +every moral principle, and dissipate all their lives. The _scientist_ +comes to our rescue. He tells us that the Quaker's life is prolonged by +his methodical way of living, evenness of temperament, wearing the same +weight of clothing, allowing nothing to furrow the brow, regularity of +sleeping, drinking, exercising, and eating. He takes no food or drink +into his stomach above 100 degrees or below 50 degrees Fahr. _Boiling_ +hot soup and frozen _ice-cream_ are unknown in a Quaker family. This +might convey the idea that ice-cream is foresworn by them. Not entirely +so. They use the same good judgment in that as in every other +indulgence, allowing the cream to rise in temperature from 10 degrees to +15 degrees above the freezing point, to soft consistency, before it is +taken into the stomach. Dr. Ufflemann, a German physician of authority, +draws some important conclusions from his own experiments and those of +others. The rules laid down are briefly:-- + +1. That, in general, a temperature of food which approaches that of the +blood is most healthful. + +2. For quenching the thirst the best temperature is from 50 degrees +Fahr. to 68 degrees Fahr. Americans prefer about 40 degrees. + +3. The gulping down of ice-water or hot coffee, etc., means eventually a +stomach damnation. + +4. The use of very hot and cold substances, following or alternating, is +injurious to the teeth. + +5. Ingestion of cold food and drinks lessens the bodily temperature, +whether it be normal or febrile. + +6. Cold food and drinks increase the tendency to cough, by causing, +reflexly, a congestion of the bronchial vessels. Hence persons with +bronchial disease ought not to indulge in cold drinks. + +The habits of indulgence in alcoholic drinks, tobacco, opium, and other +narcotics or stimulants, have less to do than is generally supposed with +longevity, but much to do with happiness, while their abuse or +irregularity determines all for health, happiness, and longevity +combined. Temperance men and moralists will take issue with me, and +undertake to prove that any quantity, no matter how small, of either +alcohol, tobacco, or opium will shorten life; but the facts will not +sustain the assertion. It is the irregularity with which the body is +treated, either by outward application or bathing, in eating, sleeping, +or excess in all vices. For health, a regular gratification in the full +list of vices is better than having no vices--such as are so termed by +the world--and being irregular in everything else. While I do not +believe in practising any form of vice, yet the man who takes six drinks +of alcoholic spirits in reasonable quantities at fixed intervals each +day, smokes six cigars--two after each meal--chews three ounces of +tobacco with the same punctuality every day, eats his meals slowly and +at stated periods, sleeps from 8-1/2 to 9 hours per night between the +same hours, will outlive the man who neither smokes, chews, or drinks, +but does eat and sleep irregularly, and lies awake all night hating his +neighbor for his immoralities. He gets thin and haggard, followed by +all the weaknesses to which his system is heir; while the other man, +with his evenness of nature, habits, and dissipations, enjoys health, +becomes fat, and lives to the proverbial good old age. + +Here, then, my reader, we have the explanation why a man may live +through _dissipation_ all his life, and then die only by accident at 80 +or 100 years of age. A beggar, miser, or hermit may by degrees contract +the habit of filthiness, non-bathing, scantiness of food and improper +clothing, with such regularity that he will outlive all his friends and +relatives, and be chronicled at his death as one of the _centenarians_. +As an interesting fact, we state that in 1888 a beggar, aged 84, in +Perth, Hungary, tried to commit suicide by throwing himself into the +Danube because he was no longer able to support his father and mother, +who were 115 and 110 years old respectively! _Poisons_ may be taken in +infinitesimal doses for a while, then increasing by degrees until +_twenty_ grains of morphia or strychnia may be taken at a single dose +without immediate injury. There is at least one case of positive record +in Colusa County, of this State. + +In closing this chapter we wish to call attention to a reasonable result +of true system, or regularity. Here is a _convict_ in the State prison. +Before he was incarcerated his health was imperfect, and he wore a +sallow, dejected look; but behold him after six months of strict +penitentiary discipline; he is a well man, fat and sleek--no longer a +semi-invalid. There are exceptions, but they are due to melancholy +generally. A _soldier_ after he enlists, unless he is exposed to the +constant privations of protracted war, throws off most defects in his +physique. You must know the cause; it is the compulsory regulation of +diet and clothing. Cleanliness and regularity are forced upon them, +showing it to be just what they needed. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + + "Let health my nerves and finer fibers brace." + + +The possession of health, happiness, and longevity requires _not_ so +much a general literary and _scientific education_, as a _practical +knowledge_ of one's own self. The latter will far outweigh the other. In +many ways, however, will these qualities be improved by the former. A +person must know what is regularity, cleanliness, and temperance, or +moderation. By the use of these effective auxiliaries, I have freed +myself of so many maladies within the last thirty years that the average +medical devotee will laugh in derision and question my trustworthiness. +For the first _eleven_ years of my life I had _seven_ years of wasting +sickness. Of these, _five_ were spent in bed. At the age of 22 I left a +clerkship in New York City to come to California, _via_ Cape Horn. +_Consumption_ was strongly seated on my lungs. In addition to this +dangerous affliction I had bronchitis, catarrh, constipation, piles, +periodical rheumatism, cataracts on my eyes, corns on my feet, and fever +and ague from one to three months every year. Surely I was in a position +to sympathize with _Job_, but impatient, rather than patient like the +Biblical hero. I set myself towards absolute health. Before I had been +in this State two years, I gained the mastery of the lung and throat +troubles; but while assisting in putting in a flume in Feather River, +below Oroville, in 1859, I ruptured myself so that for twenty-five years +I wore a truss. Now I am entirely rid of the aforementioned list of +ailments, including hernia. + +The detail of how I treated each of the maladies might not interest the +reader, and is too long a story to relate in this work. The principal +things done in each case, however, will be chronicled under their proper +heads in the second part of this work. See index. I do not now smoke, +chew, nor drink intoxicants; the latter I did to a limited degree, and +the former to excess, for a number of years, up to the close of 1869. On +the 31st day of December of that year--the day I smoked my _last +cigar_--I bought _twenty-five_ cigars and smoked _twenty-three_ of them. +My cigar bill that year averaged $2.50 per day, and ran as high as +$4.00. Having dissipated, and had nearly every form of disease, I speak +from my own thorough experience and not from that of anyone else. Why +should not my story, then, have a beneficial influence? If any man knows +how he can improve the welfare of his fellows, it is his duty to spread +the information. True it is that many of the _quasi reformers_, or +informers, are cranks or dreamers; but we wish the fact distinctly +understood and appreciated that we come not under that category. We +raise no false standard; we send forth no untried hypothesis. There is a +man in a New England State who annually lectures on agriculture, writes +special and general articles for the country papers on the most improved +methods of farming, appears before legislative committees as a +successful tiller of the soil. But, alas! what superficiality is +contained in this man's brain. His house is a barn, his garden a +chicken-yard, his orchard a forest, and his meadow a pasture. There are +like phantasmagoric geniuses interested in the health question. We +simply say, Trust them not. Shun them and their advice as you would the +presence and enticings of a bunco steerer. But you will get impatient to +learn in what consists cleanliness, regularity, and temperance if I do +not proceed. Indeed, I think I can hear some of you say, "I neither +chew, drink, smoke, eat irregularly, or miss my stipulated number of +hours in bed; yet I have all manner of aches and pains, and many +lingering maladies." If such be the case, you do not understand the true +principle and its practical application of _cleanliness_. A word here in +regard to bathing. There is no doubt we all should bathe at least once a +day. It should be done either at retiring or rising. If a warm or hot +bath, at night; if cold or sponge bath, in the morning. Of course, if a +person is not accustomed to a cold sponge bath, or is quite nervous, he +must not attempt it too strongly at first. Commence and advance by +gradation. Almost anything can be done to which an individual is +unaccustomed if regular steps are taken towards the end, and not one +leap. Whether it be beneficial or destructive, invigorating or +poisoning, gradation will accomplish the end. + +Madame Patti, who always has been obliged to take the greatest care of +herself, gives this warning, which may not be out of place: "Take plenty +of exercise, take it in the open air, take it alone, and breathe with +the mouth closed. Live on simple food; all the fruit and rare beef you +want, very little pastry, a glass of claret for dinner, coffee in +moderation, but never a sip of beer, because it thickens the voice and +stupefies the senses. Keep regular hours for work, meals, rest, and +recreation, and never under any circumstances indulge in the fashionable +habit of eating late suppers. If you want to preserve the beauty of +face, and the priceless beauty of youth, keep well, keep clean, keep +erect, and keep cool." Without being didactic, let me detail to you a +few things you should and should not do; and all of which I carry out to +the letter:-- + +Adopt some style of _clothing_ so that even if you change the color the +_weight_ will be about the _same_. + +Wear no overcoat, overshoes, nor gloves; in their place wear a +sufficiently heavy suit when it is warm, so as to have enough on when it +is cold. By wearing a _chest protector_ fore and aft of the lungs, made +of chamois and flannel, over the under-garment and under the shirt, you +will never take cold through your lungs. + +Have good, thick-soled _boots_--and always of the same thickness--and +you will not take cold through your feet. + +Have a _hat_ always of the same weight, and that should be light, with +ventilators in the top or sides. If you do not wear your hat at the +lunch table, or in your place of business, you will not catch cold in +your head. + +A large list of accessories accompany the above:-- + +Never sit at your desk or home fireside with the same coat which you use +on the street. In its place have one 50 per cent lighter for such +occasions and positions. + +Never _sleep_ in your _under-garments_, nor in any other clothing that +you carry during the day. The reason is strong and obvious. Your +covering in the course of the day receives all the perspiration and +surface deposit of the skin, which amounts to considerable in sixteen +hours. This must have a chance to escape or be absorbed by the air. The +amount is only increased by wearing the same garments at night. Have a +good warm _night-shirt_, and a clean one at least every week. + +Do not sleep in a room without having the windows down from the top to +some extent. If there be six, lower three of them. + +If you sleep with a companion and do not know anything about _animal +magnetism_, find out through someone who does know. Ascertain which of +you is more positive, and govern yourself accordingly. I find best +results for me in sleeping with my head north, and on the west side of a +negative companion. This principle of magnetism is too little observed. +Yet it applies to all persons at all times. Naturally some individuals +are more magnetic than others, that is, more positive. Usually, if not +always, the more masculine, swarthy, is the more positive, while the +light-haired and eyed are negative. Sleep invariably with your head +towards the north if you are positive, towards the west if you are +negative, but never in any case towards the east or south. + +These conclusions are based wholly on scientific reasons, and anyone who +understands physics will see the cogency of our statements. + +As a preventative against anything that has once been in my stomach +rising and remaining on the tongue, I use a piece of ordinary +_whalebone_ to curry it every morning, from end to end. This will tend +to purify the breath, sweeten the mouth, and aid mastication. + +My _tooth brush_, after using, is so thoroughly _cleansed_ and dried +that anyone acquainted with the facts would hardly believe it had been +used. + +There are millions of particles of dust, atoms, _microbes_, or any other +name you may use, that collect upon your person and clothing hourly. If +your garments be tattered and torn, or patched and glazed, this will not +shorten your life or lessen your appetite; but I assure you, if you +will use up a 15-cent whisk-broom twice a year, in brushing yourself +from head to foot before each meal, there will be less to fall upon your +food, and thus find its way to your stomach, and your days will be +prolonged in exact ratio. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + "On life's vast ocean diversely we sail, + Reason the card, but passion is the gale." + + +There are more diseases contracted, more unhappiness created during +life, and early decay occasioned, by _politeness_ and _pride_ than by +whisky and tobacco combined. Total-abstinence advocates will assert that +drink kills more than all other causes. What would they think if we +should say, if he is a reformed drinker, that it was out of pure +politeness that he quaffed his first glass. + +Politeness is the cause of disease in many ways, of which the following +are a few:-- + +A friend--only in name--will stop you in the first corner of the street +and insist on telling you a good(?) joke about Brown, Smith, or Jones. +He takes you by the lapels of the coat, holds you to windward for twenty +minutes in a breeze blowing twenty-five miles an hour, although this +lays you up with a cold for a week, and thus plants the first seeds of +consumption. You will be too polite to tell him that your health will +not permit you to be so exposed. As a remedy for this class of attacks, +if a man insists on saying anything more than "How do you do" or +"Good-bye," I should invite him into the nearest hall-way or around the +corner to leeward, entirely out of the draft. If this does not seem +feasible, I would bid him "Good-day." + +Another case of excessive politeness is when a gentleman or lady +continues chatting ten minutes in the _hall_ after he or she _must =go= +immediately_. Then at the door after they have walked out, you, in +dressing-gown and slippers, stand on the cold marble step in a driving +fog for twenty minutes more, to hear the latest gossip--too polite to +slam the door in their faces, or excuse it as an accident. + +But the politeness that kills faster than any other is that of the +consumptive, bronchially-affected, or catarrhal patient. He will sit at +the table, or in company, and, out of pure politeness, swallow the +_mucus_ and other impurities that arise in his throat--too polite to use +a cuspidor or excuse himself by withdrawing to another room or the open +air, and clear his throat. A great many people are accustomed to +_expectorate_ into their _handkerchiefs_. This is a baneful practice. +Just as soon as that gets dry which they have thrown up from their +lungs, innumerable microbes of deadly effect escape and do extensive +harm. Avoid this habit and use the cuspidor or step out-of-doors. It is +not unreasonable to believe that 50 per cent of all the consumptives +would recover if they would, by care and cleanliness, see that no +particle of mucus once away from the lungs should ever go back down the +throat, and observe other points regarding apparel and cleanliness +mentioned in the first part of this work. + +We have already devoted some space to what we should and should not do. +All that, however, is but a small part of a life which will continually +experience health, happiness, and longevity. We trust you do not simply +read these statements not intending to test their value. It is not +unlikely that many of you from your course or line of business will find +it eminently difficult to absolutely follow our instructions. Be that as +it may, come as approximately as you can, and there will positively +result an improvement in your physical condition, a progression in your +happiness, and a realization of longevity. The remainder of this chapter +will be occupied by a program, or rather set of _formula_ of what is +necessary to aid you in _keeping well_, living long and happily. + +Keep your _bowels_ open and regular in action. This you can do, if +irregular or _constipated_, by taking a few drops of water in your right +hand every morning and rubbing the bowels in a circular motion from +right to left, until a friction is produced and the moisture gone. From +six to ten separate passages of the hand over the bowels is usually +sufficient, and the object will be accomplished. Each day this is +repeated; in a very short time you will be all right in this particular, +and will not require even this effective medicine. You must be aware +that a score of maladies are kept at bay by the regularity of the +bowels. This fact cannot be too strongly impressed on mankind in +general. It is very seldom indeed that you come upon a man who is well +with a bad digestive apparatus; but, again, he who possesses a strong +stomach and is moderate and regular in eating is almost invariably +characterized with a vigorous constitution. Disease finds no place to +locate upon or in him. There is no doubt the American people eat too +fast, and that is why so many die so soon. The system is worn out when +it should be ready to do its best work. If all the men and women in this +country would eat 50% slower they would live 25% longer. Of this we have +no doubt--nor do you, reader. + +Sleep eight hours every night, between the same hours, as nearly as +possible, in a room well ventilated from the top of the window. If your +room is small you will require more _ventilation_ than if it is large; +in this case use more clothing on the bed. If possible have a bowl or +basin of water uncovered in the room, but the next morning do not either +drink or wash your face in the water that has stood exposed all night. +To drink it is slow suicide; to wash in it is unhealthy. + +In the morning scrape the tongue with a strip of whalebone, as before +mentioned; brush the teeth with a good stiff clean tooth-brush, up and +down, but not across; note this latter proposition, there is reason for +it. By perpendicular brushing the bristles or hairs get in between the +teeth, where much sediment is left, and the gums are not made sore. This +is the best method also to prevent tartar forming. _Gargle_ the throat +with clean water three or four times; then, if you have it at hand, +drink about three swallows of cool filtered water; if not near go +thirsty until it is. Never take a drink of water, whether you be sick or +well, without first gargling the throat with at least one swallow and +spitting it out. Do you think _filtering_ of reservoir or general city +water is necessary? If not, then make a microscopic examination, and any +skepticism will be entirely removed. It is a prominent fact in science +to-day that almost all diseases and troubles are started or promulgated +by microbes and bacilli. There are often enough of these in one swallow +of water to poison a whole family. Then take a moist towel and apply it +to every part of your body; follow this with a vigorous rubbing with a +dry towel. A sponge bath is recommended by many physicians. This is all +right for the first time, but from that on the sponge begins to get +foul, not from necessity, but because not one person in fifty will wash +and thoroughly _dry_ the _sponge_. In any other case it is a disease +breeder. Perforated with so many cells and passages, intricate and +numberless, it is not surprising that it should be the residence of much +that is dangerous. + +During the time of your bath you should close the windows of your room +to exclude the cold draughts--in any part of the country where the +atmosphere moves over two miles per hour--but not the sun. After this +lower or raise your window to the height or level of the eyes, and +proceed to enjoy a breathing exercise. This is done by first exhausting +all the air from the lungs through the mouth, then inhale, slowly, +through the nasal organs to the full capacity of the lungs. Do this +_three_ times or more each morning. If your lungs are not too weak, tap +with your fingers on your chest while it is inflated. This will tend to +develop your capacity of breathing wonderfully. The gentle percussion +thus effected is quite exhilarating. Practice yourself also in _holding_ +your _breath_ for a prolonged interval, but always draw in air through +your nostrils; they strain out all impurities. + +You are now ready for your breakfast; but, perhaps you say, I am a +workingman and have not the time. To such I would reply: I go through +all these duties in _one_ hour's time, and if belated I accomplish it in +_forty minutes_. If I have to take a train at 5 A. M., I see that I am +called at 4 A. M., at least, and enjoy my regular time for _toilet_. I +would advise those of you who think you have not time, to go to bed that +much earlier. Even if you are to travel, by using my method of +preparation you will not experience that tired, disagreeable, restless +feeling that will otherwise come. You all know how intensely that +feeling acts to destroy all your pleasure until the day is half over and +it is worn away. Employ common-sense ways and you will be as fresh at 6 +as at 12 o'clock. Your lips will not be blue, your skin cold, your teeth +unclean, your mouth dry, your eyes red, and your whole self out of sorts +as it were. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + + "Of right choice food are his meals, I ween." + + +Now as to what you should eat, what you should not eat, and how you +should eat. This is perhaps the greatest problem for a man to solve. A +man with a bad digestive apparatus is practically an invalid. We have no +hesitation in saying that there is as much bodily injury done by over +and careless eating among people commonly called temperate as among +those who drink alcoholic liquors to a large extent. If you would +preserve your vital strength and capabilities for a happy, long period, +mind your diet. Don't rest too much on the insane idea that you have a +_stomach_ of _iron_ and that you can digest shingle nails. You are not a +species of the genus ostrich, or goat. Then if you really do possess +organs that can take care of all kinds of food, their splendid power +should not be destroyed or even weakened by improper indulgence. The +mightiest engine is soon as valueless as old iron if it is continually +exerted to its greatest velocity. If inanimate mechanism cannot stand a +permanent strain surely bodily flesh would be quickly disabled. + +Some foods are particularly muscle formers, others produce fat, and +still others brain and nerve, while most of the common articles of diet +combine these uses in varying degrees. + +But the question to cover our entire physical needs requires to be +broadened into this: What combination of food will best nourish the +body? Even then the answer must be modified to suit individual cases, +for the digestive power differs greatly in different persons. Moreover, +there is an interdependence between the different bodily organs and +tissues, so that the body must be built up as a whole. If one part lacks +the whole suffers, and if one part is overfed the others will be +underfed. + +Thus a person who becomes unduly fat loses in muscular fiber, either in +quantity or quality. One who overfeeds the brain loses in muscular +strength. So, too, muscular development may be carried to such excess as +to impoverish the brain, and also to reduce the fat of the body below +what is necessary both as surplus food laid up for emergencies, and as a +protection against sudden changes of temperature. + +The best food for producing muscle, therefore, must, while being duly +appetizing, contain a large per cent of nitrates for the muscles, of +phosphates for the brain and nerves, and of carbonates for the fat. + +Of nitrates, beans stand at 24 per cent, then peas at 22, cabbage and +salmon at 20, oats at 17, eggs and veal at 16, and beef at 15. + +Of phosphates, salmon stands first at 7, then codfish at 6, beef and +eggs at 5, beans and veal at 4, and cabbage, peas, and oats at 3. + +Of carbonates, butter stands at the head at 100, rice at 80, corn and +rye at 72, wheat at 69, oats at 66, peas at 60, beans at 57, and cabbage +at 46. + +Fresh codfish fried in fat or served with butter gravy about equals beef +in all respects, and so do eggs fried in fat. But we must add:-- + +The mere eating of food cannot make muscle. The muscles must be called +into vigorous daily exercise, yet without overdoing. + +Excessive eating is weakening, and must be avoided. It is the amount +digested and assimilated that tells, not the quantity taken into the +stomach. + +All the laws of health must be steadily observed. We are in favor of a +diet that excludes meat entirely; and once a day should be the excess of +those who indulge in the flesh-eating luxury. A suspicion that there is +a difference between merely getting food down into the stomach and its +digestion, is abroad, and that a peach, an orange, an apple, a spoonful +of flour, or something similar, which is digested, is really better for +a man than a beefsteak, which simply passes through the alimentary +canal. See "Food" for further consideration of vegetarianism. + +For _breakfast_ have any of the numerous preparations of _mush_, such as +oatmeal, cracked wheat, and germea, every other day some kind of fish; +of the miscellaneous, potatoes baked or boiled, eggs poached, boiled, or +omelette, and natural fruit; of drinks, water, filtered or boiled, and +not below 56 degrees Fahr., milk, pure and sweet but not cream, cocoa, +chocolate, tea, or coffee. These are good and beneficial in the order +they are placed. The following from the N. Y. _Medical Record_ is +invaluable information:-- + +"Stimulants (drink most healthful).--Milk heated to much above 100 +degrees Fahrenheit loses for a time a degree of its sweetness and +density. No one who, fatigued by over-exertion of body or mind, has ever +experienced the reviving influence of a tumbler of this beverage, heated +as warm as it can be sipped, will willingly forego a resort to it +because of its being rendered somewhat less acceptable to the palate. +The promptness with which its cordial influence is felt is indeed +surprising. Some portion of it seems to be digested and appropriated +almost immediately, and many who now fancy they need alcoholic +stimulants when exhausted by fatigue will find in this simple draught an +equivalent that will be abundantly satisfying and far more enduring in +its effects. There is many an ignorant overworked woman who fancies she +could not keep up without her beer; she mistakes its momentary +exhilaration for strength, and applies the whip instead of nourishment +to her poor, exhausted frame. Any honest, intelligent physician will +tell her that there is more real strength and nourishment in a slice of +bread than in a quart of beer; but if she loves stimulants it would be a +very useless piece of information. It is claimed that some of the lady +clerks in our own city, and those too who are employed in respectable +business houses, are in the habit of ordering ale or beer at the +restaurants. They probably claim that they are 'tired,' and no one who +sees their faithful devotion to customers all day will doubt their +assertions. But they should not mistake beer for a blessing or stimulus +for strength. A careful examination of statistics will prove that men +and women who do not drink can endure more hardships, and do more work, +and live longer, than those less temperate." + +If you must eat meat for breakfast, have your _steak rare_, mutton chops +well done; if fish, always well done; and if each are fried, use butter, +not lard--the same applies to everything else that has to be fried. All +meats are sweeter and more healthful broiled than fried. Of bread, for +health, natural _graham_ comes first; and, in order of nutrition, corn, +corn and wheat mixed, rye, and wheat. They should be taken cold and at +least twenty-four hours after baking. If the midday meal is a lunch, all +dishes should be cold. It can be made up largely from dishes left over +from the morning meal, such as cold cracked wheat with milk, natural +fruit; add nuts, sauces, jellies, and prepared fruit. + +If _dinner_ is taken at noon instead of lunch at that hour, any one of +the score of vegetable soups are first in value; all other kinds are +secondary; let there be from three to six kinds of vegetables cooked; +any of the drinks mentioned for breakfast may be used, but none of them +iced; cold bread, and no pastry unless an open pie with unshortened +undercrust. An excellent morsel for _dyspeptics_ is _sea biscuit_ dipped +in cold water and then placed in a hot oven from three to five minutes. +If meat is to be a portion of this meal, you can have beef, mutton, or +venison, roasted or broiled, the former rare, and the two latter well +done. Provided dinner is enjoyed at the close of the day, it should +occur before 5:30 P. M.; if at midday, then the lunch meal can be +renamed supper, and can be partaken of as late as 6 or 7 P. M. Let there +be no eating two meals for Sundays and holidays, and three for other +days, or indulging in them at later hours in the morning and earlier in +the evening; for this irregularity will detriment more than many kinds +of improper food. + +Do not eat _fresh pork_, for this and every other kind of swine flesh is +an abomination. Eat no _kidney_, _liver_, or _tripe_; deal sparingly +with _fowl_ and all the bird family. Outside impure water and +uncleanliness, there can be but one cause for _skin diseases_, eczema, +boils, and the dread leprosy, which is the eating of pork, kidney, +liver, duck, etc. If the lion indiscriminately kills and eats all kinds +of flesh, and thereby is made ferocious, if the lamb is rendered passive +and inoffensive by grasses and grains, then what the swine or different +domestic fowls eat must have something to do with the make-up of the +flesh of their bodies. The hog is the most filthy animal of that nature, +while chicken and duck are the most so in the line of fowls used by man +for food. It is offensive but true that they will not only _eat_ but +relish both their own and man's _excrement_. + +We cannot use space foolishly, if we show plainly why pork should be +abandoned. Did you ever stop to think on what most _swine_ live? _Swill_ +is the most common term for it. Anything and everything that is the +refuse of a boarding-house will they eagerly devour. Give them _rotten_ +apples and potatoes, full of innumerable microbes, and they will relish +the repast. Place them in a dung heap--they will root, and eat much of +what they find. Now all meat, all flesh and tissue, is made from what an +animal or person eats--if he doesn't eat he grows thin and starves. Then +the hog's flesh is made from elements derived from swill, decayed +substances, and everything either cooked, uncooked, or even digested, +that man is through with or has cast off. You who eat pork relish that +which once you have refused to eat--only in another form. Can you enjoy +this meat when you consider all this? Surely its use means bad health +and contamination. Skin diseases and _poor complexions_ are found almost +entirely among those who live on these improper foods. Again, even if +you feed swine on clean corn, milk, and water, we ascertain by careful +experiment and examination that pork is most susceptible to bacteria of +almost any meat. Better boycott it altogether. _Leprosy_ and skin +troubles are found largely among pork-eating people--such as the +inhabitants of the Hawaiian Islands, where there are 749 lepers. On the +other hand, Jews, who everywhere are marked with clear skins, avoid +pork. In Constantinople there are 250 lepers, in Crete upwards of 3,000, +and quantities in the islands of eastern Mediterranean Sea, and 1,000 in +Norway. These places are all characterized by the great amount of pork, +and duck too, that they consume. + +Other things not good for _invalids_, and will make strong persons +invalids, are: Fried potatoes, hot cakes, warm bread, pound cake, green +cucumbers, and rich pie-crust. Eat only those things that will excite +the salivary glands to assist digestion. The walls, not the center of +the alimentary canal, need attention. + +Have your _soup cool_ enough so that it will not cause tears in your +eyes when you swallow--same with your coffee, tea, and other warm +drinks; take no _ice drinks_; if you are used to having water only with +your meals, drink it warm with sugar and milk, and _not hot_. If you are +obliged to live in a second-class boarding-house or restaurant, and are +obliged to take one of three meals each day at such a place, insist on +having a _napkin_. Use it first to wipe your glass for water, then +follow by polishing every utensil set before you for use at your meal. +If note is taken of the napkin before and after each meal, you will be +able by a mathematical calculation to tell just how much _real estate_ +did not belong to you. + +How you should eat: Begin with one swallow of cool water. Eat slowly; +take full 20 minutes for a hurried meal, and 45 minutes when you have +the time. If you eat beefsteak, have it rare; if mutton chops, have them +well done; if _fish_, well done and brown; if potatoes, first choice, +baked; second, boiled; third, stewed or mashed. Never eat decayed +vegetables or fruit; have them fresh or do without them. At table, see +that the conversation is pleasant and mirthful. Should any of the +younger members of the family insist, at each meal, in changing this +order of things, cause them for a short season to sit at a separate +table in the kitchen, until this sort of disease--for disease it is--may +be cured. Nothing retards digestion, brings dyspepsia, or creates +neuralgia, to such extent as a sullen disposition. We will end this +chapter with a remarkably bright paraphrase on the ten commandments, +which we recently ran across:-- + + +THE TEN HEALTH COMMANDMENTS. + +"1. Thou shalt have no other food than at meal-time. + +"2. Thou shalt not make unto thee any pies, or put into pastry the +likeness of anything that is in the heavens above or in the waters under +the earth. Thou shalt not fall to eating it or trying to digest it. For +the dyspepsia will be visited upon the children to the third and fourth +generation of them that eat pie; and long life and vigor upon those that +live prudently and keep the laws of health. + +"3. Remember thy bread to bake it well; for he will not be kept sound +that eateth his bread as dough. + +"4. Thou shalt not indulge sorrow or borrow anxiety in vain. + +"5. Six days shalt thou wash and keep thyself clean, and the seventh +thou shalt take a great bath; thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and +thy man-servant, and thy maid-servant, and the stranger that is within +thy gates. For in six days man sweats and gathers filth and bacteria +enough for disease; wherefore the Lord has blessed the bath-tub and +hallowed it. + +"6. Remember thy sitting-room and bed-chamber to keep them ventilated, +that thy days may be long in the land which the Lord thy God giveth +thee. + +"7. Thou shalt not eat hot biscuit. + +"8. Thou shalt not eat thy meat fried. + +"9. Thou shalt not swallow thy food unchewed, or highly spiced, or just +before hard work, or just after it. + +"10. Thou shalt not keep late hours in thy neighbor's house, nor with +thy neighbor's wife, nor his man-servant, nor his maid-servant, nor his +cards, nor his glass, nor with anything that is thy neighbor's."--_New +England Farmer._ + +With the use of the foregoing as a guide, and ordinary judgment in the +affairs with your fellow-men, life will run smoothly, happiness will +follow, and a long life be the result. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + "Let the jewel of happiness poise in the setting of health." + + +If you are a reader of this work to find out a cure for consumption, +catarrh, bronchitis, constipation, hemorrhoids or piles, hernia or +rupture, rheumatism, fever and ague, cataracts on the eyes, warts on the +hands, corns on the feet, and how to abstain from drink and tobacco in +all injurious forms, we will try and not disappoint you. Under the head +of each disease above named, see index and second part. We offer you a +remedy. All of these troubles I have had (and a score not mentioned), of +the entire list of which _=I=_ am now _free completely_. In short, the +whole number of diseases that beset the human family can be cured by +care, cleanliness, regularity, fresh air, cold water used internally, +and by compress, proper clothing, right food, regular exercise, an even +disposition, a clear conscience, intelligent and agreeable associates, +and a reasonable amount of time. + +It took me 30 years, 25 of which I spent ascertaining the way. If +someone could have informed me, as this book does you, I would have +enjoyed full health _twenty-five_ years earlier than I did. Anyone +observing the rules I have recounted can restore a broken-down +_constitution_ in less than 5 years--yes, even if one foot is already in +the grave! Soon you will begin to lift it out, and it will be a long +period before you will take that step again. I do not exaggerate when I +state that I had _both feet_ in the grave. Fortunately, however, my head +was above-ground, and I began to reason how to get the rest of myself +away. The secret was discovered, the causes set to work, and finally the +end achieved. To use another figure, my coffin had many nails already +driven in it when I secured a clincher, pulled them all out, and then +split up the old wooden hulk to make fires with which to start the +steam of my new energies. + +All of my _time_ is _employed_. I do some sort of laborious work every +day to start my blood coursing vigorously, and open the pores of my +skin. By a proper adjustment of my under-clothing, I prevent a cold, and +am always ready with a good appetite when meal-time comes. I have never +studied _Anatomy_, _Medicine_, or _Surgery_, know but little about the +niceties of the English language, but I have studied the Materia Medica +of myself, and am aware of just what is beneficial and what is injurious +for me. + +There is a duty each individual owes to his fellow-man, each municipal +corporation to its citizens, and each State and general government to +those over whom they preside. Every individual should strive to see how +much distress he can relieve during his short stay on this earth; how +few thorns he has to place in the pathway of others, and how many drops +of oil he can pour on the disturbed waters of the ocean of life. + +_Accidents_ that are _preventable_, caused by carelessness, laziness, +and ignorance, cost more money, suffering, and life than viciousness and +incendiarism, in the ratio of 3 to 1. Every man who builds a mill, +manufactory, or a business block, makes his own rate of insurance. + +A slight variation in the construction of a building, the omission of +certain details, the wrong location of hazardous machinery or materials, +or the neglect of cleanliness and order, may very seriously affect the +_fire hazard_, and consequently the _rate_ of insurance which must +necessarily attach to the property. + +The _Fire Losses_ in the United States amount to $125,000,000 per annum, +and the great mass of this enormous loss is chargeable to bad +construction of buildings, the lack of necessary apparatus for +extinguishing fires, and carelessness in the management of property. The +_unavoidable_ losses are few in number; the _avoidable_, many. Insurance +companies _restore no value_, _repair no loss_; they can only +_distribute_ the loss throughout the community. Careless, ignorant, +annihilative, is the term to be applied to 75% of the fire losses. The +destruction of life by accidents, where immediate death follows, in the +United States is large; but, in comparison with those that assist in +shortening life, they are about in the ratio of 1 to 100. Only such +persons as have undoubted _integrity_, coupled with order, cleanliness, +and carefulness should be allowed to insure their property, and this +should be restricted by law. A certain sect in our population that now +have to be charged from 50 to 100% more for insurance than other people, +should be stricken from the list of the insured, until they have by +personal action abolished this difference in risk. + +When the time comes that only such persons as attend to all the details +of cleanliness and prevention of the loss of property and health can be +insured, the cost will be reduced 50%. Until we are willing, or educated +up to that point, to protect our neighbors' lives and property as if +they were ours, we must expect to pay this 50% more for everything we +have, use, drink, eat, and wear. Longevity will be restricted in the +same proportion. Hundreds of accidents would be prevented by proper +care. Throwing foolishly the match, cigar, cigarette, etc., any and +everywhere, causes great loss of property, and often life; the +unthinking eat oranges and _bananas_ in the _street_ and cast underfoot +the rinds and skins to cause the next moment the _dislocation_ of a +limb, or broken skull. Over 500 accidents have occurred in this city +alone during the last 5 years, occasioned by some sort of vegetable or +fruit refuse lying upon the pavements; fatal results, though not all +immediate, happened to 15 persons, and a number were maimed for life. +Broken bottles and glass thrown into the street and on the sidewalks +bring about at times frightful accidents to both man and beast; and if a +correct report could be had from each livery-man and teamster in this +regard, it would startle the most inhuman of our race. + +The _tax-payer_ has a tendency to be selfish when he is really doing +himself severe injury. It is a case of reflex action. In passing along a +thoroughfare he sees a banana skin lying on the sidewalk. He cannot +possibly stop or trouble himself to push it into the gutter. Almost +immediately another man comes along, steps on the skin, slips, breaks +his leg, and is carried to the hospital. He remains there a month, +supported by the city, that is, by money paid by the same tax-payer. In +this manner, and other ways, can every man act, both selfishly or +unselfishly. If selfish in passing this by, it is sure to come back on +him a hundred-fold to the original trouble required. His unselfishness +will consist in saving his fellow-men from danger by removing the cause. +Indeed, he will be selfish if he casts it off for the sake of decreasing +his taxation, but such selfish unselfishness will be gladly excused. + +_Garbage_ thrown out of back doors or under neighbors' steps creates +contagion, and in time the thoughtless individuals fall a prey to their +own carelessness. Three out of every five men and five out of every +hundred women are ruptured as a result of their own or somebody else's +recklessness. + +On the top of nearly every house in the section where _artesian_ water +is used, there is a _tank_ to receive water for various purposes about +each dwelling; much of this is employed for drinking and culinary uses. +Without any attempt at a sensation, we pronounce this box or _tank_ a +_death trap!_ There is not a clean one in this whole great city, that +has an outside exposure, and 9 out of every 10 are reeking with filth. +Having had occasion to investigate several I am convinced that they +average alike. If so, there are at least 500 tons of concentrated filth +playing the part of filters in the tanks of this city alone at this +writing! And there is every reason to believe that this city is as clean +as the average. Provided this is so, there is enough of such refuse in +the United States to dam the Mississippi River many times and build a +levee across Lake Erie. + +Health officers may keep their own tanks clean in the future, but if +individuals desire health and abolition of the need of Health Boards, +let them keep their own tanks, back yards, streets, and pavements neat. +Municipal corporations should prevent by _law_ the throwing of any kind +of rubbish into the streets, and make it a misdemeanor for the +proprietors allowing any of their mercantile houses, work-shops, or +residences to be found filthy, and there are thousands of them in this +city. To avoid accidents, every man, woman, and child should be +compelled to pass to their right on the street. Every person in every +city not having a legitimate vocation in the eyes of the law, nor an +income from property or money in the bank, should, if criminally +inclined, be sent to the House of Correction. If poor and willing to +work, they ought to be put to work in the public streets and in the +parks, to beautify them, for the benefit of the frugal classes. No +begging should be allowed, under penalty of imprisonment. That a city +may escape being overrun by country tramps, their entrance should be +quarantined. + +To stop contagion, public _crematories_ should be established and +cremation of the human and animal bodies be compulsory. If the principal +church and secret organizations will now change their rituals so as to +permit of the incineration of the bodies of their deceased members, the +world will have advanced 100 years before the close of this century and +the average duration of life at that date will have increased from 34.8 +to 40 years. It is needful that the false sentiment regarding the +disposition of our dead should undergo a complete revolution. There +could probably be no better aid to this end than a general investigation +of the mortuary records of the towns and cities of the globe, by proper +officials, the facts and discoveries of whom should be given all +possible publicity. An hundred or so years ago this was not so much a +matter of importance as now, with a greater and increasing density of +population, by virtue of which a great portion of the habitable earth is +fast becoming a mass of putrifying corruption, that will involve at no +distant time the world in pestilence, woe, and desolation. + +The recent official return on the condition of the London cemeteries is, +or should be, sufficient to cause all reasonable persons to cry out for +the crematory. In Brompton Cemetery, with an area of twenty-eight and +three-fourths of an acre, there have been buried in less than fifty +years one hundred and fifty-five thousand bodies. In Tower Hamlets +Cemetery, with twelve acres less, in about the same time, the number is +two hundred and forty-seven thousand. + +When it is remembered how perfectly unfitted the soil of these districts +is for burial purposes, together with the means so largely employed for +preventing speedy decomposition, one may readily imagine the danger that +menaces those above this still-increasing mass of sub-pollution. + +Multiply the condition of the London suburbs by several hundred thousand +more, and then ponder the product! Talk about sanitary regulations, when +our public health laws are violated thus, and the air and water poisoned +as a result of the superstitious custom of body burial! When pestilence +stalks abroad, it is said to be planetary influence or divine wrath! The +following from the Springfield _Republican_ will indicate the current of +public opinion:-- + +"That the custom of burying the dead is bound to be superseded by more +scientific and economical methods, especially in the centers of +population, may be seen in the reanimation of the old scheme of +desiccation by New York capitalists. These men are not yet ready to +accept cremation. Their project is to build mausoleums as substitutes +for cemeteries, where the body will be subjected to the absorbent action +of currents of pure, dry air, which will prevent decomposition, and, by +thoroughly exhausting the body of moisture and gases, carry away all +germs of disease. These air currents, thus laden, will then pass through +furnaces, where all noxious elements will be destroyed. The lifeless +form will be reduced in weight about two-thirds and nearly one-half in +size. Resting in a sepulcher, it may then be preserved for an indefinite +period. As explained in detail, with particulars of the beauty of the +buildings thrown in, this scheme has advantages compared with the +undesirable method in vogue, though it is less thorough and simple than +cremation. A promoter of the enterprise in speaking of the desiccated +body says that 'although shrunken, still, with the semblance of life, it +is an object that the eye of affection can look upon without a shock, +and the sanitarian can think of without a shudder.' In essence, however, +the scheme is simply a concession to a public, not yet educated to the +idea of cremation. While appropriating enough of the latter system to +solve the question of public health, it caters to the human +sentimentalities in preserving at half size the dead form. Upon these +sentiments, summed up as the 'instinct of humanity,' the promoters of +the new system base their hopes of profit. Besides advancing in its +favor all the arguments used for cremation, its friends add that in the +desiccating process no danger can exist of suspended animation escaping +notice." + +Public _fountains_ should be established in every other block of cities +or towns having over 1,000 inhabitants, with best-devised filters known, +so that both man and beast could enjoy pure water to drink, free for the +taking. During epidemics it should be not only compulsory in +municipalities to have water filtered in each house before drinking, but +it should be boiled. Every house ought to have a filter. If you cannot +afford a $40 one, you can secure one for 40 cents. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + + "Vice is a monster of so frightful mien, + As to be hated, needs but to be seen; + Yet seen too oft, familiar with her face, + We first endure, then pity, then embrace." + + "But evil is wrought by want of thought + As well as by want of heart." + + +The following extract from the report of the Grand Jury of this city, +given publicity December 5, 1889, is self-explanatory:-- + +"Some of the dives and variety theaters are the nurseries of vice and +crime, where drunkenness is encouraged, our youth demoralized, the +unwary roped in and robbed, and crimes committed which the authorities +are unable to prevent or discover. There is, of course, a broad +distinction to be noted between those places of public resort where the +demand for distilled, fermented, and malt liquors is supplied in a +legitimate manner, and the entertainment provided, if any, is not of an +objectionable character, and those places where salacious performances +are presented as an attraction, and lewd women, under the guise of +waitresses to serve liquors, pursue a shameful vocation. These evils may +be partly remedied if respectable citizens will refuse to rent their +property for such uses, and also refuse to assist in obtaining licenses +whereby such headquarters for drunkenness, lewdness, and crime are in a +measure entrenched behind existing general laws. + +"The so-called 'social evil' is aggressive on our thoroughfares, and +should be restrained by the authorities within narrower limits." + +But we add our interpretation and our suggestions for these twin evils +which stalk up and down the earth and apparently defy control. + +The _minister_ treats lightly upon the liquor traffic, in many instances +because certain of his church members either sell it at wholesale, +retail, or furnish the barley, corn, grapes, hops, or rent to the man +who does. The _editors_ of all newspapers of general circulation must +treat the subject likewise, for fear of his advertising patrons. His +readers are never taken into account, for the simple reason that +circulation alone does not pay newspapers issued daily, and very few +that are issued weekly. It will be seen by the above report that the +grand jurymen too have _vital_ interests at stake. In order to keep +their respective businesses from being boycotted by their +fellow-merchants, they handle the subject with soft gloves, as if it +were eggs, and the "social evil" by this same jury is done up in +_nineteen_ words. But they have indicated a great deal in those few +words, namely, that such an evil _does exist_--something the different +_church_ organizations have _refused_ to acknowledge. + +High license, with personal responsibility for results, under a +sufficient bond, will in time remedy the liquor traffic. + +The _social evil_ should be licensed, and under the perfect control of +the police--and not the police under its control, as seems to be the +case in this city. Are they not under pay to look the other way? Its +boundaries should be exact, isolated, and under the direct supervision +of the health department. Is there any justice in demanding a license +of a milliner, or on any other mercantile pursuit that a female may see +fit to adopt, while 5,000 of these questionable women go untaxed, +because you do not _dare_ to acknowledge that their calling _exists?_ To +ask the question is to answer it--No!! Let no one think that in any way +whatever we would seem to unduly countenance, or in the least encourage, +this evil. But we do believe in recognizing absolute facts. They cannot +be overlooked. It is surprising that, amidst all this widespread +discussion of intemperance, no more has been said on this _social +problem_. As long as men are mortal, this condition of relations will +exist--it has existed through all time--but it is possible to limit it, +to heavily license it, and keep it within proper bounds. + +Then by all means should churches and various kinds of societies exert +their influence to the legal recognition of the true status, and benefit +the general condition of mankind. Boards of supervisors, aldermen, etc., +are clothed with power to accomplish the ends suggested, if they are +only backed by public sentiment. + +If the _Catholic Church_ organization alone will inaugurate a general +agitation over the country, as they have already indicated and begun in +their convention at Baltimore, on the liquor traffic, they will either +break it up or put it under control; for 60% of this business is carried +on by their following. + +Public _urinals_ are greater necessities than public fountains in cities +and large towns. The alarming increase of _diabetes_ and kidney troubles +in cities during the last few years, while remaining normal, or actually +decreasing in the rural districts, has led to the belief that the +prolonged detention of the urine is the principal, and, in most cases, +the only cause of this terrible malady. The foregoing facts +recapitulated exhibit a few of the ills of mankind that are in the power +of municipal officials to alleviate. The duties of the general +government cover all of the above, and include the _prevention_ of all +_criminals_ and _paupers_ of every nation from _landing_ on our shores; +the compulsory education of all citizens old and young--as it is cheaper +to educate than to punish criminals; to furnish employment upon all +useful and needed public works for the worthy, willing poor, and cause +to be distributed with equity to the deserving, all the earnings of the +criminal institutions of the country, over and above their actual +expenses. + +It will not be out of place to complete this chapter with a few words on +the necessity of giving man and beast _one day_ in seven to _rest_. +_Sunday_ seems to be the preferable one, but to compel the observance of +one particular day in each week for all classes and sects would be +tyrannical. The majority of religious societies employ Sunday for +worship and rest, but, throwing aside the moral and religious bearing, +every human being would be healthier, happier, and live longer, if he +rested one day in the week. We all live too fast. Though we enjoy +laziness at times, yet we are too anxious to get riches or fame earlier +than we ought or can. A man may work so mightily that he will be very +wealthy at 40 instead of 50, but he will die at 70 instead of 80. Better +prolong life by reserving forces for the future. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + + "For a man's house is his castle." + + +After individual cleanliness and regularity, erect your next _house_ in +which you intend to live, or that you expect to rent to another, or +remodel your present residence, to correspond with the following:-- + +Sanitary House.--It should stand facing the sun, on dry soil, in a wide, +clean, amply-sewered, substantially-paved street, over a deep, +thoroughly ventilated and lighted cellar. The floor of the cellar should +be cemented, the walls and ceilings plastered and thickly whitewashed +with lime every year, that the house may not act as a chimney to draw up +into its chambers micro-organisms from the earth. If your lot is +situated so that you cannot face your house either east or south, +construct the rooms in such a way that your parlors and sleeping +apartments will receive the sun at least 3 hours during the day. All +windows should extend from floor to ceiling, adjusted to let down from +the top, and in position to secure as much as possible of the through +currents of air. The outside walls, if of wood or brick, should be kept +thickly painted, not to shut out penetrating air, but for the sake of +dryness. All inside walls should be plastered smooth, painted, and, +however unaesthetic, varnished. Mantels should be of marble, plate, +iron, or, if wood, plain, and, whether natural, painted, or stained, +varnished. + +Interior wood-work, including floors, should all show plain surfaces and +be likewise treated. No paper on the walls, no carpets on the floors, +but movable rugs, which can be shaken daily in the open air--not at +doors or out of windows, where dust is blown back into rooms--should +cover the floors. White linen shades, which will soon show the necessity +of washing, should protect the windows. All furniture should be plain, +with cane seats, without upholstery. Mattresses should be covered with +oiled silk. Blankets, sheets, and spreads--no comforts or quilts--should +constitute the bedding. + +Of plumbing there should be as little as is necessary, and all there is +must be exposed. + +The inhabited rooms should be heated only with open fires, the cellar +and halls by radiated heat, or, better, by a hot-air furnace, which +shall take its fresh air from above the top of the house and not from +the cellar itself or the surface of the earth, where micro-organisms +most abound. Let there be no annual house cleaning, but keep it clean +all the time, and have it gone through thoroughly at least four times +per year. + +Of course a corner lot is always preferable, but how often it is +supposed that the benefit consists alone in a commanding position, in a +chance for architectural display, when the greatest boon is the +increased opportunity for sunlight. The atmosphere of a room where the +sun never shines is never agreeable or healthful. Science has taught us +that the sun is the source of all life. It will effect more than tons of +disinfectants and chemicals to purge and sweeten the air of a house. Let +the building be exposed to the south, and keep shade trees from +checking the sun too much. Verandas and broad piazzas often do as much +harm as they give pleasure--especially if they are all covered with +vines. Be more careful about plumbing than people are wont to be. Do not +practice economy by trying to cut down _plumbing_ bills. When a +contractor agrees to erect a house, either withhold this part from him +or see that he employs the most skilled labor. Ventilation cannot be +slighted, for upon it health greatly depends. If you can in any way +afford it, use _incandescent electric light_ instead of gas or oil. The +reason is a powerful one. An ordinary _gas_ jet destroys as much pure +air and oxygen as five men--a good-sized _oil lamp_ equal to three men. +Add to this the heat that comes from such methods, and we see the strong +advantage of the incandescent electric light. This vitiates no air, +gives off no perceptible heat. Though there are stories that electric +lights injure the eyes, from careful observation we find that it hurts +the eyes of the majority no more than any artificial light. + +The _Sanitary News_ urges people not to paper or paint the interior +walls of houses. Arsenical poisons are used in coloring wall paper. Mold +collects in flour paste used in fastening paper to walls, absorbing +moisture and germs of disease. Glue also disintegrates, so that any +friction removes small particles, to which germs attach and float in the +air. Undecorated walls, ugly as they are, the _News_ insists are the +only healthy ones to live within. + +Dr. Cushing, of this city, thus ends his lecture on "Healthful +Houses":-- + +"The essentials then of good house building are, first, a dry soil, a +good foundation, exposure to the sun, and, next, good plumbing by +reputable men at whatever cost necessary for first-class work, warming +and ventilating by open grates rather than by steam heaters and stoves, +clean floors and clean walls; and now, if there be no decomposition of +animal or vegetable matter allowed in the immediate vicinity of the +house, we shall have done the best that the present state of science +will permit toward making our houses healthful." + +The Hotel Del Monte is the only perfectly clean hotel in America. It is +located at Monterey, Cal., not over a quarter of a mile from the ocean. +The prevailing winds are from the sea and would naturally blow over the +sands towards the house. Now the cause of dirt has virtually been killed +by the planting of trees, brush, and by the laying of asphaltum walks +and sod-ground drives on this windward side. The only dirt is that which +is brought there by travelers--this is easily kept down. The moral is +here: If possible prevent dust and dirt by stopping the cause. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + + "Let this great maxim be my virtue's guide." + + +As we are hastily reading books and papers we continually come across +maxims, epigrams, and short, pithy sayings that attract us. We wish we +could not only remember them, but also often put them in practice, but +they slip our mind and actions almost immediately. From time to time the +author has collected fruit from the vast field of health of its kindred +subjects, and placed the best of them in this book for the reader's +careful consideration. Among the multitude of "Don'ts" for politeness +are the following for health alone:-- + +"Don't endeavor to rest the mind by absolute inactivity; let it seek its +rest in work in other channels, and thus rest the tired part of the +brain. + +"Don't delude yourself into the belief that you are an exception as far +as sleep is concerned; the normal average of sleep is eight hours. + +"Don't allow your servants to put meat and vegetables in the same +compartments of the refrigerator. + +"Don't keep the parlor dark unless you value your carpet more than your +and your children's health. + +"Don't forget that moral defects are as often the cause as they are the +effects of physical faults. + +"Don't direct special mental or physical energies to more than eight +hours' work in each day. + +"Don't neglect to have your dentist examine your teeth at least every +three months. + +"Don't read, write, or do any delicate work unless receiving the light +from the left side. + +"Don't pamper the appetite with such variety of food that may lead to +excess. + +"Don't read in street-cars or other jolting vehicles. + +"Don't eat or drink hot and cold things immediately in succession. + +"Don't pick the teeth with pins or any other hard substance. + +"Don't sleep in a room provided with stationary washstands. + +"Don't neglect any opportunity to insure a variety of food." + +There are many things we should _never_ do. Among them are:-- + +"Never go to bed with cold or damp feet. + +"Never lean with the back upon anything that is cold. + +"Never begin a journey until the breakfast has been eaten. + +"Never take warm drinks and then immediately go out in the cold. + +"Never ride in an open carriage or near the window of a car for a moment +after exercise; it is dangerous to health or even life. + +"Never omit regular bathing, for unless the skin is in regular condition +the cold will close the pores and favor congestion or other diseases. + +"Never stand still in cold weather, especially after having taken a +slight degree of exercise." + +Perhaps among the following you may find succinctly stated what will be +of eminent value:-- + +"Focus your brain as you would a burning-glass. Butter enough for a +slice won't do for a whole loaf. + +"Keep empty-headed between times. Mental furniture should be very +select. Useless lumber in the upper story is worse than a pocketful of +oyster shells. Leave your facts on your book shelves, where you can find +them when wanted. A walking encyclopedia cannot work for want of room +to turn round in his own head. + +"Don't tax your memory. Make a memorandum, and put it in your pocket. +Every unnecessary thought is a waste of effective force. + +"Don't believe that muscular exercise contracts head work. Brain and +muscle are bung-hole and spigot of the same barrel. It is poor economy +to keep both running. + +"Pin your faith to the genius of hard work. It is the safest, most +reliable, and most manageable sort of genius. + +"Amuse yourself. This is the first principle of good hard work. And the +second is like unto it. + +"Don't work too much. It is quantity, not quality, that kills. +Therefore, work only in the day-time. Night was made for sleep. And loaf +on Sunday. Six days' work earns the right to go a-fishing, or to church, +or to any harmless diversion, on the seventh. + +"Go to work promptly, but slowly. A late, hurried start keeps you out of +breath all day trying to catch up. + +"When you stop work forget it. It spoils brains to simmer after a hard +boil. + +"Feed regularly, largely, and slowly. Lose no meal; approach it +respectfully and give it gratefully. No more can be got out of a man +than is put into him. + +"Sleep one-third of your whole life. How I hate the moralist who croaks +over time wasted in sleep. Besides, sleep is, on the whole, the most +satisfactory mode of existence." + +Misconceivements.--"There are a number of mistakes made even by wise +people while passing through life. Prominent among them is the idea that +you must labor when you are not in a fit condition to do so; to think +that the more a person eats the healthier and stronger he will become; +to go to bed at midnight and rise at daybreak, and imagine that every +hour taken from sleep is an hour gained; to imagine that, if a little +work or exercise is good, violent and prolonged exercise is better; to +conclude that the smallest room in the house is large enough to sleep +in; to eat as if you had only a moment to finish a meal in, or to eat +without any appetite, or to continue after it has been satisfied, +merely to please the taste; to believe that children can do as much work +as grown people, and that the more hours they study the more they learn; +to imagine that whatever remedy causes one to feel immediately better +(as alcoholic stimulants) is good for the system, without regard to the +after-effects; to take off proper clothing out of season because you +have become heated; to sleep exposed to a direct draught; to think any +nostrum or patent medicine is a specific for all the diseases flesh is +heir to." + +Weariness.--"A tramp knows what it is to be leg-weary, a farm laborer to +be body-weary, a literary man to be brain-weary, and a sorrowing man to +be soul-weary. The sick are often weary of life itself. Weariness is +generally a physiological 'ebb-tide,' which time and patience will +convert into a 'flow'. It is never well to whip or spur a worn-out +horse, except in the direst straits. If he mends his pace in obedience +to the stimulus, every step is a drop drawn from his life-blood. +Idleness is not one of the faults of the present age; weariness is one +of the commonest experiences. The checks that many a man draws on his +physiological resources are innumerable; and, as these resources are +strictly limited, like any other ordinary banking account, it is very +easy to bring about a balance on the wrong side. Adequate rest is one +kind of repayment to the bank, sound sleep is another, regular eating +and good digestion another. One day's holiday in the week and one or two +months in the year for those who work exceptionally hard usually bring +the credit balance to a highly favorable condition; and thus with care +and management physiological solvency is secured and maintained." + +"What Produces Death.--Someone says that few men die of age. Almost all +persons die of disappointment, personal, mental, or bodily toil, or +accident. The passions kill men sometimes even suddenly. The common +expression, 'choked with passion,' has little exaggeration in it, for +even though not suddenly fatal, strong passions shorten life. +Strong-bodied men often die young; weak men live longer than the strong, +for the strong use their strength and the weak have none to use. The +latter take care of themselves, the former do not. As it is with the +body, so it is with the mind and temper. The strong are apt to break, +or, like the candle, run; the weak burn out. The inferior animals, which +live temperate lives, have generally their prescribed term of years. The +horse lives 25 years, the ox 15 or 20, the lion about 20, the hog 10 or +12, the rabbit 8, the guinea-pig 6 or 7. The numbers all bear proportion +to the time the animal takes to grow to its full size. But man, of all +animals, is one that seldom comes up to the average. He ought to live a +hundred years, according to the physiological law, for five times 20 are +100; but instead of that he scarcely reaches an average of four times +the growing period. The reason is obvious--man is not only the most +irregular and most intemperate, but the most laborious and hard-working +of all animals. He is always the most irritable of all animals, and +there is reason to believe, though we cannot tell what an animal +secretly feels, that more than any other animal man cherishes wrath to +keep it warm, and consumes himself with the fire of his own +reflections." + +Provided you have babies in your family go through the following and see +if you can't train your child so it shall be among the last seventeen +mentioned:-- + +"Take your pencil and follow me, while we figure on what will happen to +the 1,000,000 of babies that will have been born in the last 1,000,000 +seconds. + +"I believe that is about the average--'one every time the clock ticks.' + +"One year hence, if statistics don't belie us, we will have lost 150,000 +of these little 'prides of the household.' + +"A year later 53,000 more will be keeping company with those that have +gone before. + +"At the end of the third year we find that 22,000 more have dropped by +the wayside. + +"The fourth year they have become rugged little darlings, not nearly so +susceptible to infantile diseases, only 8,000 having succumbed to the +rigors imposed by the master. + +"By the time they have arrived at the age of twelve years but a paltry +few hundred leave the track each year. + +"After threescore years have come and gone we find less trouble in +counting the army with which we started in the fall of 1889. + +"Of the 1,000,000 with which we began our count, but 370,000 remain; +630,000 have gone the way of all the world, and the remaining few have +forgotten that they ever existed. At the end of eighty, or, taking our +mode of reckoning, by the year 1969 A. D., there are still 97,000 +gray-haired, shaky old grannies and grandfathers, toothless, hairless, +and happy. + +"In the year 1984 our 1,000,000 babies with which we started in 1889 +will have dwindled to an insignificant 223 helpless old wrecks, +'stranded on the shores of time.' + +"In 1992 all but seventeen have left this mundane sphere forever, while +the last remaining wreck will probably, in seeming thoughtlessness, +watch the sands filter through the hour-glass of time, and die in the +year 1997 at the age of one hundred and eight. + +"What a bounteous supply of food for reflection!" + +"Laughter as a Health Promoter.--In his 'Problem of Health,' Dr. Greene +says that there is not the remotest corner or little inlet of the minute +blood-vessels of the human body that does not feel some wavelet from the +convulsions occasioned by good hearty laughter. The life principle, or +the central man, is shaken to its innermost depths, sending new tides of +life and strength to the surface, thus materially tending to insure good +health to the persons who indulge therein. The blood moves more rapidly +and conveys a different impression to all the organs of the body, as it +visits them on that particular mystic journey when the man is laughing, +from what it does at other times. For this reason every good hearty +laugh in which a person indulges tends to lengthen his life, conveying, +as it does, new and distinct stimulus to the vital forces." + + + + +CHAPTER X. + + "While bright-eyed science watches round." + + +A scientific investigation into the nature and causes of consumption +proves the immediate causes, apart from hereditary, to be dampness of +houses and localities. Of races, the negroes seem most liable, and the +Jews the most exempt. A french scientist has found that inhalation of +air containing a small amount of _hydrofluoric acid_ gas has a +remarkably good effect on _consumption_. In England good results were +obtained by inspiration of air mixed with _ozone_. That the disease +results chiefly from inactivity of the lungs is the statement of a +physician who maintains that the cure of the disease is a mechanical +question. The International Tuberculosis Congress lately held at Paris +admits that tuberculosis is contagious, can be transmitted from man to +animals, and _vice versa_, and is the same in men, women, and cattle. +Diseased milk is the most frequent agent of transmission, and with this +meat, particularly lightly cooked, as food. Predisposing causes are +sedentary life, overwork, mental anxiety, insufficient nourishment, in +general, anything calculated to lower the vitality. The congress has +discovered no remedy, only palliatives for tuberculosis. Catarrhs, +bronchitis, and other throat troubles have a tendency to develop into +pleurisy or consumption when neglected. + +_Typhoid fever_ never affects the atmosphere, but it does affect water, +milk, ice, and meat. The eggs of a parasite from dogs, and hence more or +less infecting all waters to which dogs have access, appear to have an +unequaled facility of passage to all parts of the human system. + +As for _surgical operations_, in a German paper are particulars of a +case in which the eye of a man was thrust out of its socket by a +parasite cyst in the rear, discovered by surgical exploration and +extracted. From a 5-year old boy an injured kidney was removed +successfully and the patient recovered. The bridge of the nose was +completely restored by using the breast-bone of a chicken and stretching +the flesh of the old nose over it. + +Even the part of a destroyed nerve of the arm was restored by the +substitution of a part of a sound nerve from an amputated limb, so that +the continuity was restored and sensation returned in 36 hours! +Prematurely-born children are kept in an artificial mother, which +consists of a glass case warmed by bowls of water. A new opiate has been +discovered called the sulsonal. It produces sleep in nervous people and +those affected with heart disease, but not in healthy subjects. The idea +that sufferers from heart disease should avoid physical exertion has +been dispelled by a noted physiologist who has successfully employed +regulated exercise. + +Brown-S'equard has brought out his great Vital Fluid. He is reported as +saying: "I never made use of the word 'elixir,' still less of the words +'elixir of life.' These are all expressions or inventions of sensational +newspapers. If quacks or ignorant men in America have killed people, as +stated by the New York papers, they would have avoided committing those +murders had they paid the least attention to the most elementary rules +as regards the subcutaneous injection of animal substances. Injections +of animal matter have no danger, as a rule, unless the substances begin +to be decomposed. When this condition of things exists, no good can be +obtained, and there is grave danger of inflammation, abscesses, and even +death." + +"Professor Brown-S'equard is reported to have lately informed the French +Academy of Sciences that, by condensing the watery vapor coming from the +human lungs, he obtained a poisonous liquid capable of producing almost +immediate death. The poison is an alkaloid (organic), and not a microbe +or series of microbes. He injected this liquid under the skin of a +rabbit and the effect was speedily mortal without convulsions. Dr. +S'equard said it was fully proved that respired air contains a volatile +element far more dangerous than the carbonic acid which is one of its +constituents, and that the human breath contains a highly poisonous +agent. This startling fact should be borne in mind by the occupants of +crowded horse-cars and ill-ventilated apartments." + +"A very curious geographical distribution of certain virtues and vices +has been mooted by a scientist. Intemperance is mostly found above +latitude 48 degrees, amatory aberrations south of the forty-fifth, +financial extravagance in large seaports, industrial thrift, in pastoral +highland regions." + +"Advance in Hygienic Clothing.--The new cellular clothing now coming +into use in England is said to be a success. It is woven out of the same +materials as the common weaves of cloth, being simply, as its name +indicates, closely woven into cells, the network of which is covered +over with a thin fluff. Its porous quality allows the slow passing of +the outside and inside air, giving time for the outside air to become of +the same temperature as the body, obviating all danger of catching +colds, and allowing vapors constantly exhaled by the body to pass off, +thus contributing toward health and cleanliness. The common objection to +cotton clothing--that it is productive of chills and colds--is removed +if woven in this manner, and the invention can certainly be said to be +strictly in accordance with hygienic and scientific principles." + +The annual death rate, in 1888, for the principal cities of the world, +per 1,000 inhabitants, was: San Francisco, Cleveland, Stockholm, 17; +Bristol, Dresden, 18; Chicago, Cincinnati, Edinburgh, London, Turin, 19; +Berlin, Baltimore, Brussels, Buffalo, Liverpool, Philadelphia, +Pittsburg, 20; Brooklyn, St. Louis, Tokyo, 21; Amsterdam, Christiana, +Paris, Washington, 22; Glasgow, 23; Copenhagen, 24; Bombay, Boston, New +Orleans, Pesth, Venice, Vienna, 25; Breslau, Calcutta, Manchester, New +York, Prague, Rotterdam, 26; Dublin, 27; Rome, 28; Hamburg, Munich, 29; +Trieste, 30; Buda Pesth, St. Petersburg, 32; Alexandria, 38; Madras, 40; +and Cairo, 51. + +The death rate among the poor and rich respectively varies much. In +Paris the death rate per 1,000 inhabitants between 40 and 50 years in +easy circumstances was 8.3 against 18.7 among the poor. In London are +some districts of the wealthy classes where the rate was 11.3 against 38 +in the slums. The mean age at death among the gentry was 55 years, while +among the workers it was 20-1/2 years. It was found that only 8% of the +children of the upper classes died in their first year against 19% in +the general population of Liverpool and 33% in the slums of that city. +Deaths from consumption were nearly one-fourth of all deaths among the +poor, and only one-eighteenth among the rich. + +The above facts and figures cannot fail to set every intelligent person +who reads them to thinking of this great health problem. + + + + +HAPPINESS. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +HAPPINESS. + + + "The learned is happy Nature to explore, + The fool is happy that he knows no more." + + +Happiness is defined by Webster as an agreeable feeling or condition of +the soul arising from good of any kind; the possession of those +circumstances or that state of being which is attended with enjoyment; +the state of being happy; felicity; blessedness: bliss; joyful +satisfaction. + +_Happiness_ is generic and applied to almost every kind of enjoyment +except that of the animal appetites; _felicity_ is a more formal word, +and is used more sparingly in the same general sense, but with elevated +associations; _blessedness_ is applied to the most refined enjoyment +arising from the purest social, benevolent, and religious affections; +_bliss_ denotes still more exalted delight, and is applied more +appropriately to the joy anticipated in heaven. + +Happiness is only comparative, and we drink it in, in the exact ratio of +our understanding to interpret the justice of the divinity within us. +The first pre-requisite is_ wisdom_, the second is like unto it, _more +wisdom_, and the third sufficient understanding to know that it is +wisdom. + + "It is easy enough to be pleasant, + When life flows by like a song, + But the man worth while is one who will smile + When everything goes dead wrong. + For the test of the heart is trouble, + And it always comes with the years, + And the smile that is worth the praises of earth + Is the smile that shines through tears. + + "It is easy enough to be prudent + When nothing tempts you to stray, + When without or within no voice of sin + Is luring your soul away. + But it's only a negative virtue + Until it is tried by fire, + And the life that is worth the honor of earth + Is the one that resists desire. + + "By the cynic, the sad, the fallen, + Who had no strength for the strife, + The world's highway is cumbered to-day, + They make up the item of life, + But the virtue that conquers passion, + And the sorrow that hides in a smile, + It is these that are worth the homage of earth, + For we find them but once in a while." + --_Ella Wheeler Wilcox._ + +We possess none of the attributes save in a degree only, any one of +which can be intensified, brightened, or benefited by our thoughts and +actions. The shortest road to happiness, after having cleansed your +body, actions, and thoughts, is to "do all the good you can, in all the +ways you can, to all living creatures you can, just as long as you can." +The more unselfish you become, the less you think of personal comfort, +and the more pleasure you take in the comforts of others, the deeper and +broader will the fountains of your own happiness become. There is no +class of people who have equal happiness or bliss pictured upon their +countenances to those who practice and teach the universal brotherhood +of man without regard to race, creed, sex, caste, or color. + +Happiness is like manna. It is to be "gathered in grains and enjoyed +every day; it will not keep; it cannot be accumulated; nor need we go +out of ourselves nor into remote places to gather it, since it is rained +down from heaven at our very doors, or, rather, within them." + +George Macdonald says: "A man must not choose his neighbor; he must take +the neighbor that God sends him. In him, whoever he be, lies hidden or +revealed a beautiful brother. Any rough-hewn semblance of humanity will +at length be enough to move the man to reverence and affection." + +And there is a still more extensive love, urges Charles Mackay:-- + + "You love your fellow-creatures? So do I,-- + But underneath the wide paternal sky + Are there no fellow-creatures in your ken + That you can love except your fellow-men? + Are not the grass, the flowers, the trees, the birds, + The faithful beasts, true-hearted, without words, + Your fellows also, howsoever small? + He's the best lover who can love them all." + +There are certain principles that lead to positive happiness. One of +these is the avoiding of mistakes. "What have been termed 'the fourteen +mistakes of life' are given as follows: It is a great mistake to set up +our own standard of right and wrong and judge people accordingly; to +measure the enjoyment of others by our own; to expect uniformity of +opinion in this world; to look for judgment and experience in youth; to +endeavor to mould all dispositions alike; not to yield to immaterial +trifles; to look for perfection in our own actions; to worry ourselves +and others with what cannot be remedied; not to alleviate all that needs +alleviation as far as lies in our power; not to make allowances for the +infirmities of others; to consider everything impossible that we cannot +perform; to believe only what our finite minds can grasp; to expect to +be able to understand everything. The greatest of mistakes is to live +for time alone when any moment may launch us into eternity." + +Ignorance is a state of happiness that many fairly intellectual people +cite as well worthy of emulation; but those who assert it have not +understood, or attempted to fathom, how shallow is this lake of +knownothingness called "ignorance." Only a slight ripple can be seen on +the bosom of a shallow lake during the most fearful storm, yet but a +slight zephyr is needed to show the white caps upon the grand old ocean, +and at the least provocation of a storm "see how she causes the +continents to tremble, showing her great depth and majesty." If in the +presence of this happy, ignorant personage, we place the most beautiful +piece of statuary or painting, or produce the most startling of +Shakespeare's plays, with the best living talent, or have the most +gifted vocalist sing the most difficult _aria_, or have a panorama of +the pyramid Jeezeh, Eiffel Tower, Washington Monument, Philadelphia City +Hall, Cologne Cathedral, all actual size, and such of nature's grandest +views as the Yosemite Fall, and Father of the Forest, we would look upon +this happy individual and listen in breathless silence for his opinion. +Well, what of it? what is to prevent it? would be the reply. But note +the difference even in a cultured child; see the gentle cheek turn from +pale pink to livid carmine, the heart pant, the bosom heave, and the +whole form, for the time being, feel itself suspended in the air. To the +above picture, add cultured, ripe old age, and the enjoyment, ecstasy, +and pure happiness that would follow could only be measured by the +difference between where _we_ stand and the _end_ of space! + +Prerequisites in the begetting of wisdom are, first, you must be regular +in everything you do, act, or think. This will give you health. Second, +you must be regular, cleanly, temperate, and moral. This will start you +on the road to happiness. Third, in addition to the first and second +propositions, you must exercise self-control in all its aspects if you +would have health, be happy, and live to excessive old age, before the +culmination of which you will possess wisdom of no ordinary character. + +Let the legend that "man's inhumanity to man makes countless thousands +mourn," cease, and in its place have, "The universal brotherhood of man +removes the shackles of inhumanity, replacing them by bands of love." +This will elevate the trend of human thought, and every zephyr of human +intellect will gather and multiply until a cyclone of happiness +envelopes the earth; like love it will seem but a soothing breeze to the +human heart, so gentle will fall its benign influences. + +This brings us to the point where every person is led to look to each of +the four points of the compass and there exclaim, "Who or what is God?" +This is the first thing upon which intelligent beings should render a +decision; mankind can only approximate happiness until they have +settled in their own mind this point. It is not imperative that your +decision should cover _all_ the truth or the _only_ truth in regard to +Deity, but it should preclude all doubt on the part of the person so +deciding. There is just as much inconsistency in the statement that we +know who and what is God in his physical proportions, just where He or +It resides, and just what relation It or He holds toward the human +monad, man, as there is in the assertion, "There is no God." + +There is no harm, however, in asserting our belief in _one_ God, the +Trinity, or a great First Cause. If we believe it and shape our lives +accordingly, true light will be given sufficient to satisfy each +searcher after the Truth; and he or they will advance to some other +belief just when it is necessary. The exultant Methodist receives his +light in one form, and the quiet Quaker in another. The devout Catholic +represents still another type of ritualistic form, and the Wisdom +Religionist (Theosophist) seems to get his from Nature, and finds some +good in everything. With the 1,100 other different kinds of faith, there +should be no complaint on our part of a variety from which to choose. + +We offer not as anything new, but as something possibly forgotten, the +following formulae for obtaining happiness, _viz._: (1) The carrying out +in our lives and actions the Golden Rule; (2) total unselfishness as +regards self; (3) trying to excel all others in doing what the world +calls _good_; (4) condemning no one until we have heard both sides of the +question in dispute; (5) having the same tender compassion for all the +lower animals that you exercise towards the human family; (6) following +out consistently some religious belief, and, until you are convinced of +a better one, defending it; (7) above all other things, having charity +for every person's short-comings and belief. Add to these a few +intrinsic principles: (1) Happiness is no other than soundness and +perfection of mind; (2) there are two ways of being happy--we may either +diminish our wants or augment our means--either will do, the result is +the same; and it is for each man to decide for himself, and do that +which happens to be the easiest; (3) happiness is a road-side flower +growing on the highways of usefulness; (4) carry the radiance of your +soul in your face; let the world have the benefit of it; (5) learn the +lesson embodied in this little poem:-- + + THE TWO WORKERS. + + "Two workers in one field + Toiled on from day to day, + Both had the same hard labor, + Both had the same small pay; + With the same blue sky above, + The same green grass below, + One soul was full of love, + The other full of woe. + + "One leaped up with the light, + With the soaring of the lark; + One felt it ever night, + For his soul was ever dark. + One heart was hard as stone, + One heart was ever gay; + One worked with many a groan, + One whistled all the day. + + "One had a flower-clad cot + Beside a merry mill; + Wife and children near the spot + Made it sweeter, fairer still. + One a wretched hovel had, + Full of discord, dirt, and din, + No wonder he seemed mad, + Wife and children starved within. + + "Still they worked in the same field, + Toiled on from day to day, + Both had the same hard labor, + Both had the same small pay; + But they worked not with one will: + The reason let me tell-- + Lo! the one drank at the still, + And the other at the well." + +(6) Embody in your lives the better idea of this poem, "Where Do You +Live," by Josephine Pollard:-- + + "I knew a man, and his name was Horner, + Who used to live on Grumble Corner: + Grumble Corner, in Cross-Patch Town, + And he was never seen without a frown. + He grumbled at this; he grumbled at that; + He growled at the dog; he growled at the cat; + He grumbled at morning; he grumbled at night; + And to grumble and growl were his chief delight. + + "He grumbled so much at his wife that she + Began to grumble as well as he; + And all the children, wherever they went, + Reflected their parents' discontent. + If the sky was dark and betokened rain, + Then Mr. Horner was sure to complain; + And, if there was never a cloud about, + He'd grumble because of a threatened drought. + + "His meals were never to suit his taste; + He grumbled at having to eat in haste; + The bread was poor, or the meat was tough, + Or else he hadn't had half enough. + No matter how hard his wife might try + To please her husband, with scornful eye + He'd look around, and then, with a scowl + At something or other, begin to growl. + + "One day, as I loitered about the street, + My old acquaintance I chanced to meet, + Whose face was without the look of care + And the ugly frown which it used to wear. + 'I may be mistaken, perhaps,' I said, + As, after saluting, I turned my head; + 'But it is, and it isn't, the Mr. Horner + Who lived for so long on Grumble Corner!' + + "I met him next day; and I met him again, + In melting weather, and pouring rain, + When stocks were up and when stocks were down; + But a smile somehow had replaced the frown. + It puzzled me much; and so one day + I seized his hand in a friendly way, + And said: 'Mr. Horner, I'd like to know + What can have happened to change you so?' + + "He laughed a laugh that was good to hear, + For it told of a conscience calm and clear, + And he said, with none of the old-time drawl, + 'Why, I've changed my residence, that is all!' + 'Changed your residence?' 'Yes,' said Horner, + 'It wasn't healthy on Grumble Corner, + And so I moved; 'twas a change complete; + And you'll find me now on Thanksgiving Street!' + + "Now, every day as I move along + The streets so filled with the busy throng, + I watch each face and can always tell + Where men and women and children dwell; + And many a discontented mourner + Is spending his days on Grumble Corner, + Sour and sad, whom I long to entreat + To take a house on Thanksgiving Street." + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + + "Gold can gild a rotten stick and dirt sully an ingot." + + +Aids to Morality.--"Many imagine that the only ways in which public and +private morality can be improved," says the Philadelphia _Ledger_, "are +those definite and direct methods which appeal at once to the conscience +and the heart. Preaching and teaching, persuading and warning, exhorting +and encouraging, are instrumentalities worthy of all honor, and those +whose abilities qualify them for such tasks should receive every +possible stimulus to exert them in so noble a cause. But it is a great +mistake to suppose that these are the only means to promote morality. +Every truly civilizing influence is also a reforming one. By this we do +not mean that miscalled civilization which multiplies wants, and +increases luxury and develops refinement in a few, at the expense of the +many, but that advancement of mind and of knowledge, which is forever +disclosing better methods of living and diffusing them among the whole +people. Dr. Howard Crosby, president of the Society for the Prevention +of Crime, in New York, and who has had wide opportunities of observing +the condition of morality in that city, has recently declared that the +moral condition of New York has vastly improved during the past few +years, and that fifty years ago, although there was far less of the +foreign element than there is now, a low condition of morality existed +that would not be tolerated at the present time. What is true of New +York in this respect is equally true of our other cities, and if there +be any pessimist who points to the well-known corruptions and vices +which still exist as a refutation of this statement, we would remind +him that the very fact that such things are now brought to the light, +discussed, and condemned, is a proof that they are on the decline. When +a community is deeply sunk in immorality, little or no comment is made +on the fact. When we come to seek into the causes of this improvement, +we shall find that among the most prominent are the practical results of +scientific progress and the civilizing tendencies of the age. There is +no question that dirt, disease, and darkness are prevalent sources of +vice and crime, and whatever influences are brought to bear against them +will also press heavily against immorality. The increasing value set +upon health, as shown alike in sanitary laws and regulations and in the +greater willingness manifested by the community to understand and adopt +hygienic modes of life, is beyond dispute. The improvements in house +building and drainage; the introduction of water, pure and plentiful; +the freer admission of fresh air; the better systems of ventilation; the +brilliant lighting up of our city streets--all contribute to the +prevention of crime and to the spread of a higher type of morality, +while increasing the health, peace, and comfort of the community. And +when to all these we add the better and wider education given to the +rising generation than was thought possible fifty years ago, we shall +find abundant reason for the moral advancement which has been made. +There are some persons who feel quite powerless to help on the cause of +reform, or to improve the moral character of a single individual, +because they have no gift for influencing men by direct appeal. They +have, perhaps, tried and failed, and so, although they would like to do +some good in the world, they are hopeless of any success. Let such take +courage as they remember how many indirect, yet most effectual, methods +there are of accomplishing this end. Let them look over the multitudes +of civilizing agencies that are silently working in the interests of +morality, and attach themselves to such as most heartily engage their +interest. Every intelligent individual must be in sympathy with some of +them; and it is just there that his services are needed and will be most +valuable. Nor let him make the mistake of supposing that he is thus +working upon a lower or inferior plane. It is in works of benevolence +and reform, just as in all other kinds of work--that which a man can do +best is the very best thing for him to do. So, if one man is interested +in sanitary schemes and another in evening schools; if one is anxious +for free libraries and another for free parks; if one can help to secure +good roads and clean streets and another can aid in protecting children +or dumb animals from ill-treatment, let each be assured that in such +exertions he is doing his share in promoting morality and in elevating +character as surely and as effectually as those whose peculiar province +it is to teach or to preach, to admonish or to advise." + +If the butcher's trade begets in him, the butcher, a disposition to use +the knife more indiscriminately, and causes him to look upon the taking +of life indifferently and unconcernedly, so that in a majority of the +States he is disqualified from sitting upon a murderer's jury, there +then must be something not only in the associations we keep but in the +business we follow. + +The average lawyer tries by every known means to clear his client. In +50% of the cases handled by 50% of the attorneys their clients are +guilty and they know it. They do not break the law of their State or +country simply because the laws in the main are made to screen the +evil-doers and not the honest citizen. But how they can do this and +affiliate with any one of the 1,100 different faiths, or attend their +church organizations or services sincerely, is more than we can surmise. +In contrast, however, we must mention an isolated case that has reached +us well authenticated. A very prominent and able lawyer of New York +City, who had the reputation of never losing a case, was accosted by a +well-known offender of the law on trial for felony before the court of +Oyer and Terminer. The attorney invited the would-be client into his +private office and had him state his case. He finished, and the lawyer +remarked, "You are guilty." "Well, I know that," replied the culprit, +"that is why I want your services--you never lose a case." "Sir," said +the lawyer, "you have come to the wrong office. I have never failed in +any case before the courts; I account for it from the fact that I have +never espoused a cause where I knew the client was guilty. Knowing I was +right, I have thrown my whole soul into it, and won." + +Gossip.--There is a vast deal of unhappiness in this world caused by +gossip. Dr. J. G. Holland presents helpful ideas in the following:-- + +"What is the cure for gossip?--Simply culture. There is a great deal of +gossip that has no malignity in it. Good-natured people talk about their +neighbors because they have nothing else to talk about. As we write, +there comes to us the picture of a family of young ladies. We have seen +them at home, we have met them in galleries of art, we have caught +glimpses of them going from a book store or library with a fresh volume +in their hands. When we meet them they are full of what they have seen +and read. They are brimming with questions. One topic of conversation is +dropped only to give place to another in which they are interested. We +have left them after a delightful hour, stimulated and refreshed, and +during the whole hour not a neighbor's garment was soiled by so much as +a touch. They had something to talk about. They knew something, and +wanted to know more. They could listen as well as they could talk. To +speak freely of a neighbor's doings and belongings would have seemed an +impertinence to them, and, of course, an impropriety. They had no +temptation to gossip, because the doings of their neighbors formed a +subject very much less interesting than those which grew out of their +knowledge and their culture. + +"And this tells the whole story. The confirmed gossip is always either +malicious or ignorant. The one variety needs a change of heart and the +other a change of pasture. Gossip is always a personal confession either +of malice or imbecility, and the young should not only shun it, but, by +most thorough culture, relieve themselves from all temptation to indulge +in it. It is a low, frivolous, and, too often, a dirty business. There +are neighborhoods in which it rages like a pest. Churches are split in +pieces by it. Neighbors are made enemies by it for life. In many +persons it degenerates into a chronic disease, which is practically +incurable. Let the young cure it while they may." + +Married Life.--As the family is the center about which all life +revolves, it is absolutely essential to have happy relations there. +Husbands too often neglect their wives and homes. "Women are lonely," +says Mrs. Annie Jenness. "They miss their husbands. What amount of +companionship exists between the American woman and the man? He starts +for his office as soon as his breakfast is hurriedly swallowed. He does +not come home at the lunch hour. He is barely in season for a late +dinner. Very possibly he belongs to a club and has an engagement as soon +as dinner is done. + +"If not that, his head is in bank or counting-house, and he studies the +stock quotations in the night's paper, and counts, as against a possible +rise of wheat, the day's gossip, with which his wife is overflowing, +very small potatoes. They have callers, or they go to opera or theater. +It may easily happen that they do not spend ten minutes in conversation +with each other during the day. American men are always in a hurry. They +seem to live for the sole purpose of catching trains. They have no time +to amuse or be amused. + +"The conditions of modern life separate them from women. The lives of +men grow more and more simple--business comprehends the whole. The lives +of women grow more and more complex--everything which is not business is +given over to them. A man past the romantic epoch, who honestly enjoys +talking with women, is not an average mortal. The every-day sort of man +takes pains to be detained somewhere until all the guests have departed +from his wife's 5 o'clock tea. The couple live in different worlds. The +world is now discussing why marriage is a failure, if it is? Then +consider this collection of reasons:-- + +"When either of the parties marry for money. + +"When the lord of creation pays more for cigars than his better half +does for hosiery, boots, and bonnets. + +"When one of the parties engages in a business that is not approved by +the other. + +"When both parties persist in arguing over a subject upon which they +never have and never can think alike. + +"When neither husband nor wife takes a vacation. + +"When the vacations are taken by one side of the house only. + +"When a man attempts to tell his wife what style of bonnet she must +wear. + +"When a man's Christmas presents to his wife consist of boot-jacks, +shirts, and gloves for himself. + +"When the watchword is, 'Each for himself.' + +"When dinner is not ready at dinner-time. + +"When 'he' snores his loudest while 'she' kindles the fire. + +"When 'father' takes half of the pie and leaves the other half for the +one that made it and her eight children. + +"When the children are given the neck and back of the chicken. + +"When children are obliged to clamor for their rights. + +"When the money that should go for a book goes for what only one side of +the house knows anything about. + +"When there is too much latch-key. + +"When politeness, fine manners, and kindly attentions are reserved for +company or visits abroad." + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + + "The greatest friend of truth is time." + +WHAT WE INHERIT FROM THE PAST. + + +The world moves only through the constant accumulation and conservation +of force--the force of mind. We are not capable of conceiving the +immense wastage of this force from year to year and from century to +century. If we produce a great inventor we are ignorantly proud of him. +We wonder at him as if he were a miracle. A great thinker in mechanics, +in art, in science, in letters, astonishes as if he were a prodigy, when +he is really only an approach to what all men have the right to be, to +what all men may become when the right mind has applied to it the right +compelling power of suggestion from the force of other minds. As surely +as the plant is involved in its seed, so surely is all the progress of +the future involved in the thought of the past, recorded in books as far +as it is possible to record it at all. The telephone, the telegraph, the +phonograph, the steam-engine, the power loom--every result of the +application of mind in the subjection of matter--existed in the minds of +men and was recorded in books years before the thought gave suggestion +to the mind which applied it practically. Back of the mind of the great +thinker in poetry, in statesmanship, in science, in mechanics, is the +conserved force of the minds preceding him. But what does it all avail +if it is wasted? We may have now a thousand Edisons, Fultons, Morses and +Maurys, inert and practically useless because of force unapplied that +might set them in motion to make the lives of millions, born and unborn, +easier and happier. We have poets, statesmen, scientists, and inventors +as unknown and unproductive as the worms which change them into +productive forms of matter in country church-yards, where some Gray +finds them and touches us with a sense of their loss to us without +suggesting the remedy. What remedy is there if it is not this of making +the suggested possibility of the past the endeavor of the present and +the achievement of the future? How is that possible, if we regard our +capable men as miracles, when our own incapacity to understand is the +only miracle when we leave the great possibilities of mind in unnumbered +"thousands to die with the matter of their bodies? Charity builds a +small-pox hospital and men bless it--rightly. It benefits its hundreds +and its thousands. The same benevolence, operating under the force of +the conserved energy of mind, discovers vaccination, and so benefits +millions and tens of millions for ages after the small-pox hospital is +back in the clay from which its bricks were burned. There is here no +parallel possible between the results achieved--those of the one hand so +immensely exceed those of the other. The whole problem of the present +and future is to bring the accumulated force of suggestion from the past +to bear on the given point--on the mind of the living man, capable in +possibility, and failing to achieve only for lack of stimulus--of force, +of power--as a steam-engine is incapable without force applied from +without. And as it is the last shovel of coal that sets the engine to +work, so the mind, prepared for the final suggestion that is to give it +its highest usefulness, will remain inert if the suggestion fails it. +These suggestions may come from nature or directly from other minds, but +in the main they come from the force of mind preserved in books. Can +there be any greater, any more capable benevolence, than that which +gives this force its widest possible application? A million dollars may +endow a hospital for a century. Half as much in an endowment making a +library free may bring pressure to bear on some brain, that, as a +result, will save more suffering for the human race than has been saved +by vaccination." + + + + +LONGEVITY. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +LONGEVITY. + + "Tell me not in mournful numbers, + Life is but an empty dream, + For the soul is dead that slumbers, + And things are not what they seem." + + How long shall a man live? That depends entirely upon the + _Liver!_--_Punch. + + +If you have read with care the preceding chapters of this work, and +paused between the lines to reflect, you will not now have to be retold +our panacea for a long life. By this we mean the usually allotted +three-score and ten, or also the 120 years given as the limit in +Genesis, 3rd and 6th chapters. These ages, however, are not common in +any country or age. There are many instances of 70 years, but not enough +to be called common, while it is the "survival of the fittest" that +reach 120 years. + +In the United States only 5.6% of population are above 60 years and +probably not more than 4-1/2% are over 70 years. Norway has the best +record, with 9% of the population above the age of 60. Japan has +1,182,000 people over 70 years, but only 73 of these are over 100, and 1 +alone has reached the age of 111 years. Probably the oldest human being +living in the United States at this writing is the old Indian named +Gabriel, residing at or near Castroville, Cal., 100 miles south of San +Francisco. He has an authentic history of 146 years, and he is believed +to be over 150 years old. But for real characteristic longevity, we must +visit the mountain fastnesses of Thibet, in Asia, where live a number of +specimens of the human family that have a recorded history back to the +latter part of the 16th century. + +We have previously told you that by regularity alone man may reach the +age of 100 years. Now we intend to treat more the possibilities of how +long it is possible for mankind to retain all their mental faculties and +enjoy sufficient vital force to battle with the world for a livelihood. +We are led to believe, like Dr. Wm. A. Hammond, a prominent physician of +New York City "that there is no physiological reason at the present day +why man should die." (Further on we give more of the Doctor's theory.) +Just so long, however, as there are no paid teachers to show how not to +get sick, how to keep the physique and mind from tiring, the heart from +growing weary and discontented, just so long will the average of life +remain under 40 years and the grave-yards continue to be populated. +There are hundreds of reasons why this or that clan or sect live longer +than the other sect or clan, but what we wish to convey is that none of +them live out all their days. For instance, in comparison with other +nations not mentioned, the German can drink more beer, the Frenchman +more wine, the Russian more pure spirits, the Englishman more brandy, +and the American more whisky, before harm is perceptible, likewise the +Chinese can smoke more opium and the Russian a stronger cigarette, and +more of them, before harm is apparent to others. No matter what an +individual's creed, color, or nationality, if he be intelligent and +clearly endowed with the five known senses, he does know that any +narcotic, no matter of what nature, even if it is as mild as steeped tea +leaves and as odorless as pure water, is a detriment to some one of the +senses. As each sense is dulled, the others must sympathize with it; so +it will not require an instrument to measure to the .001 part of an +inch, or to a single vibration of the violet ray, to test the degree of +injury that the human structure received for each variation from the +path of perfection. + +If perfection of climate is sought, perfect sanitation obtained, +regularity, cleanliness, uprightness, temperance, and self-control +practiced, if the bodily waste is supplied with nature's fruits, grains, +vegetables, and herbs, if drinking is done at nature's fountain for +thirst, life will be prolonged to see the light in more than one +century. Finally, add to that, if self is forgotten, and only the +comfort of others remembered and regarded, life may be indefinitely +prolonged. + +M. Chevreul, the eminent French scientist, died April 9, 1889, aged 103 +years. "On the 31st day of August, 1886, he attained the age of 100 +years, and was still in vigorous health, and with all his faculties +unimpaired. The occasion 'was celebrated by the students of Paris, among +whom he is a great favorite, and by the French people generally, with +enthusiasm.' The Paris _Journal Illustre_ seized upon the opportunity to +interview him in a manner that is described as marking 'an era in this +line of journalistic enterprise. Not only were his words taken down +_verbatim_, but his various attitudes while speaking were photographed +by the instantaneous process, and engraved,' twelve illustrations being +given in the interview. M. Chevreul is an important figure in the +scientific world, and the interview contains many useful lessons in +hygiene and philosophy, not the least of which is described by his +interviewer as an exposition of the 'chemical secret of longevity.' In a +condensed form, it is as follows: He regards longevity as a great +blessing, and declares that the method by which it may be secured is +easy to learn; but I think that with many people it would be difficult +to follow. He laid down the proposition that the larger proportion of +the human race die of disease and not of old age. Now, he finds that +while we should especially guard against drawing general conclusions +from particular cases, yet it is nevertheless true that the study of +particular cases may and should conduct us to general precepts. It is +necessary for each one to study his personal aptitudes, and conform to +them with a constant firmness. Every _r'egim'e_ is personal, and 'I cannot +too much insist upon this essential point, that what is suitable for one +may not be for another. It is, then, important for each one to note well +what is adapted to his own constitution. Thus, I have the same aversion +to fish as to fermented liquors, especially to wine, also a distaste for +a large number of vegetables, and I could never drink milk. Shall I +conclude, then, that fish, that the vegetables which I do not relish, +and milk, are not nutritive?--Certainly not; for I judge by a general +rule and not by my own idiosyncrasies. Coffee and chocolate agree with +me; the latter is especially nutritive, and gives me an appetite for +food. It is for me an aperient. Shall I conclude from this that +chocolate would give everybody an appetite?' + +"He maintains a barometric exactness and regularity in all the habits of +his daily life,--eats at fixed hours, takes his time, and leaves the +table with some appetite for more. He says he remembers the words of the +wise man, 'The stomach has slain more men than war,' and that the +Spartans proscribed those citizens who were too fat. + +"I use little salt or spices, and but little coffee, and I flee as from +a pest from all those excitants of which I feel no need, and from all +tobacco and alcoholics in whatever form they may present themselves.' + +"He divides his day, the morning to exact science, the middle of the day +to philosophy, and the evening to music and poetry. 'But above all, no +discussion at the table. One should only eat with a calm spirit. Let the +dining-room remain the dining-room, and never be turned into a room for +argument. Discussion while eating is a cushion of needles in the +stomach.'" + +Dr. Felix L. Oswald has made the following brilliant conclusions in the +"Curiosities of Longevity:"-- + +"Among the centenarians of all nations and all times, a significant +plurality were either rustics, or city dwellers addicted to outdoor +pursuits. Centenarians are remarkably frequent among the bailiff-ridden +boors of Southern Russia, and the five oldest persons of modern times +were care-worn if not abjectly poor villagers: Peter Czartan, who died +in a hamlet near Belgrade, 1724, in his _hundred and eighty-fifth year_; +the Russian beggar Kamartzik, a native of Polotzk, who reached an age of +one hundred and sixty-three years, and died in consequence of an +accident; the fisherman Jenkins, who, in spite of life-long penury, +lived at least a century and a half (the estimate of his neighbors +varying from one hundred and fifty-eight to one hundred and sixty-nine +years); the negress Truxo, who died in slavery on the plantation of a +Tucuman physician, in her hundred and seventy-fifth year; and the +day-laborer, Thomas Parr, who attained the pretty-well-authenticated age +of one hundred and fifty-two years, and who died a few weeks after his +removal from country air and indigence to comfort and city quarters. If +dietetic restrictions tend to prolong human life, the rule would seem to +be chiefly confirmed by its exceptions. The children of Israel are apt +to ascribe their certainly remarkable longevity to the Mosaic interdict +of hogs' flesh.... + +"John H. Brown, M. D., the Berwick AEsculapius, enumerates a long list of +patients who had postponed their funeral by following his plan of +systematic hygiene--the plan, namely, of 'toning down' plethora by +bleeding and cathartics, and of 'toning up' debility by means of beef +and brandy. But sixteen hundred years ago the philosopher Lucian called +attention to the exceptional longevity of the Pythagorean ascetics, +whose religious by-laws enjoined total abstinence from wine and all +sorts of animal food. The naturalist Brehm describes the robust physique +of a Soudan chieftain who, at the reputed age of one hundred and six +years, could hurl a stone with force sufficient to kill a jackal at a +distance of fifty yards, and thought nothing of starving for a week or +two if his foragers happened to return empty-handed. But the same +traveler mentions that his swarthy Nestor now and then compensated such +fasts by barbecues lasting from ten to twenty-four hours, and including +a _m'elange_ of marrow-fat and pepper-grass, besides dozens of +hard-boiled crane's eggs, jerboa stew, and deep draughts of clarified +butter. Long fasts certainly enhance the vigor of the digestive organs, +but the net result of repeating such experiments seems rather difficult +to reconcile with the experience of Luigi Cornaro, the Venetian +reformer, who managed to outlive all his cousins and schoolmates, and +ascribed his success to the mathematical regularity of his bill of fare, +which, during the last sixty years of his self-denying existence, had +been limited to twelve ounces of solid food and fourteen ounces of +fluids--wine chiefly, a beverage which the Soudanese emir would have +rejected with a snort of virtuous horror. Dr. Virchow, though by no +means an advocate of total abstinence, admits that the longevity of the +Semitic desert-dwellers can be explained only by their caution in the +use of stimulants--a virtue which in their case would, indeed, appear to +offset an unusual number of circumstantial disadvantages--thirst, fiery +suns, and fiery passions being decidedly unpropitious to length of life. + +"And here, at last, we may strike a bit of _terra firma_ in the +quicksands of speculative hygiene. 'Take a hundred different animals,' +says the sanitarian Schrodt, and you will find them to prefer a hundred +different sorts of solid food, but they all drink milk in infancy, and +afterward water; and considering the infinite variety of comestibles a +healthy human stomach contrives to digest, we might very well agree to +deserve that privilege by limiting the variety of our beverages.' +Instinct certainly abhors the first taste of alcoholic liquors, and +statistics prove that in all climes and among all nations the +disease-resisting power of the human organism is diminished by the +habitual use of toxic stimulants. Mohammed, Buddha, and Zoroaster agree +on that point, and the esoteric teachings of Pythagoras may have +qualified his rather fanciful objections to grape-juice by the practical +hope of longevity. A complete list of infallible prescriptions for the +prolongation of human life would fill a voluminous book, and would +include some decidedly curious specifics. 'To what do you ascribe your +hale old age?' the Emperor Augustus asked a centenarian whom he found +wrestling in the _palaestra_ and bandying jokes with the young athletes. +'_Intus mulso, foris oleo_,' said the old fellow--'Oil for the skin and +mead [water and honey] for the inner man.' Cardanus suggests that old +age might be indefinitely postponed by a semi-fluid diet warmed (like +mothers' milk) to the exact temperature of the human system and Voltaire +accuses his rival Maupertuis of having hoped to attain a similar result +by varnishing his hide with a sort of resinous paint (_un poix +r'esineux_) that would prevent the vital strength from evaporating by +exhalation. Robert Burton recommends 'oil of unaphar and dormouse fat;' +Paracelsus, rectified spirits of alcohol; Horace, olives and +marsh-mallows. Dr. Zimmerman, the medical adviser of Frederick the +Great, sums up the 'Art of Longevity' in the following words: 'Temperate +habits, outdoor exercise, and steady industry, sweetened by occasional +festivals.'" + +"The increasing longevity of man is attracting considerable attention +from collectors of statistics, and some curious facts are being +elicited. According to the last census, 10 per cent of the people who +died between 1870 and 1880 had outlived the traditional three-score +years and ten, whereas of the deaths between 1840 and 1850, only 7.47 +per cent were of persons of that age. In 1850, 16.90 per cent of the +deaths were of children under one year of age; in 1880, the proportion +was 23.24, showing a smaller percentage of deaths among adults. The +average length of life in England 300 years ago was only twenty years. +In France the average length of life, under Louis XVIII., was +twenty-eight years. Actuaries are figuring that within the past +half-century the average length of life has greatly increased." + +"A study of this subject is impeded by the tendency of almost everyone +to generalize from individual examples within his own observation. This +is almost sure to be misleading, because no one's acquaintance is so +large that it embraces factors enough to base a theory on. People say +that life is longer than it used to be, because Palmerston rode to +hounds at 82, and Peter Cooper and the Emperor William were +intellectually vigorous at over 91. They forget that Marino Faliero was +over 80 when he concocted his plot, and that the blind Dodge Dandolo was +84 when he took Constantinople. Every age has produced a few long-lived +men, and here and there a centenarian." + +"The question of importance is not whether this age is yielding more +centenarians than former ages, but whether, on the average, the age of +man is longer than it was, and if so, how much longer? The grounds for +an increased longevity--better doctors and more of them, better +drainage, more wholesome food, wiser habits, and better facilities for +securing change of air--justify the belief that life is lengthening, to +what degree it is hard to say. M. Flourens, who had made a life study of +the subject, said that every man ought to live to be a hundred, if he +took care of himself." + +"In a number of the _Popular Science Monthly_ is an article by Clement +Milton Hammond on the prolongation of human life that is interesting +both in the way of being readable and as based on returns as to an +unusually large number of persons above eighty years of age. The facts +were obtained by sending out 5,000 blanks to be filled. They were sent +through New England only and were intended to cover personal history and +hereditary influence. Over 3,500 of the blanks were filled out and +returned. They show that less than 5 per cent remained unmarried through +life, the unmarried women being three times as numerous as the unmarried +men. The average number of children was five. Five out of six of the old +people had light complexions, blue or gray eyes, and abundant brown +hair. The men were generally tall and ranged in weight from 100 to 160 +pounds, with a few of 200 pounds, and the women of medium size, weighing +from 100 to 120 pounds, with some exceptional cases up to 180 pounds. +The men were generally bony and muscular, and the women the opposite. At +the time of record the hair was generally thick, the teeth poor or +entirely gone, the skin only slightly wrinkled. Generally their habits +of eating and sleeping have been conspicuously regular. They have as a +rule adhered to one occupation through life, and of the 1,000 men 461 +were farmers. Few have used alcoholic drink stronger than cider. A large +majority of the men used tobacco. The average age of the parents and +grandparents of the persons reported on was about sixty-five. The +average time of sleep was about eight hours." + +Dr. Maurice advances some staunch ideas on old age:-- + +"Do poor people live longer than the affluent? There are so many more +poor in the world than there are rich that we can be sure of finding +more poor old people. Probably excessive wealth is a burden sure to +exhaust its possessor in the care of it. Our millionaires, however, are +men for the most part who began poor and were possessed of tenacious +vitality, that is, with a grip on other things as strong as on the money +bags. Professor Humphrey's 'Report on Age of Persons' gives us 824 +persons, of both sexes, of whom about half were poor and the rest at +least in good circumstances, 10 per cent only being possessed of wealth. +The real truth seems to be that poverty, with an iron constitution and +sound nerves, is most likely to produce an instance of extreme age; but +the possession of the comforts and amenities of life produces by far the +best average of ages. The average age of the middle classes has always +surpassed that of others; but at present sanitation forces on the poor +so many provisions against disease that they are saved from their former +high death-rate, and brought quite near the privately better-bred and +furnished class. + +"There has certainly been long sustained, in proverbs and otherwise, a +conviction that early rising and early retiring have much to do with +prolonged vitality. Franklin insisted on it vigorously. Lord Mansfield, +also, held it to be an important item in his sustained vigor to near +ninety. I am inclined to believe that the estimate is not erroneous. We +are far more the creatures of habit than we generally allow. At certain +moments we become regularly hungry, regularly sleepy, and so with all +other functions. It is wise beyond doubt to recognize this fact and +never break our habits, that is, our useful habits. But beyond this, +there are certain habits dependent on cosmical causes, such as movements +of the sun. Our natural rest would seem to be properly conformed, in the +main, to the appearance and disappearance of daylight. + +"But after we have fairly and fully considered the subject, there +remains the one fact that idleness will end life sooner than any other +cause. The hour that any person retires from any and all occupation he +is sure to drop into decadence. The mind is very sure to begin to lose +its clearness when it is withdrawn from regular exercise. Both brain and +muscular power lapse with lack of activity. The custom of working +excessively till sixty-five or seventy, and then withdrawing from +business, is wrong at both ends. We crowd life at the beginning, and +let its functioning grow torpid at the close. Much is lost to age by our +modern methods of locomotion. Great walkers are scarce; there is almost +a total lack of horse-back exercise. Carriage-riding over smooth roads +in no way compensates." + +Perhaps there is nothing that prolongs life more than genial, hearty +_laughter_. William Matthews says "that there is not a remote corner or +little inlet of the minute blood-vessels of the human body that does not +feel some wavelet from the great convulsion caused by hearty laughter +shaking the central man. Not only does the blood move more quickly than +it is wont, but its chemical or electric condition is distinctly +modified, and it conveys a different impression to the organs of the +body, as it visits them on that particular mystic journey when the man +laughs, from what it does at other times. A genial, hearty laugh, +therefore, prolongs life, by conveying a distinct and additional +stimulus to the vital forces. Best of all, it has no remorse in it. It +leaves no sting, except in the sides, and that goes off. Cicero thought +so highly of it that he complained bitterly at one time that his +fellow-citizens had all forgotten to laugh: _Civem mehercule non puto +esse qui his temporibus ridere possit_. Titus, the Roman emperor, +thought he had lost a day if he had passed it without laughing. What a +world would this be without laughter! To what a dreary, dismal +complexion should we all come at last, were all fun and cachination +expurged from our solemn and scientific planet! Care would soon +overwhelm us; the heart would corrode; the river of life would be like +the lake of the Dismal Swamp; we should begin our career with a sigh, +and end it with a groan; while cadaverous faces, and words to the tune +of 'The Dead March in Saul,' would make up the whole interlude of our +existence." + +"Hume, the historian, in examining a French manuscript containing +accounts of some private disbursements of King Edward II. of England, +found, among others, one item of a crown paid to somebody for making the +king laugh. Could one conceive of a wiser investment? Perhaps by paying +one crown Edward saved another. 'The most utterly lost of all days,' +says Chamfort, 'is that on which you have not once laughed.' Even that +grimmest and most saturnine of men, who, though he made others roar with +merriment, was never known to smile, and who died 'in a rage, like a +poisoned rat in a hole'--Dean Swift--has called laughter 'the most +innocent of all diuretics.' Yet the philosopher of Concord, R. W. +Emerson, is reported as having said in a lecture: 'Laughter is to be +avoided. Lord Chesterfield said that after he had come to the years of +understanding he never laughed.' Lord Chesterfield would have had far +more influence if, instead of repressing every inclination to laugh, he +had now and then given his ribs a holiday--nay, if he had even roared +outright; for it would have disabused the public of the notion that he +never obeyed a natural impulse, but that everything he said and did was +prestudied--done by square, rule, and compass. As it was, though he was +confessedly the politest, best-bred, most insinuating man at court, yet +he was regularly and invariably out-flanked and out-maneuvered by Sir +Robert Walpole, who had the heartiest laugh in the kingdom, and by the +Duke of Newcastle, who had the worst manners in the world. In commending +laughter, we mean genuine laughter, not a make-believe, not the +artificial or falsetto laugh of fashionable society, nor, again, the +mere smile of acquiescent politeness, or the crackling of thorns under a +pot, or the curl of the lips that indicates in the laughter a belief in +his fancied superiority. Still less do we mean the hollow, mocking laugh +of the cynic. The laughter which we would commend as healthful is not +bitter, but kindly, genial, and sympathetic." + + +No Physiological Reason for Death.--"Dr. William A. Hammond, a prominent +physician of New York, who has written several medical treatises, and +was some years ago Surgeon-General of the United States Army, has +recently set forth his belief that there is no physiological reason at +the present day why man should die. He maintains that people die through +the ignorance of the laws which govern their existence, and from their +inability, or indisposition, to attend to those laws with which they are +acquainted. Now, as the business of medical men has ostensibly been for +the last four thousand years to prolong human life, and as Dr. Hammond +affirms that there is no good reason why people should die, the wonder +is why men of his school have not drawn up some formula by which they +could live on for three or four thousand years, at least. There has +always been a vague impression that the knowledge of the preservation of +human life had been lost, and that in some favored era of the world's +history that knowledge would be recovered. + +"If there is such a thing as a hidden law of life, which, when +discovered and asserted, will arrest physical decay and prevent death, +except by accident, Doctor Hammond, and all who hold to his doctrine, +ought to lose no time in making it known. This medical authority reasons +that, as the human body is constantly dying and constantly renewing its +particles, this law of displacement and renewal ought to be perpetual, +and that when it is discovered just what substances are best fitted to +maintain this equipoise, as it were, there should be no giving out of +the physical powers. + +"'The food that man takes into his stomach,' says Doctor Hammond, 'ought +to be of such quantity and quality as would exactly repair the losses +which, through the action of the several organs, his body is to undergo. +If it is excessive in either of these directions, or if it is deficient, +disease of some kind will certainly be the result. If he knew enough to +be able to adjust his daily food to the expected daily requirements of +his system, disease could never ensue through the exhaustion of any one +of his vital organs. A large majority of the morbid affections to which +he is subject are due to a lack of this knowledge. + +"'Now, suppose that he is exactly right in his calculations, and that +the food taken is neither too great nor too little, but exactly +compensates the anticipated losses, the death of each cell in the brain, +or the heart, or the muscles, etc., will be followed by the birth of a +new cell, which will take its place and assume its functions. Gout, +rheumatism, liver and kidney diseases, heart affections, softening and +other destructive disorders of the brain, the various morbid conditions +to which the digestive organs are subject, would be impossible except +through the action of some external force, such as the swallowing of +sulphuric acid, or a blow on the head, or a stab with a knife, which +would come clearly within the class of accidents, and of course many of +these would be avoidable.' + +"Dr. Hammond's theory supposes that the time will come when the +individual will have learned the uttermost thing about the laws of life, +and when he will conform so strictly to these laws that he will have +nothing more to learn in regard to the best way of living. It may +require ages for this progress, but when it is attained, and the race is +set free from all morbific influences, physical death would be +impossible. The summary of his points is that 'people die from ignorance +of the laws of life; and from willfulness in not obeying the laws they +know.' That may be a part of the truth which is very near the surface. +But the other demonstration is not quite so clear as could be +wished--that there can be any such thing as an eternity of physical +life, even if all the laws touching that life were known and every one +of them obeyed." + + + + +PART II + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +DISEASES AND REMEDIES; HOW TO PREVENT MOST MALADIES AND CURE ILLS +POSSESSED. + + +Note.--If the reader is in haste to know what will cure this or that +trouble, before perusing the pages of this entire pamphlet, such as +cramp, colic, indigestion, constipation, headache, etc., the index found +in the back part of this work will give immediate reference, and the +prescriptions instant relief. If you are cured thereby of any of the +many maladies that beset the human family, remember that it is only +temporary; for to be cured of any disease permanently requires the +removal of the cause. One of the objects of this book is to convey that +information. + +The great disparity between the actions and teachings of many of our +principal writers must be apparent to every reader of books, pamphlets, +and editorials, upon the subject of health and its allies, happiness and +longevity. Many of the leading exponents of temperance have periodical +spells of drunkenness, and some drink all the time. The prominent +articles written upon the subject of sanitary matters and cleanliness, +are generally by the editor whose office is the scene of disorder, the +floor covered with tobacco quids, old rubbish and dust, and the corners +filled with cobwebs. The writer upon the subject of poverty and the +wrongs of the poor, has his headquarters fitted up in the most +magnificent style;--he never knew what it was to want for a meal, nor +did he ever darken the door of real poverty. The missionary advocate +soliciting funds for the heathen and down-trodden poor of foreign lands, +more than likely never crossed the borders of his own State, certainly +has not taken a stroll through the dark lanes and alleys, or climbed the +dingy stairways of the tenement houses of his own city. If he had done +so, a more effective appeal would have gone up for the suffering poor +and spiritually blind of the principal unsanitary municipalities of his +own country. The physician with a bad cough and broken-down constitution +is still prescribing for consumptives and patients with all manner of +aches and pains, of which his own body is a perfect index. + +And the minister who has not yet lost all his hatred for "that other +sect," and occasionally assists in persecuting it, is still teaching the +doctrine of the meek and lowly Nazarene. Having experienced a large +number of diseases and their successful remedies, we have for several +years been collecting the most reliable data and testimony on many--in +short most--of mankind's bodily ills. In this second part we present +them for your benefit. + +There are about 11,000 remedies mentioned in the 15th edition of the +"United States Dispensatory," by reference to which it will be seen that +each affliction to which flesh is heir must be more than well drugged. +It is the fault of the community at large that the necessity of such a +work exists. There is no demand for any form of disease even with the +improper state of society as it is to-day. Extreme old age and a limited +number of accidents are all that can be necessary to record. The +following is an admirable article from the St. Louis _Globe Democrat_, +which is quite pertinent. + +"Sanitation and Sanity.--The general subject of sanitation now covers +our architecture and our home life; our sewerage and disposition of +waste; our personal cleanliness and contact in all social relations; our +food and drink, both as to quality and kind; quarantine and other +preventives against contagion and infection; the purification of +streams, and the cleansing of the air of smoke and foul vapors; in fact, +the whole subject of health or wholeness. * * * A national board of +health was as unthought of as was an Atlantic cable in 1800. But the +fact that great epidemics were liable to invade us, and did invade us, +led to a system of quarantine and to enforced vaccination. But the +regulation by law of our social manners, so far as they bore on public +health, was not undertaken to any extent until within the past decade. * +* * Indeed, public sentiment is as yet so uninformed that thorough laws +in the case could not be enacted or enforced. There is not a stream in +the United States that can be kept entirely free from pollution. The +sanitary value of this is not understood by even the intelligent +populace. The drainage of swamps is neglected in the neighborhood of our +larger cities." "St. Louis has tolerated inside her limits pools that +have made fevers of a malarious sort, with spinal meningitis, as common +as croup. Chicago has acres of rotting vegetable matter inside the +corporation every autumn. The inroads of yellow fever have always been +invited by the unsanitary condition of Southern towns. The reports of +Surgeon-General Hamilton, last summer, showed that the pest found its +first welcome in a town where sewerage was wholly neglected, and tons of +rotting sawdust and refuse filled the heated air with fever conditions. + +"The discovery of the germ origin of diphtheria and of the typhoid forms +of fever, has led to great changes in thousands of households. Our +houses are constructed with far more attention to ventilation and proper +heating. We shall finally get rid of drunkenness and intemperance of +other sorts, on sanitary grounds mainly. Alcohol has been considered as +at least valuable in moderation. It has been looked upon as a medicine. +That its value as a stimulant hangs on the previous abuse of health is +now understood, and its value purely as a very temporary bridging of +weakness alone is conceded. That the drink habit is in any sense, +however moderate, of sanitary value, is disproved. Few doctors prescribe +any form of alcohol for habitual use. The saloon is unsanitary in all +its effects. The temperance issue rests at that point. Animals to which +spirits have been given in their food digest nearly one-half less than +other animals of the kind. The nutrition of the human body demands the +abolition of stimulants and narcotics. The saloon will go ultimately as +a nuisance to health. We have not yet reached a condition when public +morals can rest on any other basis than health. It is doubtful if there +can be a higher basis. What is unwholesome is wrong; what is promotive +of health and completeness for the individual and for the community is +right. + +"Sanity is dependent on sanitary living. They both are derived +etymologically from _sanitus_, and that from _sanus_, the Latin for +sound or whole. Insanity has come to have the limited meaning of +unsoundness of brain. * * * Insanity is on the increase in the United +States, but not more so than nervous disorders in general. This +indicates a tendency to a break-down of the national type of organism, +and cannot be considered with indifference. The fact exists as a +consequence of the overwork and high pressure of modern life, but in +this country is at its maximum, because, for several generations, we +have been at white heat, subjecting a continent to our domestic +purposes. + +"The vast unfolding of means of wealth has also acted as a stimulant, +compared to which alcohol is insignificant. Our lunatic asylums +multiply, but are all full. The percentage of failure is greatest in +California, where speculation has been most intense. It is impossible to +avoid the problem. How shall we reverse this tendency, and begin the +construction of an American type of full, robust, conservative, and +reserved energy? The underlying problem of all problems is to secure a +constitution. A nation that lives and works in such a manner as to grow +weaker in brain endurance and nerve power, and yet so lives that the +demands on brain and nerves are increased, is doomed. The intensity of +modern life is something we cannot reverse. We must adapt ourselves to +it by securing larger and more systematic means of recuperation. +Brain-workers must learn to use the first half of the day for work, and +sacredly give the last half to rest and play. Night must be given back +entirely to sleep. Withal it is clear that we must understand the close +relation between sanity and sanitation. Our people can no longer eat and +drink as grossly as our fathers did. The stomach gets not half the time +it formerly did for digestion. It must, therefore, be delivered of half +its toil. The introduction of stoves and modern conveniences must be +accompanied by more rational ventilation. Active brains require a vast +and regular supply of oxygen. It is not for the lungs alone that we need +pure air, but for the brain. This is specifically an American problem, +the readjustment of society, so that the mind shall be relieved of +strain and consequent enfeeblement." + +Individual, municipal, and national cleanliness by enactment of law are +among the first steps that should be taken. The churches and schools +should teach it as a prerequisite before godliness, or education in +general; then with perfect ventilation, sanitation, and regularity of +all the virtues, there will be no vices, and godliness and education +will be contagious, just as though they were real diseases. + +The first thing to undertake if you are desirous of freeing yourself of +any disease, ache, or pain, is to stop the cause. Act on the same +principle you would if you had a barrel that had leaked its contents and +you desired to refill it,--first stop the leak. It is absolutely +necessary that you study _cause_ as well as _effect_, if you would know +yourself. + +The Secret of Sound Health.--"Half the secret of life," says +_MacMillan's Magazine_, "we are persuaded, is to know when we are grown +old; and it is the half most hardly learned. It is more hardly learned, +moreover, in the matter of exercise than in the matter of diet. There is +no advice so commonly given to the ailing man of middle age as the +advice to take more exercise, and there is perhaps none which leads him +into so many pitfalls. This is particularly the case with the brain +workers. The man who labors his brain must spare his body. He cannot +burn the candle at both ends, and the attempt to do so will almost +inevitably result in his lighting it in the middle to boot. Most men who +use their brains much soon learn for themselves that the sense of +physical exaltation, the glow of exuberant health which comes from a +body strung to its full powers by continuous and severe exercise, is not +favorable to study. The exercise such men need is the exercise that +rests, not that which tires. They need to wash their brains with the +fresh air of heaven, to bring into gentle play the muscles that have +been lying idle while the head worked. Nor is it only to this class of +laboring humanity that the advice to take exercise needs reservations. +The time of violent delights soon passes, and the effort to protract it +beyond its natural span is as dangerous as it is ridiculous. Some men, +through nature or the accident of fortune, will, of course, be able to +keep touch of it longer than others; but when once the touch has been +lost, the struggle to regain it can add but sorrow to the labor. Of this +our doctor makes a cardinal point; but, pertinent as his warning may be +to the old, for whom, indeed, he has primarily compounded his _elixir +vitae_, it is yet more pertinent to men of middle age, and probably it is +more necessary. It is in the latter period that most of the mischief is +done. The old are commonly resigned to their lot; but few men will +consent without a struggle to own that they are no longer young. All +things are not good to all men, and all things are not always good to +the same man. The man who confines his studies within one unchanging +groove will hardly find his intellectual condition so light and nimble, +so free of play, so capable of giving and receiving, as he who varies +them according to his mood, for the mind needs rest and recreation no +less than the body; it is not well to keep either always at high +pressure. One fixed, unswerving system of diet, without regard to needs +and seasons, or even to fancy, is not wise. The great secret of +existence after all is to be the master and not the slave of both mind +and body, and that is best done by giving both free rein within certain +limits, which, as the old sages were universally agreed, each man must +discover for himself. Happy are the words of Addison, and happily +quoted: "A continual anxiety for life vitiates all the relishes of it, +and casts a gloom over the whole face of nature, as it is impossible +that we should take delight in anything that we are every moment afraid +of losing. "One of the best methods of avoiding that pitiful anxiety is +to learn within what limits we may safely indulge our desire for change, +and then freely indulge it within them." + + + + +CHAPTER II. + + +We shall now take up a practical list of subjects, arranged in +alphabetical order. Without any attempt at egotism, we claim that there +are few nontechnical books extant that contain a superior selection of +preventatives and remedies. Read carefully and judge for yourself. There +are very few common or occasional afflictions which are not considered +to some extent. Why always seek a doctor when you seem to be somewhat +off your physical equilibrium? You will generally at each visit spend +more money than this book will cost. Learn to provide against constant +medical attention. + +=Accidents.=--In sudden emergencies, either of accident or sickness, the +first great requisite is presence of mind. Be calm. Endeavor, if +possible, to grasp the situation, and do what is to be done promptly and +quietly, until the arrival of the physician. All hurried and distracted +motions, and all exciting noises, confuse the attendants and needlessly +alarm the sufferer. In many cases, the course of immediate action is +suggested by the circumstances; but where you do not know what aid to +render, it is best to do nothing, except to make the patient as +comfortable, for the time being, as possible. For all ordinary +emergencies, ample directions are:-- + +"1. Always look in the direction in which you are moving. + +"2. Never leave a car, or other public vehicle, when it is in motion. + +"3. Never put your head or arms out of a vehicle when it is in motion. + +"4. If a horse runs away with you, remain in the vehicle rather than +risk the danger of jumping from it. + +"5. In thunder-storms keep away from trees, metallic substances, doors, +and windows. The lower part of a house is the safer. + +"6. Never play with fire-arms. Always keep them beyond the reach of +children. + +"7. Avoid charcoal fumes; they are deadly when confined in a close room. + +"8. Illuminating gas; be sure to turn it off. _Never blow it out._ + +"9. When gas can be smelt in an apartment always air the room well +before striking a match or bringing a light. + +"10. When very cold, move quickly. If any part of the body is frozen, +rub it with snow, and keep from the fire. + +"11. Change wet clothing as soon as possible. + +"12. Carefully avoid exposure to night air, in malarial districts. + +"13. If necessary to go into an old vault or well, first introduce a +burning candle. If the light burns low and finally goes out, carbonic +acid gas is present and the place is unsafe to enter. Unslaked lime will +absorb the gas and purify the air. + +"14. Avoid walking on railroad tracks and icy sidewalks. + +"15. When awake, very young children should never be left alone. + +"16. Do not go, with loose hair or flowing garments, near dangerous +machinery. + +"17. Never touch gunpowder after dark. + +"18. Never fondle a strange dog. + +"19. Never light a fire with kerosene. + +"20. Fill and trim your lamps in the day-time. Never trim or fill a +lighted lamp. + +"21. Keep matches in a closed metallic box. + +"22. Have your horses rough-shod as soon as the ground freezes. + +"23. When feeling dizzy or seasick, lie down. + +"24. Do not close the damper of your stove too early. Better waste coal +than run the risk of suffocation by gas. + +"25. When climbing a ladder, look up and not down. + +"26. In railroad traveling take the center of the car, and the middle +car of the train, for safety. + +"27. Eat only pure food, drink only pure liquids, think only pure +thoughts, and keep your blood pure. + +"28. In going through dry woods or over prairies do not smoke or cast +matches about carelessly. There should be laws against this often wanton +destruction of property. + +"29. Look out for spontaneous ignition of oily rags, oil-painted canvas +rolled up, wet iron filings. + +"30. In entering mines not used, always try for gas before venturing +into them. + +"31. Do not be careless in any way whatever in connection with fire. The +losses in the United States, in 1889, by fires as a result of +carelessness amounted to nearly $100,000,000, while in San Francisco for +the same year we find that fully 80% of the losses can be attributed to +the same source." + +=Alcohol.=--Felix L. Oswald, M.D., gives some very good ideas in _Good +Health_ on the alcoholic habit. "'Reform,' says an able political +writer, 'is ever unpopular. All wrongs lie in the consent of the +wronged, and what with the fierce support of those who thrive on the +abuse, and the dull, heavy, ignorant conservatism of the masses, * * * +it is a sad delusion to suppose that the cause is won when the argument +is made.' An unquestionable preponderance of power, they argue, favors +the side of the liquor venders, and in this world, at least, always +finds a way to assert itself as right. The last link of that syllogism, +however, is a rule with occasional exceptions. No unqualified evil has +ever succeeded in maintaining its supremacy, and the evils of the +alcohol vice are offset by no benefits. Alcohol has been called +'negative food,' because its physiological influence torpifies the +functional energy of the digestive organs, and thus, for a time, renders +the toper insensible to the cravings of hunger. The same effect, +however, can be produced by a stunning blow, and we might as well claim +that the interests of political economy could be promoted by a fierce +war, because a knock-down stroke with the butt-end of a musket is apt to +lessen the appetite of the afflicted soldier. No real benefit can result +from the lethargizing effect of a poison dose, the retardation of the +digestive functions being in every case a morbid and abnormal process, +avenging its repetition by the fatty degeneration of the tissues and the +impoverished condition of the blood. * * * During the horrible flood +which a few months ago devastated the two richest provinces of the +Chinese Empire, a number of vile marauders eked out an existence by +fishing out wreckage and plundering floating corpses. The idea of +mentioning the profits of these wretches as a compensating offset to the +horrors of a public calamity would justly consign its propounder to the +custody of a lunatic commission. Yet, by an exactly analogous line of +argument, many of our political economists continue to defend the legal +sanction of the liquor traffic. Nay, it might be seriously questioned if +the total loss (by fire or water) of a billion bushels of grain would +not be financially and morally preferable to their conversion into a +life-blighting poison. According to the statistics of the Treasury +Department, the alcohol drinkers of the United States (representing +hardly one-fifth of the alcoholized nations of Christendom) spent during +the last ten years a yearly average of $370,000,000 for whisky, +$58,000,000 for other distilled liquors, $56,000,000 for wine, and +$140,000,000 for ale and beer; together, $624,000,000 a year. That +enormous sum has been far worse than wasted. It has been invested in the +purchase of disease. It has been devoted to the development of idiocy, +crime, and pauperism. It has turned blessings into a concentration of +curses. The general recognition of these facts will seal the doom of the +liquor traffic." + +Dr. C. E. Spitka expresses some results of science investigating strong +drinks:-- + +"Alcoholism among the ancients was therefore mainly or exclusively known +in its acute phases, the drunken frenzy in which Alexander the Great +killed Clitus being a familiar example. With the introduction of tobacco +and playing cards, the saloon, the cellar-dive, and the bar-room usurped +the place formerly held by the inn. The enlargement of cities deprived +their inhabitants of rustic sports, and led to their seeking in other +and more dangerous channels an escape from mental and physical strain, +and a variation of routine monotony. It is generally conceded by those +medical writers who are unshackled by prejudice that a certain amount +of alcohol can be ingested with perfect impunity. That amount has been +accurately determined by Dujardin-Beaumetz in the course of experiments +made in the abattoirs of Paris. Transferring the result of his +experiments to the human species, he concluded that a man weighing 120 +pounds could take the equivalent of two ounces of alcohol a day for +years without injury to any organ of the body. But when the amount taken +daily exceeds the toleration-point, prolonged abuse is followed by +results which are as sinister as they are insidious. In the dead-house +of the Philadelphia Hospital, Formad found that, of 250 chronic +alcoholists, nearly 99 per cent had fatty degeneration of the liver, 60 +per cent had congestion or a dropsical state of the brain, the same +proportion an inflamed or degenerated stomach, while not quite 1 per +cent had normal kidneys. Of 17 children of drunken fathers observed by +Voisin, 3 were idiots, 2 confirmed epileptics, 1 suffered from a +congenital spinal disease, and the remainder died in early life with +convulsions. Of 11 children similarly descended, cited by Dagonet, 9 +died in the same way. Of 117 such births recorded in Alsace-Lorraine, 13 +were still-born and 39 died of convulsive disorders shortly after birth. +One drunken father had 7 still-born children in succession; another lost +8 of 12 by convulsions. It is not alone as a direct result of inebriety +that a defective nervous system is thus transmitted. Even in his sober +intervals, he whose nervous system has been shattered by alcohol is +liable to have a degenerate or diseased offspring. Of 18 children +recorded as born under these circumstances, Voisin found 8 epileptic and +10 idiotic. As if to prove beyond the possibility of a doubt that such +degeneracy is due to the alcoholism of the parent, and to that alone, +two French investigators, Mairet and Combemale, performed a series of +experiments on dogs, by which they showed that the same result which the +chronic inebriate is accused of producing in his offspring, through +selfish indulgence, can be produced at will in the offspring of lower +animals by compulsory induction of the same vice in them." + +An English investigation, just completed, puts in tangible form the +effect of the use of alcohol, from observations covering 4,234 cases in +all walks of life. This report shows that, with men over twenty-five, +the intemperate use of alcohol cuts off ten years from life, those who +never drink to excess, or use no liquor, living, on the average, ten +years longer than those who do. Indulgence, if carried to excess, +doubles diseases of the liver, quadruples those of the kidneys, and +greatly increases the number of deaths from pneumonia, pleurisy, and +epilepsy. + +It is not often appreciated how many people die annually from the +effects of strong drink. Dr. Norman Kerr, an eminent physician of +England, believing the statement of temperance people to be extravagant, +that 60,000 people die annually from the effects of strong drink, began +as early as 1870 a personal inquiry, in connection with several medical +men and experts, expecting to quickly disprove the same. According to +their deductions, the latest estimates of deaths of adults annually +caused through intemperance is, in Great Britain, 120,000; in France, +142,000; in the United States, 80,000--or nearly a half million each +year in three countries aggregating a population of 112,000,000. + +_Excessive Beer Drinking._--In the earlier part of our work we +endeavored to impress on our readers the necessity of regularity and the +avoidance of excesses. The last week of 1889 in New York City saw two +prominent brewers buried, and two others of the guild were near death. +None of them were, or are, over forty-seven years old. Kidney and heart +disease were the causes of death in the case of the first two. Similar +ailments have marked the other two gentlemen for the grave. The question +arises, Was it beer or champagne that caused these diseases? In this +connection the statement a physician of Bellevue Hospital once made is +not amiss. These are his words: "The worst cases of alcoholic ailments +coming under our observation are those resulting from excessive beer +drinking." + +In appearance the beer drinker may be the picture of health; but in +reality he is most incapable of resisting disease. A slight injury, a +severe cold, or a shock to the body or mind, will commonly provoke +acute disease, ending fatally. Compared with other inebriates who use +different kinds of alcohol, he is more incurable and more generally +diseased. It is our observation that beer drinking in this country +produces the very lowest kind of inebriety, closely allied to criminal +insanity. The most dangerous class of ruffians in our large cities are +beer drinkers. Intellectually, a stupor amounting almost to paralysis +arrests the reason, changing all the higher faculties into a mere +animalism, sensual, selfish, sluggish, varied only with paroxysms of +anger, senseless and brutal. + +That men are the sex most addicted to stimulating but injurious habits +is sadly growing less true, and women are finding recourse too often to +poisonous invigorators. If one-half of what the doctors are saying all +over the country is true, there may soon be a greater need of a +temperance reform among the women than there ever has been among the +men. Strong drink, however, is not the monster by which the women may be +enslaved, but a strong and poisonous drug equally baneful in its effect. + +This drug is antipyrine. It is a white powder, slightly bitter, and +soluble in water. Until about a year ago it was prescribed for fevers +only, but a French medical college recommended it for headaches and +other pains and disorders, and in this way it has gained its grasp on so +many thoughtless and nervous women. + +In Chicago and many other places it is said that the habit is gaining +with alarming rapidity, for the women take it for every ill, and cannot +believe that its soothing effect can have any evil result until the +habit is thoroughly fixed upon them. It produces different results under +different circumstances, and, like many other preparations, varies +according to the size of the dose. In large doses it has been known to +produce complete relaxation, and at the same time a loss of reflex +action, and death. In moderate or tonic doses it often produces +convulsions. Its effect as a stimulant seems to be very much like that +of quinine, and the physicians say that they do not understand why it +should get the hold on women that it does. + +The latest female vice is intoxication by naphtha. It is not drank. The +fumes of it are simply inhaled, inducing, so the inebriates say, a +particularly agreeable exhilaration. + +_Remedies of Alcoholism._--Without much doubt, the best way to affect a +cure is to regularly reduce one's amount of liquor each day until the +system can do without it. A systematic decrease can always be carried +through if the will power will back it. We add also some ideas that have +been advanced by good judges: "To dispel as quickly as possible the +effects of intoxicants, one of the most effectual remedies is a small +dose of sal volatile, or volatile salts, in a wine-glass of +water--repeating the dose in half an hour. A dish of cold broth may +answer the same purpose. The most speedy way, however, of effecting a +cure, is by taking an emetic, following it with the sal volatile and +water half an hour after." + +The Russian physician and publicist Portugaloff declares that strychnine +in subcutaneous injections is an immediate and infallible remedy for +drunkenness. The craving of the inebriate for drink is changed into +positive aversion in a day, and after a treatment of eight or ten days +the patient may be discharged. Even should the appetite return months +afterward, the first attempt to resume drinking will produce such +painful and nauseating sensations that the person will turn away from +the liquor in disgust. The strychnine is administered by dissolving one +grain in two hundred drops of water, and injecting five drops of the +solution every twenty-four hours. Dr. Portugaloff recommends the +establishment of inebriate dispensaries in connection with police +stations. + +=Appetite=.--Happy is the man who always possesses a good appetite; +unhappy is he who does not have this precious boon. The lack of it +results largely from failure of exercise and the excessive use of +condiments. In the first place, try to take an invigorating bath with a +wet towel and rub hard. If you cannot endure even that, use a dry towel +on the body until the friction brings the blood to the surface of the +skin. Then give the mouth a careful cleansing by rinsing and +tooth-brush. When you sit at the table, do so with a cheerful mood, eat +slowly, partake sparingly of condiments, using salt mostly, and vinegar +for an acid. Preface your meals with a walk long enough to get up a +circulation, if it is dinner or supper hour, but do not tire yourself, +and be sure to rest the last fifteen minutes before eating. + +=Asphyxiation.=--A practical man, conversant with cases in which +asphyxiation resulted from inhaling carbonic acid gas, gives some +valuable hints for their recovery by simple remedies always at hand. +Fresh air to restore consciousness is the first important step. Then he +gave apples, apple juice, or vinegar, to neutralize the gas and remove +it from the stomach by eructations. Eggs broken into vinegar mixed and +swallowed made a very effective drink. After removing the gas from the +stomach, the patient was further relieved by a cup of strong, hot +coffee, which speedily restored him to normal vigor. On two similar +occasions, where a physician was called, he administered injections of +carbonate of ammonia, and the man was ill for eight or ten days from the +effects of the medicine. A little common sense is often better than +physic. + +=Bathing.=--We have already treated this subject to some extent, but we +recommend the careful reading of Dr. C. H. Steele's ideas, part of which +we embody here; also some other worthy opinions on this matter, of great +importance to health. + +"The use of water in the treatment of diseases dates back to remote +antiquity. Savages resort to the surf and sweat-bath, and Hindoos and +Mohammedans bathe because their religion commands them to do so. +References to the bath may be found scattered throughout the literature +of Greece, and in Rome the magnificent buildings and lavish expenditure +devoted to the public bath show it in the highest stage of perfection it +has ever attained." + +"It is only within a few years past that the domestic bath has been +accepted as a necessity. No home in England is complete without a +bath-room, and no Englishman deems himself well unless he bathes daily. +The speaker said that a thermometer, whose use should be understood, +should be permanently attached to every bath-tub. + +"_Physiological Action of the Bath._--In considering the physiological +action of the bath, it is first to be accepted that water of a +temperature below that of the body abstracts heat from the skin, which +abstraction continues indefinitely, only for a time checked by the +renewed activity of the heat centers. In a bath the temperature of which +is from 92 degrees to 95 degrees, the body may remain indefinitely +without any loss or gain of temperature, but after the bath a cooling +takes place, owing to increased perspirations. If the water is between +77 degrees and 86 degrees, there is, after the first shock, a positive +rise in the temperature of the body. Sixty-five degrees, and lower, may +be borne for a long time." + +"Nature adapts herself to the cold bath by a rapid stimulation of heat +production. All the muscles, nerves, and organs of the body are brought +into heightened activity, and thus it is that to the healthy individual +the cold bath is invigorating. But nature has her limits, and the bath +must be discontinued while this tonic effect is felt, for the heat +centers become fatigued and give rise to a chill which may continue for +days afterward. + +"The greatest agency in bathing is the stimulation of perspiration, and +this depends upon the relative dryness of the surrounding air. Thus, in +the dry vapor, or Turkish bath, a person will easily endure 264 degrees, +and lose four pounds per hour by perspiration. It is this rapid +evaporation from the skin that keeps the body cool. A person may stand +for some time in an oven, beside a roasting rib of beef. But in the +steam or Russian bath the perspiration is retarded, and a temperature of +120 degrees is hardly bearable. A temperature of 124 degrees may induce +a rise in the temperature of the mouth to 104 degrees or even 107 +degrees, which is seldom reached in a raging fever. Hence, there is an +element of danger in the Russian bath--a danger to sudden death similar +to sunstroke. This danger is much more pronounced in the hot-water bath +when perspiration ceases altogether, and the supply of heat from the +interior to the skin is excessive. The temperature of bathing water +should not exceed 104 degrees, and this hot bath should not be endured +more than fifteen minutes. Even then it is likely to be followed by +depression and weakness." "The circulation being quickened, the cold +bath acts as a good blood purifier, washing away the poisons of the body +through the channels of the veins. In case of persons troubled with an +excess of fat, the bath must be accompanied by massage, banting, and a +liberal indulgence in outdoor exercise. In the hot bath there is this +same waste of tissue, but no tonic effects, and it is invariably +accompanied with loss of energy and vitality. But the action of the bath +upon the skin is no less beneficial than upon the interior of the body. +It favors the excretory action of the skin, thus purifying it. The +millions of dead scales, kept to the skin by the clothing, and the +cementing effect of the oil, are washed away, thus relieving the skin, +which is the great sewerage system of the body. The work of the lungs +and kidneys is thus lessened, and the danger of consumption and Bright's +disease, which may be caused by uncleanness, reduced." + +"_Effects of Sea Bathing._--Sea bathing is much more tonic than all +other kinds, and the reason is simple. The salt has a slightly +irritating effect on the skin, which is very beneficial. Besides, sea +bathing is always accompanied by the best of exercise, by relaxation and +freedom from the ordinary cares of life, by a change of climate and +scene. The beating of the waves against the body also has an +exhilarating effect. The bath in the sea should be taken about three +hours after breakfast. There are three stages experienced in the cold +bath--first, that of depression; second, the tonic stage; and third, the +giving out of the heat-producing powers. This is the same as the one +stage of the hot bath, and is always to be avoided as highly injurious. + +"Nevertheless, the hot bath has its value. Its power to cool the body is +admitted, and it is used with effect in cases inflammation induced by +cold. The cold foot-bath is recommended as a positive cure for cold +feet." + +"The practice among modern women of taking hot baths is endangering the +health of the race. In a hot bath there is at first a feeling of +oppression and violent throbbing of the head, followed by prostration, a +highly feverish condition, and a relaxation of the entire system. In +case of any organic disease of the heart or consumption, this bath must +be carefully shunned. The hot bath belongs alone to the province of the +physician. The cold bath, on the other hand, aside from its tonic +effects, renders the body less sensitive to changes of temperature, and +in this climate is, hence, especially valuable as a protection against +catching cold. This bath is from 68 degrees to 75 degrees, and should be +taken in the morning before breakfast." + +"=Bleeding.=--A sudden and profuse flow of blood is cause for alarm. +First, decide whether the blood comes from an artery or a vein. If from +a vein, the blood is dark, and oozes or flows evenly; if from an artery, +it is bright red, and spurts in jets. In the former case, the bleeding +may generally be stopped by binding on a hard pad. In case of a ruptured +artery, the flow of blood may be checked by tying a twisted +handkerchief, a cord, or strap, _between the wound and the heart_. If +the hand is cut, raise the arm above the head and bind it tightly. In +_wounds of the throat_, _arm-pit_, or _groin_, caused by cuts, and in +case of any deep wound, thrust the thumb and finger into the bottom of +the wound and pinch up the part from which the blood comes, directing +the pressure against the flow. _In cuts of the lips_, compress the lips +between the thumb and finger nearer the angle of the mouth than the cut +itself. In _scalp wounds_, make direct pressure against the bones of the +skull with the fingers, or, better, by means of a compress or bandage." + +"_Nosebleed._--Full-blooded persons who are afflicted with headache and +dizziness are most subject to nosebleed. In such cases, the bleeding +should be regarded as a relief to an overcharged system, and should not +be too suddenly stopped. To stop the bleeding, keep the patient's arms +elevated, apply cold water or ice to the base of the brain, or inject +vinegar or alum water up the nostrils with a syringe. A thick piece of +wrapping paper, placed between the upper lip and gum, and firmly +pressed, will usually arrest the flow. It acts by compressing the +arteries which supply the Sneiderian membrane. Try plugging with cotton, +or a strip of soft muslin, gently pushed up the nostrils, thus causing +the blood to clot about the plug. If these remedies fail, the case +should have the attention of a physician." + +=Brain Worry.=--"After a good spell of hard work, the brain worker is +often tormented by finding it difficult, all at once, to turn off the +steam. His work-day thoughts will intrude themselves in spite of every +effort to keep them out. Thackeray generally succeeded in exorcising the +creatures he had been calling into existence, by the simple expedient of +turning over the leaves of a dictionary. A great lawyer was in the +habit, in similar circumstances, of plunging into a cold bath, and +averred that a person never took out of cold water the same ideas that +he took into it. Perhaps the best mental corrective of this condition is +to employ the mind for a short time in a direction most contrasted to +that in which it has been overworked. During excessive labor of the +brain, there is an increased flow of blood to the working organ. If this +condition of distention is long continued, the vessels are apt to lose +the power of contracting when mental activity is diminished. Hence +arises the impossibility of fulfilling the physical conditions of sleep, +the most important of which is the diminution of the flow of blood to +the brain. It is certain enough that the continued deprivation of any +considerable part of the normal amount of sleep will be seriously +detrimental to health. Dr. Hammond, in his work on sleep, mentions the +case of a literary man in America who for nearly a year restricted his +rest to four hours a day, and frequently less. At the end of that time, +the overtasking of his mental powers was manifested in a curious way. He +told the physician that, though still able to maintain a connected line +of reasoning, he found that as soon as he attempted to record his ideas +on paper, the composition turned out to be simply a tissue of arrant +nonsense. When in the act of writing, his thoughts flowed so rapidly +that he was not conscious of the disconnected nature of what he was +writing, but as soon as he stopped to read it over, he was aware how +completely he had misrepresented his conceptions." + +=Breathing.=--In each respiration an adult inhales one pint of air. + +A man respires 16 to 20 times a minute, or 20,000 times a day; a child, +25 to 35 times a minute. + +While standing, the adult respiration is 22; while lying, 13. + +The superficial surface of the lungs, _i. e._,of their alveolar spaces, +is 200 square yards. The amount of air inspired in 24 hours is about +2,500 gallons. + +Two-thirds of the oxygen absorbed in 24 hours is absorbed during the +night hours, from 6 P.M. to 6 A.M. + +Three-fifths of the total carbonic acid is thrown off in the day-time. + +The pulmonary surface gives off about 5 fluidounces of water daily in +the state of vapor. + +The heart sends through the lungs 192 gallons of blood hourly, or 4,608 +gallons daily. The duration of inspiration is five-twelfths, of +expiration seven-twelfths, of the whole respiratory act; but during +sleep, inspiration occupies ten-twelfths of the respiratory period. + +There are two good rules to follow given by William Blaikie:-- + +"1. To hold the body erect, whether standing, sitting, or walking, and +breathe deeply. This habit gives the lungs and digestive organs free +play. More oxygen is taken into the blood, and the food is more readily +digested and assimilated. 2. To fill the lungs full at frequent +intervals, holding the air in the chest as long as is comfortable. This +practice will soon improve a disturbed circulation." + +=Bright's Disease.=--Bright's disease is a disorder of the kidneys which +causes those organs to secrete albumen in the urine, while they fail to +extract from the blood the urea, or effete matter, which they should +take up from that fluid. Urea in the blood operates as a poison, and +when accumulated in large quantities, produces drowsiness, convulsions, +and apoplexy. Intemperance is a fruitful source of Bright's disease, +because excessive drinking tends peculiarly to the degeneration of the +kidneys. The best remedy we know, or have ever seen tested, is Bethesda +water, from Waukesha Springs, Wis. It should be natural, without gas; a +quart per day will not be too much for an adult. + +=Bruises.=--If the skin is not broken, the best thing for a bruise, or +black and blue spot, as they are often termed, is a piece of pure +copper. It should be thin enough to shape with the fingers just the +curvature or angle of the portion of the body bruised. In applying it, +be very gentle at first, for if it be a finger nail you desire to +preserve, on first application it will give you quite a severe shock, +but by relieving it every second or two, inside of 5 minutes the pain +will cease, and no black spot will follow. If the skin be broken, and +the blood has ceased to flow, and you desire to use this remedy, first +paste a piece of unprinted newspaper over the broken part, and then +proceed as above; but in no case ever place a piece of copper on a +broken part of the skin without the above precaution. + +=Burns=.--A correspondent of the Philadelphia _Record_ vouches for the +wonderful efficacy of the common cat-tail as a remedy for burns. He +says: "Take the down, and with just enough lard to hold it together, +make a plaster and lay upon any burn, and it soothes and heals so soon +that it seems a miracle. Put upon a fresh burn, and in less than half an +hour the smart is gone; if it is an old burn, the healing will commence +in twenty-four hours. 'Cat-tail' is also the Indian remedy for +scrofulous sores or ulcers. Age does not destroy its healing virtues. It +can be laid away and kept for years without losing any of its remedial +properties." Burns should be bathed with alcohol or turpentine and +afterwards with lime-water and sweet-oil, but never with cold water. +Soft soap or apple butter are equally excellent for burns. + +=Cancer.=--It is well proved that cancer cannot be successfully removed +by use of the knife. Surgeon John McFarlane, of Glasgow, mentions the +cutting out of _eighty-six_ cancers without effecting a _single cure_. +For those who are troubled we would say that there have been and there +are remedies with permanent effects. The writer knows of a female +physician in this city who has been very successful in achieving lasting +cures in numerous authenticated instances. + +=Chewing Gum and Other Substances.=--Regular chewing outside of meal +hours of any substance is injurious. It unnecessarily excites the +salivary glands, the strength of which should be reserved for eating. Do +not chew the ends of your finger nails. Little pieces of the nails may +be swallowed, which at some time--possibly quite remote--may cause you +great pain, and even death. This has occurred. It has also been found by +opticians and doctors that hardly anything will affect the eyes +harmfully quicker than gum-chewing. + +=Cholera.=--Dr. Gamaleia, of Odessa, claims to have discovered a +prophylactic against cholera, and hopes to win the prize of $20,000 +offered for such a cure. He calls his specific Chemical Vaccine, and has +tried it efficaciously on apes, guinea-pigs, and pigeons. This is +obtained by the successive passages of cholera virus through the blood +of animals. After each of these passages, the virus becomes stronger, +and is finally injected into the patient. + +A cure which was very effective when the cholera struck America is +called the "Sun Cholera Medicine." It is also an excellent remedy for +colic, and diarrhea, etc. Take equal parts of tincture of cayenne +pepper, tincture of opium, tincture of rhubarb, essence of peppermint, +and spirits of camphor. Mix well. Dose: 15 to 30 drops in a little cold +water, according to age and violence of symptoms, repeated every fifteen +minutes or twenty, until relief is obtained. Our own _infallible_ remedy +for cholera, cholera morbus, cramps, colic, and diarrhea, is:-- + + Tincture of opium, 3 drachms. + " " cayenne pepper, 5 drachms. + " " ginger, 5 drachms. + " " camphor, 3 drachms. + +Dose: 1 teaspoonful in a gill of cool water for an adult; repeat with +half a teaspoonful in 15 minutes if not relieved. For a child 2 years +old 1/4 the above dose, and in proportion up to an adult. + +=Cleanliness.=--The English upper classes are clean, but cleanliness of +any high degree is a modern virtue among them. It is an invention of the +nineteenth century. Men and women born at the close of the eighteenth +century did as French people do to-day; they took a warm bath +occasionally for cleanliness, and they took shower-baths when they were +prescribed by the physician for health, and they bathed in summer seas +for pleasure, but they did not wash themselves all over every morning. +However, the new custom took deep root in England, because it became one +of the signs of class. It was adopted as one of the habits of a +gentleman. + +Don't take your pocket-handkerchief to dust off your shoes and the next +moment wipe your face and eyes with it; don't carry your _own sheets_ +with you on a trip and then sit in the smoking-car for 200 miles for +enjoyment; anything added to white castile soap as scenting matter is no +improvement and in most cases is detrimental. + +We have taken this subject up so carefully in "bathing" and in the first +part that we will say no more here. + +=Cold Feet.=--The best prescription for cold or tired feet is to +carefully envelop each toe and foot with blank newspaper before encasing +the same with sock. First have the feet perfectly dry and warm, then +they will remain so all day, if properly protected with easy-fitting, +strong boots or shoes. Barbers do this to prevent their feet scalding +and heating; stage drivers use this method, and hundreds attest its +efficacy. + +Many people, especially women and children, suffer the whole winter +through with cold feet. This is mainly due to the fact that they wear +their shoes too tight. Unless the toes have perfect freedom, the blood +cannot circulate properly. People who wear rubbers the whole winter +through, generally suffer with their feet. Rubbers make them very tender +by overheating and causing them to perspire. They should be removed as +soon as one enters the house. They draw the feet, keep them hot and wet +with perspiration--then as soon as one goes again into the air the feet +are chilled. + +=Colds.=--Don't have any fear of night air. That is an unfounded +superstition. Keep your windows open. You will sleep better and the next +day you will not catch cold. + +Take a good hot lemonade just before retiring; in the morning, +immediately on getting out of bed, take a cold bath and rub hard until +you are in a perfect glow. + +Too much coddling is unquestionably one of the most common causes of +catarrh. One who is inured to hardships is able to endure exposure +without injury, while one unaccustomed to like experience quickly +succumbs. Air-tight houses, close and unventilated, overheated rooms, +even the quantity of clothing required, are active causes, preventing +development of hardihood. As a result, colds and catarrh are universal +maladies among civilized people. + +Says a writer in _Woman's Work_: "Without dwelling on the nature and +causes of colds, or on what physicians call the pathology of these +disorders, I will say that a low or even starvation diet for a few days, +with the free drinking of warm, mildly stimulating teas, is better for a +cold than any drug or combination of drugs. If with this a warm bath or +a hot foot-bath is taken, little more will be needed. Nine cases in ten +of colds can be broken up in this early stage by a hot foot or rather +leg-bath, keeping the bath as hot as it can be borne, until perspiration +arises. After the bath drink a half pint of hot lemonade and go to bed." + +_A Good Cough Remedy._--The following is from a doctor connected with an +institution with many children: "There is nothing more irritable to a +cough than a cough. For some time I had been so fully assured of this +that I determined, for one minute at least, to lessen the number of +coughs heard in a certain ward in a hospital of the institution. By the +promise of rewards and punishments, I succeeded in inducing them to +simply hold their breath when tempted to cough, and in a little while I +was myself surprised to see how some of the children entirely recovered +from their disease. Constant coughing is precisely like scratching a +wound on the outside of the body. So long as it is done the wound will +not heal. Let a person when tempted to cough draw a long breath and hold +it until it warms and soothes every air-cell, and some benefit will soon +be received from this process. The nitrogen which is thus refined acts +as an anodyne to the mucous membrane, allaying the desire to cough and +giving the throat and lungs a chance to heal. At the same time a +suitable medicine will aid nature in her effort to recuperate." + +=Constipation.=--Regularity in the hour of going to stool and the +avoidance of highly-seasoned food are preventatives. See "constipation," +first part, per index, for a cure. + +=Consumption.=--"What Changes has the Acceptance of the Germ Theory made +in Measures for the Prevention and Treatment of Consumption?" is the +title of an essay by Dr. Charles V. Chapin, of Providence, to whom was +awarded a premium of $200 by the trustees of the Fisk Fund. In this +essay Dr. Chapin has given an admirable _r'esum'e_ of all that has been +written about consumption from the time of Hippocrates to the present +day. After a careful examination of the literature of the subject, he +thinks that we are justified in the conclusion that the acceptance of +the germ theory has made no direct or important addition either to the +hygiene or medicinal treatment of consumption. He thinks, however, that +it should have great influence. It tells us plainly what we ought to do. +We simply do not obey its behests. The germ theory--now no longer a +theory in the case of tubercular consumption--tells us that we have to +do with a contagious disease. Now there is no theoretical reason why a +purely contagious disease like tuberculosis cannot be exterminated. If +we can prevent the spread of contagion at all, we can prevent it +entirely. The enormous value of preventive measures, isolation, +disinfection, and quarantine, is well illustrated in history of cholera, +typhus fever, and yellow fever in the United States. + +By keeping out the virus of these diseases, or destroying it when it had +gained access to our shores, we have for a number of years been +remarkably free from these diseases, and it is certain that if these +precautions had not been taken we should have suffered severely. For +obvious reasons, the suppression of tuberculosis is not so easy a matter +as the suppression of cholera or yellow fever. Neither is the +suppression of scarlet fever or small-pox as easy. Yet whenever the +public has been educated to a correct appreciation of the contagious +nature of scarlet fever, the number of cases has diminished very much. +Even in small-pox, with its virulent contagion, it is possible, by means +of isolation and disinfection, to check its spread even among an +unvaccinated population, as has been illustrated many times of late in +the anti-vaccination city of Leicester, England. We must now put +tuberculosis among these diseases, and, though its theoretical +suppression is simple its actual extermination is a very difficult +problem. It lies largely with the medical profession how long tubercular +disease shall decimate the human race. The physicians are the educators +of the people in these matters. When the doctor shall teach that +tuberculosis is contagious, the people will believe, and will govern +themselves accordingly. In combating contagious diseases the preventive +measures taken often give discouraging results. This will be +particularly so in tubercular disease. Half-way measures secure less +than half-way results, and these alienate the support of those who only +indifferently believe in contagion and the importance of precautionary +measures. Efficient means of suppression are radical, and bear hard on +the individual; they are not complied with, and they produce violent +opposition. Yet, difficult as it may be, the medical profession should +take aggressive action against this disease. We have no right to wait +for the discovery of a specific, or the gradual evolution of a +phthisis-proof race. We must take the world as we find it, full of men +and women predisposed to tubercular phthisis, and with no idea of its +contagious nature. What can we do about it? 1. Teach the people the true +nature of the tuberculosis, that no one ever has tubercular consumption +unless the tubercle bacilli find their way into their lungs. 2. Teach +them, also, that, even if it finds its way there, it will not grow +unless the conditions are right. Teach fathers and mothers how to rear +healthy boys and girls. Tell them what to eat and what to wear, to +exercise, to breathe fresh air. This alone would exterminate phthisis. +3. The contagion must be destroyed. Fortunately, in this disease there +is no need of isolation. Disinfection is enough. The consumptive patient +gives off the poison only in the sputum, or perchance the other +excreta, if the disease extend beyond the lungs. The virus is not given +off from these while moist. We must therefore disinfect all sputum at +once with mercuric bi-chloride. Cloths must be used instead of +handkerchiefs, and then burned, or, if the latter are used, they should +be often changed, and immediately put in a bi-chloride solution and +boiled. Bed-linen should be treated in the same way. Frequent +disinfection of the entire person, and fumigation of the apartment, +would be safe additions to the preventive measures. 4. Persons who have +a marked predisposition to the disease had best not come in close +contact with the phthisical. Children should never have tuberculous +nurses, wet or dry. In the case of consumptives very great attention +should be paid to ventilation, and to the alimentation both of the +patient and the attendants. Such measures, if rigidly carried out, would +be of enormous service in preventing this disease. But with the +increasing prevalence of tuberculosis among domestic animals, something +more is imperatively demanded. Active measures should be taken to free +the country from animal tuberculosis. + +There are some ideas which it is well to observe:-- + +1. Flies may carry the virus if they are allowed to frequent cuspidors +into which consumptives have expectorated. Clean these out often. Do not +permit the patient to spit into a handkerchief and then let it lie +around to dry. The dust arising may inoculate some person prone to +consumption. + +2. Be careful about the meat you eat. It can and does convey +tuberculosis. Investigations have been made showing that as high as 50% +of a herd to be slaughtered in New York City had tuberculosis. Milk may +be also infected and often is. + +3. Have an abundance of flowers around. They invariably are helpful. + +4. Constant and regular singing with proper care and not tiring is +excellent for consumptive lungs, which should be done in well-ventilated +rooms. + +5. Be out in the open air as much as possible, and breathe through the +nose entirely. Continually exercise the lungs by drawing in long +breaths. + +6. If possible try fumes of hydrofluoric acid. In glass factories if +workmen are rendered consumptive by stooping over the grinding +machinery, they usually find great benefit by being allowed to work in +the room with the glass etchers, where so much hydrofluoric acid is +employed. + +7. Buttermilk is well recommended. + +8. Consumptive and bronchial troubles in women are often due to +irregularity of dress about the throat and lungs. There is danger from +wearing _d'ecoll'ete_ costumes. So regular have we been in our habits that +the throwing off of a 1-oz. neck-tie for half an hour in the open air +will give us a cold with the thermometer at 70% Fahr. + +The ocean cure is well set forth in the following, which represents the +advantages of a long sea voyage:-- + +1. Perfect rest and quiet, and complete removal from and change of +ordinary occupation and way of life; a very thorough change of scene, +and perfect and enforced rest from both mental and physical labor. + +2. The life in the open air and the great amount of sunshine to be +enjoyed; it is quite possible, under favorable circumstances, to pass +fifteen hours daily in the open air; and whenever it is possible the +traveler by sea is certain to endeavor to escape from the close and +sometimes unpleasant atmosphere of a small cabin, into the pure air to +be found on deck. + +3. The great purity of the air at sea, and its entire freedom from +organic dust and other impurities. In this respect it has an advantage +over the air of an open country, for the latter is apt to contain the +pollen of grasses and other plants, which, in some persons, excites hay +fever and asthma. The air of the cabins may, of course, be contaminated, +but the air of the open sea is probably the purest to be found anywhere. + +4. The presence in the sea air of a large amount of ozone, as well as +particles of saline matter, more particularly in stormy weather, from +the sea spray, and these may exercise a beneficial effect in certain +throat and pulmonary affections on the respiratory mucous membrane. + +5. The great equability of the temperature at sea. This refers chiefly +to the daily variations, which rarely exceed four or five degrees Fahr. +It must be noted that in a long sea voyage very considerable variations +of temperature are encountered, and in a swift steamer the transitions +are somewhat sudden. + +6. The great humidity of the atmosphere and the high barometric +pressure, which are considered to exercise a useful sedative influence +on certain constitutions. It is said that the temperature of the body +averages one degree Fahr. less on account of this sedative effect. The +exhilarating and tonic effect of rapid motion through the air; for by +the continuous progress of the ship the sea breezes are constantly +blowing over it, and the passengers are borne through the rapidly-moving +air without any exertion of their own. The influence of these currents +of air on the surface of the body is, no doubt, important, acting as a +stimulant and a tonic, increasing evaporation from the skin, and +imparting tone to the superficial blood-vessels. + +We now give our own cure, which we claim is of great value, at least it +is worth trying, for it cured the author of consumption of twenty years' +standing in one year. This disease can be cured by "cold packing" the +lungs and throat, and following the rules in general for health stated +in the first part of this work. You must understand a cold compress or +pack, otherwise you are likely to increase the malady and hasten your +death. Some persons cannot warm one ounce of cold water in twenty-four +hours. Such we advise to go very slowly. First adopt the formulae for +cleanliness and regularity already given. Then when a little more blood +is infused through the system and hence more heat exists, commence the +cold pack. Use simply a moistened cambric handkerchief, placed upon the +lungs; envelop with at least two thicknesses of linen and one of +flannel; wrap up warm and go to bed. Do not attempt to cold pack any +part of your body and then expose it to a moving atmosphere. After one +week you can increase the moisture of the pack at least 50%. Then add +to the thickness and moisture 10% each week, as long as you can succeed +in warming it and causing it to sweat that portion of the body packed. +If you should wake up in the night and find the pack dry, remove the +portion previously moistened and retain only the dry covering, viz., the +linen and flannel. In the morning, before arising, thoroughly rub the +lungs with a dry linen towel. This, then, is all that is necessary to +get rid of this incurable (?) disease, if you will only follow the rules +already given for health, happiness, and longevity. + +=Convulsions, Fits.=--When a child has a convulsion, or what is commonly +called "a fit," attention should be given to the urinary secretion at +once. If there is suppression of urine, the child should be put into a +warm bath and made to sweat as speedily as possible. In many cases in +which children die from a succession of convulsions, the real cause of +death is suppression of urine (a fact which is probably not so generally +known as it should be), so that the child really dies of poisoning +through the retention of the urinary secretion. When a child is subject +to attacks of this character, care should be taken to dress it warmly in +flannels, so as to keep up a degree of perspiration most of the time, +and hot baths should be administered frequently. Give a glass of +Bethesda water from three to four times a day, and the disease will +disappear. + +=Corns and Bunions= are caused by tight, ill-fitting boots and shoes. +The way of preventing them is, therefore, manifest. Thrusting the toe +into a lemon, to be kept on over night, will make the removal of a corn +easy. Two or three applications will suffice for the worst cases. Soft +corns may be relieved by dissolving a piece of ammonia, the size of +three peas, in an ounce of water, and applying the solution as hot as +can be borne. It is beneficial to place blank newspaper between the +toes. That will keep them from scalding, and hence softening, so that +corns will easily form. We have already referred to this paper method +for cold feet. Paper is a non-conductor and thus has the proper effect. + +=Croup=.--The following prescription, to be used as a gargle, is not +only excellent for croup, but will _absolutely_ keep anyone from choking +to death from phlegm in the throat, no matter what the cause, so long as +they have any portion of a lung left. It consists of the yolks of two +eggs thoroughly beaten, in half a pint of good cider vinegar, adding two +tablespoonfuls of honey. I have known two different patients, given up +by their physicians, to rally in thirty minutes under the above +treatment, and finally get well. + +=Diabetes.=--A prominent French physician advocates a coffee remedy. +After having continued to use the remedy for upward of a third of a +century in many hundreds of cases, he again appeals to the profession to +give it a trial in those cases of liver and kidney troubles which have +resisted all other treatment. His habit is to place twenty-five grammes, +or about three drachms, of the green berries (he prefers a mixture of +three parts of Mocha with one part each of Martinique and Isle de +Bourbon coffee) in a tumbler of cold water, and let them infuse over +night. The infusion, after straining or filtering, is to be taken on an +empty stomach the first thing after getting up in the morning. He cites +many cases of renal and hepatic colics, diabetes, migraine, etc., which, +although rebellious to all other treatments for years, soon yielded to +the green coffee infusion. It is worth a trial at any rate. + +Bethesda water from the Wakeshaw Springs, in Wisconsin, will cure three +out of every five cases of diabetes and help the other two. Drink it as +you would any good water. + +=Diphtheria.=--Diphtheria is a malignant and very infectious disease. It +may often be communicated by a kiss, a touch of the hand, or by drinking +out of the same cup with the sick person. The mildest case should be +carefully isolated. In the family this may sometimes be done by removing +the patient to an upper room, which can be well ventilated by means of +windows and an open fire. The contagion of diphtheria is not carried far +by the atmosphere; hence, by strict attention to cleanliness and +ventilation, it may be quite possible to isolate a case even under the +family roof. The disease is characterized by soreness of the throat, +pain in swallowing, apoplectic, epileptic, hysterical, or the result of +poisoning. Put a cork between the patient's teeth, that the tongue may +not be bitten. Loosen the clothing, have plenty of fresh air, and do not +restrain the movements of the patient, except to prevent injury or +bruising. Rub the temples with cologne or spirits, and, as soon as the +patient can swallow, give a little cold brandy and water. + +Dr. W. A. Scott, of Iowa, where, in the latter part of 1889, diphtheria +raged, found a valuable and effective remedy for this dread disease. The +recipe can be filled at any drug store, and used by any person without +danger:-- + +Take ten grains of permanganate of potassium and mix with one ounce of +cold water. As soon as dissolved, it must be applied with a rag or +sponge mop or swab to the whitish places in the tonsils, and other parts +that have the diphtheria membrane on them. Do this very gently, but +thoroughly, every three hours until better; then every six hours until +well. It does not give pain, but is rather nauseous to the taste. + +If the tongue is coated white, mix one drachm of hyposulphite of soda +and five drops oil of sassafras in four ounces of syrup made of sugar +and hot water, and give a teaspoonful every 1 to 3 hours, as needed, +when awake. + +If the tongue is not coated white, I mix 20 drops of tincture of +phytolacca in four ounces of cold water and give a teaspoonful every 1 +to 3 hours, as needed, when awake. (The phytolacca is the common +poke-root of the South, and as it loses its strength by drying and age, +the tincture should be from the fresh root, or it is worthless.) + +It is well to apply a little sweet-oil or cosmoline to the outside of +the throat to protect from the action of the air, as the patient must be +protected from all danger of getting chilled. + +In the beginning of the disease, in mild cases, the above solution of +permanganate of potassium is all I use, and all that is needed, as the +disease is local at first, but rapidly affects the whole system when +seated. In the stinking form of diphtheria this solution soon destroys +all smell, and in every case destroys the diphtheria membrane without +leaving any bad effect. + +M. Roulin, of France, has successfully treated 22 cases of diphtheria +with carbolic acid as an antiseptic. Nasal douches, consisting of three +teaspoonfuls of the crude acid in a quart of water, were employed every +hour by means of the ordinary irrigator. Tonics were given internally. + +Dr. Deriker, of St. Petersburg, who is the head physician of the +Children's Hospital, and has treated no less than 2,000 cases of +diphtheria, and tried all remedies, both internal and external, has +found the following a certain cure for the disease: As soon as the white +spots appear on the tonsils he gives a laxative, usually senna tea. When +the purgative effect has ceased, he gives cold drinks acidulated with +lemons, limes, or hydrochloric acid, and every two hours a gargle +composed of lime-water and milk. Hot milk was also given as a drink, and +the throat well rubbed with spirits of turpentine. The Academy of +Medicine in France offered a large sum of money for a successful cure +for diphtheria, and this is said to have been it. Equal parts of liquid +tar and turpentine are put in an iron pan and burned in the patient's +room. The dense resinous smoke gives immediate relief. The fibrinous +matter soon becomes detached and is coughed up. + +=Clothing.=--There are some very important principles in regard to +dress:-- + +1. If you desire health, do not wear a belt. + +2. Avoid tight lacing. Some of the most beautiful women, including +actresses, are giving up this injurious practice. + +3. Do not wear, especially in summer, the constant black, even if in +mourning. If you do someone may be mourning you too. + +4. Use woolens almost entirely for clothing--always for under-clothing. + +5. Have shoes that fit and give the feet an abundance of room, and not +high heeled, but thick soled. + +6. Wear sufficiently heavy woolen under-garments so that you will not +be obliged to resort continually to overcoats. + +7. In summer, use light outer garments--white flannels and cheviots are +excellent. + +The Most Important Function of Under-garments.--It is a great mistake to +suppose that the material of which a garment is made is the most +important consideration in selecting warm under-clothing. The way in +which the fabric is prepared and manufactured is of more vital +importance as regards heat or coldness of the body than the actual +material. A light garment with large meshes is more effective against +cold than a close, heavy one. Whatever an under-vest may be made of, its +real value as a protector from cold depends upon its ability to inclose +within its meshes a certain quantity of air. This is indeed the most +important function of under-garments, viz., to encircle the whole body +with an envelope of warm air, and a vestment that does not keep a +continual layer of warm air next to the skin is of very little use. + +We advise the discarding of cotton shirts altogether and wearing only +those of flannel. The best material for an under-vest, where the shirt +worn is flannel, is silk, but by reason of high cost it is within the +reach of a comparatively few only. + +Hence woolen under-vests must be selected. They should be large and +never tight-fitting, for there must be room for the air to circulate +freely beneath them. Good taste suggests that the outside shirt be of +white flannel, and that also must be large. Nearly all those which are +on sale in stores have collars, but for a small sum added to the price +the dealer will make the necessary changes so that a linen collar may be +worn. + +With such under-clothing a man is very well protected against sudden +changes of weather, and is much less liable to take cold than he would +be with a cotton shirt on. Now, as to chest protectors. If a man is +subject to colds during the winter he should wear a chest-protector. In +order for him to get the full benefit of it it should fit him quite +snugly at the neck and extend front and back to the belt. Dressed in +flannels, as we have recommended, with his chest well covered by a +protector, he will be as well fortified against cold as under-clothing +of a healthful sort can make him. + +=Dropsy.=--It is not generally known that the silk on an ear of green +corn is a powerful and efficient remedy for dropsy, for bladder troubles +and diseases of the kidneys. In the Louisville _Medical News_ we find an +account of the medical properties of corn-silk and the cures that have +been effected by its use. The way to use it is to take two +double-handfuls of fresh corn-silk and boil in two gallons of water +until but a gallon remains. Add sugar to make a syrup. Drink a +tumblerful of this thrice daily, and it will relieve dropsy by +increasing the flow of urine. Other diseases of the bladder and kidneys +are benefited by the remedy, which is prompt, efficient, and grateful to +the stomach. The treatment can be continued for months without danger or +inconvenience. Bethesda water is just as good, but both together are +better. + +=Dyspepsia.=--This trouble is often the result of decomposition of the +food before it is digested. Unless this is remedied death will +ultimately follow. A good remedy is this: Thoroughly brown some whole +grain wheat, grind it in an ordinary clean coffee-mill; eat of nothing +else for the two last meals of the day; carefully masticate it and eat +sparingly for a few days, after that _ad libitum_; in ten days you will +be well, if all other suggestions regarding cleanliness are followed. + +=Ears=.--Sapolini of Milan has described a method of his which he states +has been successfully employed in 62 cases of deafness of old age. It +consists in mopping the membrana tympani with a weak oleaginous solution +of phosphorus. He claims that the treatment diminishes the opacity of +the membrane, increases the circulation, and improves the hearing. + +A writer in a medical journal says: "Beware of too much quinine. It will +produce a congestion of the ear and irritation of the auditory nerve. +The common habit of taking quinine for neuralgia and other ailments +without consulting a doctor is altogether reprehensible, and may lead +to very serious results. Many cases of deafness are produced by +overdoses and long-continued use of this drug." + +Aprysexie is the name Dr. Guye, of Amsterdam, chooses for +inattentiveness, and he quite singularly finds that the nose is a cause +of it. A dull boy became quick to learn after certain tumors had been +taken from the nose, and a man who had been troubled with vertigo and +buzzing in the ears for twelve years found mental labor easy after a +like operation. In a third case a medical student was similarly +relieved. Dr. Guye supposes that these nasal troubles affect the brain +by preventing the cerebral lymph from circulating freely. + +=Elixir Brown-Sequard.=--The way Brown-Sequard uses this medicine is +entirely successful. Do not think because others have failed that the +principle is wrong. Most experimenters, first, are not careful in +getting perfectly healthy specimens of animals from whose vitals the +elixir is made, while, secondly, they expose the liquid and allow it to +become filled or impregnated with microbes and various foreign elements. + +The process of administration is thus described:-- + +The syringe punctures the cuticle, or scarf-skin, and the cutis, or true +skin, and then enters the subcutaneous or cellular tissue which covers +the muscles, or flesh. Through all the tissues of the body run the +lymphatics, which convey the injected matter to the lymph channels, +these in turn to the veins, and thence throughout the system. A half +ounce of the fluid will be distributed in from one to three hours. +Sometimes the subject might feel the stimulus very quickly, and in some +cases hours might elapse before any effect was felt. The human system is +able to absorb almost an unlimited amount of this liquid, if +administered properly and if pure. + +=Epidemics.=--The history of severe plagues is remarkable. The first +great pestilence in a comparatively civilized nation was the one at +Athens about 400 B. C. On account of being shut up by the Spartans in +their crowded city the Athenians had this terrible experience. It +carried off thousands--nearly two-thirds of the population. In the +reign of the Emperor Justinian no less than 100,000,000 inhabitants died +in thirty years from a pestilence that swept from Persia to Gaul. Later, +in the fourteenth century, the plague of beautiful Florence in Italy +killed 80,000 people in six months. In 1665-66 London was a vast +pest-house and during September of 1666 the weekly death rate reached +the number of 8,000. In America the sunny South has witnessed the +blasting effects of yellow fever during the last fifteen years. In 1878, +Florida had 2,649 deaths, and New Orleans 3,977 from yellow fever. Fully +33% of those attacked succumbed. In the same year 4,200 people died of +it at Memphis. The last important run of this epidemic was in 1888, at +Jacksonville and Decatur. There the deaths averaged 10% of those +attacked. + +The duration of the infection stages of various diseases is thus given +by Dr. T. F. Pearse, an English physician: Measles, from the 2d day of +the disease for 3 weeks; small-pox, from the 1st day for 4 weeks; +scarlet fever, from the 4th day for 7 weeks; mumps, from the 2d day for +3 weeks; diphtheria, from the 1st day for 3 weeks. The incubation +periods, or intervals occurring between exposure to infection and the +first symptoms, are as follows: Whooping-cough, 14 days; mumps, 18 days; +measles, 10 days; small-pox, 12 days; scarlet fever, 3 days; diphtheria, +14 days. + +Scarlet fever is at its minimum from January to May, and at its maximum +in October and November. Diphtheria is more evenly distributed through +the year, and is most dangerous a little later than scarlet fever. +Measles and whooping-cough seem to be somewhat aggravated by cold +weather, but are most fatal in May and June. Hot weather is adverse to +small-pox, and favorable to disorders of the bowels, particularly in +children. + + +THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MEASLES AND SMALL-POX.--At the outset of a +popular eruption it is often difficult to decide whether the case is one +of measles or of small-pox. M. Grisol's method of diagnosis is as +follows (_Medical Times_): "If, upon stretching a portion of the skin, +the papule becomes impalpable to the touch, the eruption is caused by +measles; if, on the contrary, the papule is still felt when the skin is +drawn out, the eruption is the result of small-pox." + +=Erysipelas.=--It has long been known that an attack of erysipelas +exerts a remarkable influence upon other diseases, and the attempt has +been made to cure more serious maladies by deliberately inoculating the +patient with the virus of erysipelas. In a recent case in Norway, the +growth of a cancer was greatly retarded by this means, and life was +probably prolonged a few weeks or even months, though no cure was +effected. + +=Exercise.=--Ben. Hogan, the reformed pugilist, has advanced some +practical ideas:-- + +"In every city there are thousands of rich men and women who are ready +to commit suicide because of ill-health. 'What is wealth without +health?' they say. 'Nothing,' I should say; but I do say that, while +every man cannot amass wealth, every man can secure good health. I know +a man who owns a fine horse. He employs two men to take care of that +horse and keep him in condition. He is exercised, sponged, and blanketed +daily. Does the owner himself have a man to take care of him?--No. He +possibly bathes once a week. He arises at 8 o'clock in the morning, +throws his breakfast down without masticating it, and madly rushes off +to his business. At noon he rushes into a restaurant and eats his dinner +in five minutes. On he goes, hiring men to look after the health of his +horse, but never stops to think of his own body and its needs. + +"A man cannot digest his food unless he eats carefully. A meal should +never be eaten in less than one hour. Gladstone says he bites each piece +of meat he puts into his mouth twenty times before he swallows it, and +that isn't too often. The men of to-day who throw their food into their +stomach are physical wrecks in fifteen years. The American doctor +studies medicine when he should study nature; instead of trying to +prevent disease, they try to cure. There are many people who do not take +a bath in two years and they prematurely die from poisoning. The poison +that accumulates under the first layer of skin breeds disease and sooner +or later must come death. + +"There are thousands of people dying of consumption who haven't sense +enough to know that they can throw it off. No man who is lazy can become +healthy, for the best way to bring health is by physical development. I +have seen thousands of young men apparently on the verge of the grave +grow strong by following this daily routine: When you get up in the +morning rub yourself with a rough towel until the blood is in +circulation, and then take a cold bath. Never take a cold bath without +getting the blood in circulation, for it is dangerous. After the bath +rub the flesh for three-quarters of an hour. Then take a cup of tea and +eat some toast, and start out for a half hour's walk. Don't plod slowly +along the streets, but walk as rapidly as your legs will carry you. When +you return you are ready for breakfast. Eat rice, mutton chops, and +toast, and drink tea. If you are a business man you are ready for +business, but if you are training for an athlete you will again start +upon the walk and keep it up all day. A man under training is required +to walk at least forty miles every day. When he returns from his walk he +is put under blankets until he has cooled, and then again put in the +bath-tub. He is taken out and rubbed or manipulated. Then he is ready +for dinner. The athlete or pugilist would be required to eat raw ham or +raw steak without salt or pepper. Pugilists are not allowed to use +pepper, because it heats the blood. For men who are not undergoing +training for pugilists I would advise a dinner on rare beef, rice, and +other vegetables cooked dry." + +=Eyes.=--A writer in _Cassell's Magazine_ gives the following rules for +the use and care of the eyes:-- + +"1. Sit erect in your chair when reading, and as erect when writing as +possible. If you bend downward you not only gorge the eyes with blood, +but the brain as well, and both suffer. The same rule should apply to +the use of the microscope. Get one that will enable you to look at +things horizontally, not always vertically. + +"2. Have a reading-lamp for night use. N. B.--In reading the light +should be on the book or paper and the eyes in the shade. If you have no +reading-lamp, turn your back to the light and you may read without +danger to your eyes. + +"3. Hold the book at your focus; if that begins to get far away use +spectacles. + +"4. Avoid reading by the flickering light of the fire. + +"5. Avoid straining the eyes by reading in the gloaming. + +"6. Reading in bed is injurious as a rule. It must be admitted, however, +that in cases of sleeplessness, when the mind is inclined to ramble over +a thousand thoughts a minute, reading steadies the thoughts and conduces +to sleep. + +"7. Do not read much in a railway carriage. I myself always do, however, +only in a good light, and I invariably carry a good reading-lamp to hang +on behind me. Thousands of people would travel by night rather than by +day if the companies could only see their way to the exclusive use of +the electric light. + +"8. Authors should have black-ruled paper instead of blue, and should +never strain the eyes by reading too fine types. + +"9. The bedroom blinds should be red or gray, and the head of the bed +should be toward the window. + +"10. Those ladies who not only write but sew should not attempt the +black seam by night. + +"11. When you come to an age that suggests the wearing of spectacles, +let no false modesty prevent you from getting a pair. If you have only +one eye, an eye-glass will do; otherwise it is folly. + +"12. Go to the wisest and best optician you know of and state your wants +and your case plainly, and be assured you will be properly fitted. + +"13. Remember that bad spectacles are most injurious to the eyes, and +that good and well-chosen ones are a decided luxury. + +"14. Get a pair for reading with, and if necessary a long-distance pair +for use outdoors." + +Further rules are:-- + +Avoid all sudden changes between light and darkness. + +Never begin to read, write, or sew for several minutes after coming from +darkness to a bright light. + +Never read by twilight or moonlight, or on dark, cloudy days. + +When reading, it is best to let the light fall from above obliquely over +the left shoulder. + +Do not use the eye-sight by light so scant that it requires an effort to +discriminate. + +The moment you are instinctively prompted to rub your eyes that moment +stop using them. + +If the eyelids are glued together on waking up do not forcibly open +them, but apply saliva with the finger. It is the speediest diluent in +the world; then wash your eyes and face in warm water. + +In the selection of books or pamphlets see that the paper is of a slight +orange tint; this shade is the most pleasant for the eye to look upon. + +The following is recommended as an efficient means of removing particles +from the eye: Make a loop by doubling a horse hair; raise the lid of the +eye in which is the foreign particle; slip the loop over it, and placing +the lid in contact with the eyeball, withdraw the loop, and the particle +will be drawn out with it. + +An old locomotive engineer gives the following as an infallible method +to eradicate any foreign substance from the eye, viz., close the eyes, +and rub gently from right to left with a circular motion the well eye. + +=Food.=--Of all the fruits we are blest with, the peach is the most +digestible. There is nothing more palatable, wholesome, and medicinal +than good, ripe peaches. They should be ripe but not overripe and half +rotten; and of this kind they may make a part of either meal, or be +eaten between meals; but it is better to make them a part of the regular +meals, says _Hall's Journal of Health_, a medical authority. It is a +mistaken idea that no fruit should be eaten at breakfast. It would be +far better if our people would eat less bacon and grease at breakfast +and more fruit. In the morning there is an arid state of the secretions, +and nothing is so well calculated to correct this as cooling, subacid +fruits, such as peaches, apples, etc. The apple is one of the best of +fruits. Baked or stewed apples will generally agree with the most +delicate stomach, and are an excellent medicine in many cases of +sickness. Green or half-ripe apples stewed and sweetened are pleasant to +the taste, cooling, nourishing, and laxative, far superior, in many +cases, to the abominable doses of salts and oil usually given in fever +and other diseases. Raw apples and dried apples stewed are better for +constipation than liver pills. Oranges are very acceptable to most +stomachs, having all the advantages of the acid alluded to; but the +orange juice alone should be taken, rejecting the pulp. The same may be +said of lemonade, pomegranates, and all that class. Lemonade is the best +drink in fevers, and when thickened with sugar is better than syrup of +squills and other nauseants in many cases of cough. Tomatoes act on the +liver and bowels, and are much more pleasant and safe than blue mass and +"liver regulators." The juice should be used alone, rejecting the skins. +The small-seeded fruits, such as blackberries, figs, raspberries, +currants, and strawberries, may be classed among the best foods and +medicines. The sugar in them is nutritious, the acid is cooling and +purifying, and the seeds are laxative. We would be much the gainers if +we would look more to our orchards and gardens for our medicines and +less to our drug stores. To cure fever or act on the kidneys no +febrifuge or diuretic is superior to water-melon, which may, with very +few exceptions, be taken in sickness and health in almost unlimited +quantities, not only without injury but with positive benefit. But in +using them the water or juice should be taken, excluding the pulp, and +the melon should be ripe and fresh, but not overripe and stale. While, +undeniably, a mixed diet is the best for man, there is a mistaken +notion, which prevails to a great extent, that meat should largely enter +into the same. As a consequence, much more is eaten than is needed or +can properly be disposed of in the system. Never eat meat oftener than +once a day, and very sparingly in summer. Men of sedentary habits might +with safety for several days at a time during that season live on +vegetables, fruits, milk, breadstuffs, and foods of like character, +which are easy of digestion. For those who have good reason to believe +that their "kidneys are weak," a diet largely made up of meat is +ill-advised. Those organs are intimately concerned in its disposal in +the system, and hence are overtasked if it is taken in too great a +quantity. + +_Reasons Why a Strictly Vegetable Diet Is to Be Preferred to Animal +Food._--The food which is most enjoyed, says a writer in _Longman's +Magazine_, is the food we call bread and fruit. In my long medical +career, I have rarely known an instance in which a child has not +preferred fruit to animal food. I have been many times called upon to +treat children for stomachic disorders induced by pressing upon them +animal to the exclusion of fruit diet, and have seen the best results +occur from the practice of reverting to the use of fruit in the dietary. +I say it without the least prejudice, as a lesson learned from simple +experience, that the most natural diet for the young, after the natural +milk diet, is fruit and whole-meal bread, with milk and water for drink. +The desire for this same mode of sustenance is often continued into +after years, as if the resort to flesh were a forced and artificial +feeding, which required long and persistent habit to establish as a +permanency as a part of the system of every-day life. How strongly this +preference taste for fruit over animal food prevails is shown by the +simple fact of the retention of those foods in the mouth. Fruit is +retained, to be tasted and relished. Animal food, to use a common +phrase, is "bolted." There is a natural desire to retain the delicious +fruit for full mastication; there is no such desire, except in the +trained gormand, for the retention of animal substance. One further fact +which I have observed--and that too often to discard it--as a fact of +great moment, is that when a person of mature years has for a time given +up voluntarily the use of animal food in favor of vegetable, the sense +of repugnance to animal food is soon so markedly developed that a return +to it is overcome with the utmost difficulty. Neither is this a mere +fancy or fad peculiar to sensitive men or oversentimental women. I have +been surprised to see it manifested in men who are the very reverse of +sentimental, and who were, in fact, quite ashamed to admit themselves +guilty of any such weakness. I have heard those who have gone over from +a mixed diet of animal and vegetable food to a poor vegetable diet speak +of feeling low under the new system, and declare that they must needs +give it up in consequence; but I have found even these (without +exception) declare that they infinitely preferred the simpler, purer, +and, as it seemed to them, more natural food plucked from the prime +source of food, untainted by its passage through another animal body. + +There are thirty vegetarian restaurants in London, and a vegetarian +hotel is the latest move in the right direction. + +The time required to digest different kinds of food:-- + + Hours. + + Roasted pork 5.15 + Salt beef (boil'd) 4.15 + Veal (boiled) 4.00 + Boiled hens 4.00 + Roasted mutton 3.15 + Boiled beef 3.30 + Roasted beef 3.00 + Raw oysters 2.45 + Roasted turkey 2.30 + Boiled milk 2.00 + Boiled codfish 2.00 + Venison steak 1.35 + Trout (broiled) 1.30 + Tripe 1.00 + Pig's feet 1.00 + Eggs (hard boil'd) 3.30 to 5.30 + Eggs (soft boil'd) 3.00 + +The above is taken from Beaumont's "Experiments on Digestion." Dalton +comments on these observations as follows: "These results would not +always be precisely the same for different persons, since there are +variations in this respect according to age and temperament. Thus, in +most instances, mutton would probably be equally digestible with beef, +or perhaps more so; and milk, which in some persons is easily digested, +in others is disposed of with considerable difficulty. But as a general +rule, the comparative digestibility of different substances is no doubt +correctly expressed by the above list." + +_To Ascertain Pure Milk._--Take an extra quart of milk any day from your +milkman and put it in a glass jar, an ordinary fruit-jar will do; set it +away and await results. The proportion of cream on top shows the +richness of the milk. Let it alone until it turns to clabber, and if +there is any water in it, it will appear between the cream and the +clabber. After fermentation sets in, the water will sink to the bottom. +If there has been no water put into the milk, none will show. By trying +milk from different milkmen, you can readily see which is the best. + +We will add under food that eggs should be kept in oak or porcelain +receptacles, not in pine boxes, as they partake of the odor of the pine. + +=Freckles.=--A young lady of St. Louis says: "I accidentally discovered +a sovereign remedy a couple of years ago, which costs next to nothing. +One day the plumber shut our water off, and I could get none in which to +wash my face. I was fearfully soiled, and, looking out of the window +just then, I saw a friend approaching to call on me. Glancing about me, +I noticed half a water-melon from which the meat had been removed some +time before. It was partly filled with juice, and I hastily washed my +face in it. The result was so soothing that I repeatedly washed my face +in that manner. Judge of my astonishment a few days later on seeing that +there was not a freckle left on my face." + +=Gargle.=--An excellent gargle for general use is:-- + + Chloras Potass., 3 ounces. + Tannin, 2 drachms. + +Dissolve one teaspoonful in half a pint of water, which will keep for +several days. For bronchial trouble or bleeding at the lungs, gargle the +throat often; but for general cleanliness, gargle a little every +morning; for catarrh, not only gargle but snuff some up the nose. + +=Hair.=--To prevent hair from falling out, headache, neuralgia, brain +fever, etc., the hair should be worn comparatively short by both sexes, +washed and dried every day. To preserve the hair this is a good recipe: +Take a teaspoonful of dried sage; boil it in a quart of water for twenty +minutes. Strain it off and add a piece of borax the size of an English +walnut; pulverize the borax. Put the sage tea, when cold, into a quart +bottle; add the borax; shake well together and put in a cool place. +Brush the hair thoroughly and rub and wash well on the head with the +hand; then, after a good hard rubbing, brush the hair well before a +fire, so that it will become perfectly dry. Never use a fine-tooth comb, +as it irritates the skin, and consequently inflames the roots of the +hair. + +=Headache.=--The causes are: "Overstudy, overwork in-doors, neglect of +the bath, want of fresh air in bedrooms, nervousness, however induced; +want of abundant skin-exciting exercise, the excitement inseparable from +a fashionable life, neglect of the ordinary rules that conduce to +health, overindulgence in food, especially of a stimulating character, +weakness or debility of body, however produced (this can only be +remedied by proper nutriment), work or study in-doors, carried on in an +unnatural or cramped position of the body. Literary men and women ought +to do most of their work at a standing desk, lying down now and then to +ease the brain and heart, and permit ideas to flow. They should work +out-of-doors in fine weather--with their feet resting on a board, not on +the earth--and under canvas in wet weather. It is surprising the good +this simple advice, if followed, can effect. + +=Health Beverages.=--Lemons make the best beverage. They are very +healthy and good, not only for allaying the thirst, but will cure a +multitude of disorders. The juice of the lemon contains citric acid. +Acids, as a rule, decrease the acid secretion of the body and increase +the alkaline. Citric acid, which is the acid of lemons and oranges, for +instance, will diminish the secretions of gastric juice, but increases +very materially the secretion of saliva. The very thought of a lemon is +sufficient to make the mouth water. Thirst in fevers is not always due +to lack of water in the blood. It may be due in part to a lack of the +secretion of the saliva. When the mouth is parched and dry, the acid +will increase the saliva. When acid is given for the relief of dyspepsia +it should be taken before eating. Lemon juice drank before meals will be +found very advantageous as a preventive of heart-burn. + +_Drinks for the Voice._--Tea, coffee, and cocoa are three admissible +drinks, but none in excess. For the voice cocoa is the most beneficial. +It should never be made too strong, and those cocoas are the best that +have been deprived of their oil. A cup of thin cocoa, just warm, is more +to be recommended between the exertions of singing than any alcoholic +beverage. Tea must not be taken too strong, nor when it has drawn too +long, for tea then becomes acid, and has a bad influence on the mucous +membrane that lines the throat. There is always a dry sensation after +having taken a cup of tea that has been allowed to draw too long. A +vocalist had better do without sugar in tea and only take milk with it. + +=Hernia or Rupture.=--A swelling suddenly appearing in the abdomen, and +especially in the groin, may be recognized as a rupture, particularly if +it puffs out, or grows larger when the patient breathes or coughs +violently. If, for any reason, the services of a physician cannot be +immediately secured, the patient should lie down on his back, draw up +his knees, and, while he breathes gently, rest his fingers upon the +rupture, and press it in all directions. In most cases the hernia will +slip back when thus treated. Then apply a bandage to hold the bowels in +place long enough for the person to have a truss fitted to him. During +this period the bowels should be kept regular. + +The author of this book was cured of rupture of the right groin +completely. Though having worn trusses of different patterns for 25 +years, the one that effected a permanent remedy was an electric elastic +truss, invented by Dr. A. T. Sherwood, 408 Stockton Street, this city. +This is no advertisement, but wishing to help others who are afflicted, +we are of the opinion that it will cure four out of every five cases +that exist, provided the patient will pursue a careful course otherwise. +My treatment required less than 4 months. + +=Hiccoughing.=--Sweet-flag (calamus) is claimed to be an agent that will +relieve and stop persistent hiccough in almost any case. Chew a small +piece of the root. + +=Hydrophobia.=--Rabies, the madness produced by the bite of mad animals, +is often apprehended when there is no danger. In case the supposed mad +creature has been killed, an important means of information is lost. If +possible, the animal should be secured and closely watched. If he does +not show signs of rabies, the bitten person need have no fear; but, in +any case, when one has been bitten, the wound should be washed with hot +water, sucked, by some person whose mouth is free from sores, and then +thoroughly cauterized with pure nitric acid or concentrated liquor of +ammonia. The patient's strength should be sustained by stimulants, and +medical attendance should be secured as soon as possible. + +Drs. Valentine Mott and A. F. Baldwin, of the Carnegie Laboratory; are +prepared to inoculate hydrophobia patients according to the Pasteur +system. The first patient was the seven-year-old son of Dr. Newell, of +Jersey City. Dr. Mott inoculated himself to prove the harmlessness of +the method for a healthy man. + +It has been discovered recently that the juice of the maguey plant is a +certain remedy for hydrophobia. + +=Influenza (La Grippe).=--The first symptoms of the disease are sudden +faintness, a chill, and marked prostration, succeeded by headache and a +general feeling of malaria, followed by acute coryza, pharyngitis, and +slight laryngitis, winding up with bronchitis. Examination shows that +the patients are about as sick as persons with a bad cold. The duration +of the attack is from 2 to 10 days and upward. An application of 2 parts +turpentine to 1 of sweet-oil placed on the chest over the lungs, and +then inhale the steam from steeped eucalyptus leaves, is the best remedy +we know. + +=Insomnia.=--The next time a sufferer finds himself awake, say 2 or 3 +o'clock in the morning, instead of merely trying to banish the painful +thought and repeating numbers, according to habit, let him revert at +once to the dream which was the cause of his awakening, and try to go on +with it. Sleep will come soon. It is stated on good authority that this +experiment, oft repeated, has never been known to fail. + +A correspondent of the _Lancet_ gives the following method of +self-asphyxiation as an effectual remedy for insomnia in his own case: +After taking a deep inspiration, he holds his breath till discomfort is +felt, then repeats the process a second and third time. As a rule this +is enough to procure sleep. A slight degree of asphyxia is thus relied +on as a soporific agent. + +=Leprosy.=--An interesting report by the Hawaiian Board of Health is in +our hands; incomplete statistics give the number of lepers in the +several islands of the Hawaiian group on January 1, 1888, as 400. A +statement of the leper population at Leper Settlement at Molokai for the +biennial period ending March 31, 1888, is 749. + +The report says: "Accurate statistics as to the number of lepers still +at large in the various communities of this country cannot be obtained." +It is estimated from the best data obtainable, that there were 644 +lepers at large on the islands on March 31, 1888. + +The report says: "The rations furnished each leper at the Leper +Settlement on Molokai are abundant for the support of any adult +Hawaiian." + +One of the embarrassing questions the board is called upon to decide is, +how many of the non-leper friends and relatives of the afflicted ones +shall be allowed to go and live with them at the leper settlement as +helpers, or _kokuas_, the number of applicants being in excess of the +demand. The great obstacle to be overcome in carrying out the law of +segregation consists in the fact that the Hawaiians do not appreciate +and refuse to be convinced that leprosy is a communicable disease. It is +with them as if devotion to a fatal sentimentality had bid defiance to +every instinct of self-preservation. Marriages between leprous and +non-leprous individuals are freely contracted, and the intimacies are +not prevented by the fact of potent evidences of the disease. "If this +race is ever to be rescued from the slough into which it is sinking, the +fatal lethargy that stupefies them must be dispelled, the instinct of +self-preservation must be awakened, and it must be written upon their +hearts, as with the point of a diamond, that to voluntarily contaminate +one's self with leprosy is a crime. In spite of a number of claims to +the contrary, we believe it safe to say that no one has been able to +prove, to the satisfaction of the medical profession, who very rightly +demand full proof in such cases, that a single unmistakable case of this +disease has been definitely cured." Says the report: "It is necessary +always to bear in mind that the symptoms of leprosy, like those of some +other diseases, have a way of receding or entirely disappearing for a +time, only to show themselves again when least expected." + +Government physicians generally attribute the causes which are checking +the increase of the Hawaiian population to be leprosy; also the indolent +and easy nature of the natives, which causes them to rest content, +provided they can obtain the bare necessities of life. They are content +to sit idle while their places are being filled with Chinese, and their +lands are gradually passing from their possession. This apathy causes +them to degenerate, both mentally and physically, and thus leads to the +smallness of families and the general extinction of the race. + +The following description of how this terrible disease develops and +affects the patient is taken from the Hankow (China) Medical Mission +report: "Leprosy is common. It chiefly affects men who work in the +field; we have met with it in brothers; it is occasionally met with in +women. The age varies from ten to fifty years. Often the first symptom +complained of is some localized anaesthesia--which is sometimes quite +accidentally discovered--in the feet, hands, or face, which are the +parts that are most commonly affected. The sensory nerves are first +affected, and sensation as a rule absent partially or completely. The +anaesthesia is followed by want of free use of affected parts; the +circulation is also impaired in those parts; the hair on the eyebrows +falls out. A peculiar punched-out-looking ulcer, with a very fetid +discharge, is often met in the feet; sometimes, but not so often, in the +hands. As the disease advances, which it does very slowly--it often +apparently remains stationary for years--the face broadens, becomes +square, glazed, irregular and nodular; nodules are also found in the +mucous membrane of the lips and in the nerves; perspiration is absent; +the natural expression of the face is completely changed; the patient +looks old and sad. As the disease further advances, the toes and fingers +drop off, and by and by part of the limb. The general health is never +affected. Treatment is not very satisfactory; symptoms seem to be +controlled for a time, but never cured." + +=Lockjaw.=--Professor Renzi, of Naples, records several cases of tetanus +successfully treated by absolute rest. The method advocated is as +follows: The patient's ears are closed with wax, after which he is +placed in a perfectly dark room, far from any noise. He is made to +understand that safety lies in perfect rest. The room is carpeted +heavily in order to relieve the noise of stepping about. The nurse +enters every quarter of an hour with a well-shaded lantern, using more +the sense of touch than sight to find the bed. Liquid food (milk, eggs +in beef tea, and water) is carefully given, so that mastication is not +necessary. Constipation is not interfered with. Mild doses of belladonna +or secale are given to relieve pain. This treatment does not shorten the +disease, but under it the paroxysms grow milder, and finally cease. +Numerous physicians attest to the value of this treatment. + +=Marriage.=--The _Medical Record_ says the unpopularity of marriage in +England continues unabated, and last year was the first in recent times +in which, while the price of wheat fell, the marriage rate remained +stationary. It is now 14.2 per 1,000. The decline in the popularity of +matrimony is greatest with those who have already had some experience of +wedded life. Between 1876 and 1888 the marriage rate fell 12 per cent +for bachelors and spinsters, 27 per cent for widowers, 31 per cent for +widows. + +Another interesting fact is that the births have now reached the lowest +rate recorded since civil registration began. In 1876 the rate was 36.3 +per 1,000; it is now 30.6. This is very satisfactory, and it is also +notable that the illegitimate birth-rate has declined, the proportion, +4.6 per cent, being the lowest yet registered. The worst feature in the +Registrar-General's returns, however, is the fact that the male births +had fallen in proportion to the female; in the last ten years 1,038 boys +were born for every 1,000 girls, and last year the male preponderance +had dropped by 5, and is now standing at 1,033 to 1,000. + +M. Huth has recently published a valuable book on consanguinity. There +is no lack of instances of enforced consanguinity, in the matter of +marriage, in isolated communities, according to M. Huth, to disprove the +assumption that physical degeneration is likely to result from the +practice. An investigation into a number of unions between uncles and +nieces, nephews and aunts, and cousins in the first and second degree, +gives an average of children rather above than below the general +average, though this is attributed to some extent to the comparatively +early age at which such unions are generally contracted. Breeders inform +us that the results are markedly in favor of consanguineous unions +between healthy, well-bred animals. Unions between men or animals of +widely different varieties, on the other hand, have a decidedly +injurious effect on the offspring, and beyond a certain limit are +almost absolutely sterile. Mulattoes and the half-breeds of India and +America are striking examples of the deterioration to which such racial +disparity gives rise. The great point to bear in mind is that the union +of individuals with the same morbid tendencies intensifies the taint, +and that, too, quite irrespective of any consanguinity. The moral, +according to the author, is that the reasons which have led to the +prohibition of marriages within certain degrees of relationship are +social, and not physiological. + +=Malaria (Chills and Fever).=--Mr. W. S. Green, editor of the _Weekly +Colusa Sun_, of this State, has made careful investigations on the +malaria question. We quote from his issue of May 12, 1888:-- + +"_Irrigation and Malaria._--At the irrigation convention held at +Riverside in March, '84, a paper by W. S. Green was read on the subject +of 'Irrigation on Health.' The writer took a new departure, and combated +notions held for ages; that is, he held that however much the received +notions of malaria might hold good as to other climates, they were not +correct when applied to California, where the air was in motion pretty +much all the while. Mr. Green received the highest indorsement of his +ideas, and they have come to be accepted as correct. His statement of +facts has been verified by almost all observing men. + +"_To the Pres. of the Irrigation Convention, Riverside, Cal._-- + +"Having taken great interest in the problem of irrigation for twenty +years and over, I had intended to be present at your meeting, but at +this date I find it will be impossible. If a man possesses a mite of +knowledge or an idea on this great subject, it is his duty to give his +co-workers the benefit of it. + +"During a residence of thirty-four years in the Sacramento Valley, I +have had time and opportunity to observe and to study its sanitary +conditions, and these observations bear directly, I think, on the +subject of the effect of irrigation on the health of a country. I am led +by these observations to reject almost _in toto_ the long-accepted +theory of infection by malaria from the atmosphere, that is, so far as +it pertains to California. I will not consume your time with a technical +dissertation, but will state some facts as briefly as possible, and in +plain, homely phrase. + +"When I saw people living all along the margins of the tules, where in +summer the water became hot and stale and full of decaying vegetation, +and hundreds of forms of animal life, and yet remain entirely free from +malarial influence, I began to think there was some mistake in the +accepted theory. I do not pretend to say that all the people living +along the tule margins were or are healthy. All who occupy some places +seem to be attacked by chills, while the occupants of places close by +are never so attacked. Health is the rule. I saw that all these people, +those on the healthy and those on the sickly places, must breathe the +same air, coming to them from the same hot, stagnant water and decaying +vegetation, and I concluded that malaria was not in the air. But I +investigated further. + +"There are clay, or, as some call them, hardpan banks to the upper +Sacramento River, which are from a quarter of a mile to a mile apart. +The river, for some very indefinite number of centuries, has vibrated +between these banks--washing in on one side and filling in on the other. +There is, then, an old or clay formation and a newer or alluvial +formation; of course, there is alluvium on top of the clay, but this is +not to our purpose. When I first saw the valley in 1850, this new land, +some of it as high as the old, was covered with pea vines, blackberry +vines, and a dense undergrowth generally, while the other grew wild oats +and was usually as open as our wheat-fields. I began to notice that +those people who built their houses and _dug their wells_ on a newer +formation generally had chills, while the others, as a rule, had not. +Sometimes these sickly and healthy places would be but a few feet apart. +They breathed the same air, but they _did not drink the same water_. I +began to conclude that these people, both along the river and around the +margins of the tules, drank the germ of disease and did not breathe it, +and I continued my observations. + +"The town of Colusa is built upon the old, or clay formation, and the +people are entirely free from the so-called malarial influence. They are +almost entirely free from chills, typhoid fevers, diphtheria, etc., but +just at the lower end of the town there is evidence that the river at +one time ran almost at right angles with its present course, and while +the land is just as high, and very large oaks grew upon it, showing the +formation to be very old--the span of human life taken as a measure--yet +in digging and boring wells, as well as by the indigenous growth, the +very great difference in the age of the formation was apparent. Upon +this new formation an extension to the town was located, and among other +buildings the county hospital was placed there. The patients and +employes of the hospital all had chills for several years, until the +physician-in-charge, Dr. W. H. Belton, noticed that the people generally +who used water from wells on this newly-made land had chills, while the +others had not, and caused pipes from the town waterworks, into which +river water was pumped, to be laid to the hospital. There was an +_immediate_ change. At the commencement of the use of river water, there +were some forty persons in the hospital, all with chills, but since the +building has been almost entirely free from it. There could be no more +conclusive evidence that these people _drank_ the germ of the disease +and _did not breathe it_. + +"It is claimed that after a wet season there is more malaria in the air, +and that hence people are more subject to disease. I have investigated +this, and my observations, extended over a number of years, have +convinced me that the water in the wells is simply raised to a newer +stratum, one not thoroughly washed, as it were, and that people drink +the germ of disease, and do not breathe it. + +"My conclusions are, therefore, that irrigation will tend to bring on +malarial disorders, as it raises the water in wells to a newer stratum +of earth, but no further. When we irrigate so as to produce this effect +we must _go down_ after pure drinking water, or bring it to our houses +in pipes. The effect of disorders thus brought about is easily remedied. + +"I do not wish to be understood as maintaining that there may be no such +thing as poison in the atmosphere. In some localities, where the air is +not in motion every day, as it is here, the air, like standing water, +may become stagnant. I know of some hotels in this valley totally void +of drainage, and where the accumulated filth of a quarter of a century +stands in the yards in cess-pools. In some countries this would kill +ninety out of a hundred people who would stop in them a week, but here +we feel no inconvenience from it, except in so far that the water may +become impregnated. Air in motion, like water in motion, purifies +itself, and hence I have come to the rejection of the theory of malaria +in the air." + +Of our own remedies we feel very proud because they are sure to kill +chills and fever. There are two:-- + +_First:_ Take the proportions of one (1) of sulphur to two (2) of gin, +or 4 fluidounces of gin to 2 of sulphur. Let it stand overnight. For an +adult take one teaspoonful of this mixture in a little water from 15 to +30 minutes before the attack. Remain in bed in a room warmed to 90 degrees +Fahr., for from 6 to 10 hours. This has not been known to fail. + +_Second:_ This requires much care and judgment. Take a whole nutmeg +finely grated, and its equal quantity of pulverized alum, thoroughly mix +them, and take at one dose; the _time_ to take it has everything to do +with its effect. It must be taken between 10 and 17 minutes before the +shake is due to come on. Go to bed immediately, using double the usual +amount of bedclothes, remain there from 1-1/2 to 3 hours, and both +chills and fever will permanently depart. If the medicine is taken too +soon (say 30 minutes before the shake), the attack will be more severe; +if taken immediately after the shake it will increase the fever; in +either case the dose will have to be repeated to effect a cure. This +latter treatment completely cured the author. + +=Nervousness and Worry.=--One meets few unworried people. Most faces +bear lines of care. Men go anxious to their day's duties, rush through +the hours with feverish speed, and bring hot brain and tumultuous pulse +home at night for restless, unrefreshing sleep. This is not only a most +unsatisfactory, but is also a most costly, mode of living. The other +night the train lost two hours in running less than a hundred miles. "We +have a hot box," was the polite conductor's reply to some impatient +passengers who begged to know the cause of the long delays at stations. +This hot-box trouble is not altogether unknown in human life. There are +many people who move swiftly enough and with sufficient energy, but who +grow feverish and are thus impeded in their progress. A great many +failures in life must be charged to worrying. When a man worries he is +impeded in several ways. For one thing he loses his head. He cannot +think clearly. His brain is feverish, and will not act at its best. His +mind becomes confused, and his decisions are not to be depended upon. +The result is that a worried man never does his work as well as he +should do it, or as he could do it if he were free from worry. He is apt +to make mistakes. Marks of feverishness are sure to be seen somewhere in +whatever he does. Remedy: Keep cool, think three times before you act +once. + +=Obesity and Thinness.=--To increase the weight; Eat, to the extent of +satisfying a natural appetite, of fat meats, butter, cream, milk, cocoa, +chocolate, bread, potatoes, peas, parsnips, carrots, beets, farinaceous +food, or Indian corn, rice, tapioca, sago, corn-starch, pastry, +custards, oatmeal, sugar, sweet wines, and ale. Avoid acids. Exercise as +little as possible, sleep all you can, and don't worry or fret. To +reduce the weight: Eat, to the extent of satisfying a natural appetite, +of lean meat, poultry, game, eggs, milk moderately, green vegetables, +turnips, succulent fruits, tea or coffee. Drink lime juice, lemonade, +and acid drinks. Avoid fat, butter, cream, sugar, pastry, rice, sago, +tapioca, corn-starch, potatoes, carrots, beets, parsnips, and sweet +wines. Exercise freely. + +=Piles.=--When piles become painful, whether they protrude or not, the +patient should take a warm hip-bath and remain in until the pain ceases, +extra precaution being taken for cleanliness, using pure white castile +soap with the hip-bath. A careful diet of farinaceous and other +easily-digested food, and regularity in going to stool, will suffice to +cure the majority of cases. If the piles are bleeding, apply a salve of +opium and nut-gall; if itching, a drop of oil of cade will give relief. +Linseed oil, applied to the piles, is said to be an effective remedy. In +severe cases of piles great relief is afforded by the use of +suppositories made after the following formula: 2 grains sulphate +morphina, 2 grains extract belladonna, 1 scruple tannin. + +The above mixed with a sufficient quantity of cocoa butter to make +twelve suppositories of one-half ounce each; one to be used every night +on retiring. + +=Poisons.=--Poisons may be classified under two distinct +heads--_mineral_ and _vegetable_. _Mineral poisons_ are irritating and +corrosive in their action. They produce a metallic taste in the mouth, +burning pains in the throat, stomach, and bowels, and, often, violent +retching and bloody vomiting, purging, cramps, cold sweats, and great +depression. _Vegetable poisons_ are chiefly narcotics, and many of them +are as virulent as any in the mineral kingdom. They cause giddiness, +drowsiness, stupor, insensibility or delirium, and oppressed breathing. + +_General Directions._--First and instantly dilute the poison with large +draughts of warm water, either clear, or, if the particular poison is +known, containing the proper antidote. This will usually cause vomiting, +which is to be desired. If vomiting does not soon occur, excite it. +Protect as much as possible the lining membrane of the stomach and +bowels from contact with the poison by large and frequent doses of +sweet-oil, mucilage of gum arabic, flaxseed tea, milk, etc. Melted +cosmoline, vaseline, butter, or lard will serve for this purpose. Keep +up the temperature by means of warm blankets, hot bottles, etc.; and if +there are marked evidences of sinking, such as a failure of the pulse, +or very feeble, gasping respiration, give a little stimulus, preferably +by injection into the bowels. In the case of an adult, a tablespoonful +of brandy, whisky or gin, with an equal quantity of water, may be +administered in this manner every five or ten minutes, until reaction +sets in--that is, until the face regains its color, the pulse becomes +stronger, and the breathing natural. + +A general antidote for all cases of poisoning, where the nature of the +poison is unknown, is a mixture of carbonate of magnesia, powdered +charcoal, and hydrated sesquioxide of iron, equal parts, in water. + +POISONS--MINERAL. _Acids.--Muriatic_ (spirit of salt), _nitric_ (aqua +fortis), _sulphuric_ (oil of vitriol), _oxalic_, _nitro-muriatic_,etc. +Nitric and sulphuric acids are sometimes used for the removal of warts; +oxalic acid is often employed for taking out iron or ink stains; +muriatic and nitro-muriatic acids are frequently prescribed medicinally. +As soon as a poisonous dose has been swallowed, seek for something which +will neutralize the acid. Powdered chalk, whiting, magnesia, or lime +scraped from a wall and stirred in water, may be given in any of these +cases. For sulphuric or muriatic acid also administer soap-suds, sweet +milk, common soap cut into small pieces, baking or washing soda, or +saleratus, giving these latter in very small quantities at a time, so as +not to produce dangerous distension of the stomach, from the evolution +of gas. In the case of sulphuric acid, water must not be used freely at +first, at least not unless it contains some antidote, as the heat +produced, when this acid and water are mixed, is sufficient of itself to +cause serious damage. + +_Ammonia, and other alkalies (Caustic Potash, Soda or +Lime)._--Antidotes: Vinegar, lemon juice, or a weak solution of tartaric +acid, to be followed immediately with sweet-oil or mucilage of gum +arabic, and an emetic. Also give an injection of boiled starch. Pain may +be relieved with laudanum, in doses of ten to fifteen drops, as the +paroxysms occur. + +_Antimony (Butter of Antimony, Tartar Emetic)._--Encourage vomiting. The +antidotes are milk, tea, tannic acid. + +_Arsenic, Ratsbane, Paris Green, Cobalt, and all arsenical preparations +used as rat poisons._--Give the whites of five or six eggs, beaten in +half a pint of water; or, flour and water, barley water, flaxseed tea, +or magnesia. Also administer an emetic of five grains of sulphate of +copper (blue vitriol), or fifteen grains of sulphate of zinc (white +vitriol), ipecac, or mustard and water. After the vomiting, give +hydrated sesquioxide of iron in tablespoon doses, every fifteen minutes, +until danger is past. This is the best-known antidote for arsenic, and +should be procured fresh from the drug store if possible. + +_Chloral, Chloroform, Ether._--Cold water should be sprinkled over the +face and applied to the head. If breathing is suspended, treat the +patient for artificial respiration. The use of electricity is +recommended. + +_Corrosive Sublimate_ (Bedbug Poison), _Calomel_ (Mercury).--The whites +of three or four eggs, beaten in water, should be given without delay. +If eggs are not at hand, flour or thin starch gruel, mucilage of gum +arabic, or milk, will answer. An emetic should be taken immediately +after the antidote has been administered. + +_Iodine_ (used for external application).--If it has been swallowed, +give a paste of starch, or flour and water. + +_Lead, Salts of (Sugar of Lead, Lead Paint)._--After an emetic, +administer as much Epsom salt, or Glauber's salt, as the patient can +drink. Then give large quantities of milk and whites of eggs. + +_Lunar Caustic, Nitrate of Silver.--Give a large teaspoonful of common +salt, in a glass of water. Repeat the dose every ten minutes for an +hour. Then give a dose of castor-oil, and let the patient drink freely +of flaxseed tea, barley water, or sweet milk. + +_Muriates of Tin and Zinc._--These poisons are sometimes found in canned +goods--fruits, vegetables, fish, and meats. They cause nausea, vomiting, +sudden failure of the vital forces, and sometimes cramps and +convulsions. Milk, the whites of eggs, strong tea, or tincture of +Peruvian bark, should be given. After the violent symptoms have +subsided, the patient should drink freely of flaxseed tea or barley +water. + +_Phosphorus, Matches._--Give large quantities of warm water containing +calcined magnesia, chalk, or whiting. + +_Prussic Acid._--Liquor of ammonia, in doses of ten drops to a +tablespoonful of water, should be given every fifteen minutes, until the +patient is out of danger. Also apply smelling salts to the nose, dash +cold water in the face, and give stimulants. + +_Verdigris._--Give sugar, milk, and whites of eggs in large quantities, +then strong tea, but no acids of any kind. + +Poisons--Vegetable. _Aconite._--Induce free vomiting, then give brandy +or whisky every half hour until the dangerous symptoms are allayed. + +_Alcohol, Spirits._--Give half a teaspoonful of aromatic spirits of +ammonia in sweetened water every half hour. Bromide of potassa, in doses +of fifteen to thirty grains, every two or three hours, will also be +found useful. + +_Cocaine_ is the alkaloid of the coca plant of South American origin. It +is generally employed in the form of muriate of cocaine and principally +used as a local anaesthetic. It should only be used under the direction +of a physician. It may occasion dangerous effects even in doses usually +deemed safe. When it has been taken internally, the proper antidote is a +powerful emetic followed by stimulants--such as liquor and spirits of +ammonia--administered internally. When it has been used to a dangerous +extent externally, give whisky or brandy and ammonia. + +_Laudanum, Opium, Paregoric, Morphia, Belladonna, Hyoscyamus, +Stramonium, and Conium._--An emetic of mustard and water, twenty grains +of sulphate of zinc (white vitriol), or thirty grains of powdered +ipecac, should be given. Strong coffee, brandy, or whisky should then be +administered in large quantities, and the patient walked around the +room. Slapping, pinching, dashing cold water in the face, and even +whipping, may be necessary to keep the patient awake. + +_Strychnine (Nux Vomica)._--Give an emetic of a solution of sulphate of +zinc (white vitriol), or a strong infusion of tobacco; or inject into +the bowels bromide of potassium, thirty grains, and the extract of coca, +one-half ounce. During the spasms, the patient should breathe chloroform +or ether from a saturated cloth held to the nose and mouth. + +_Toadstools (False Mushrooms) and other poisonous plants and seeds, such +as are liable to be picked up and eaten by children._--Empty the stomach +at once by an emetic you have at hand. + +Coffee poisoning occurs mostly with well-to-do people--those who are +overfed. Tea poisoning comes to hard-working, half-starved women. The +symptoms of coffee poisoning are want of appetite, sleeplessness, and +nervous tremblings, with various indications of indigestion and torpor +of liver. Tea poisoning requires rest and nourishment; but the victim of +coffee excess usually needs to unload his system by exercise on a low +diet. + +_Antipyrine._--Dr. T. E. Smith, of Cincinnati, had his whole right side +paralyzed by a ten-grain dose of antipyrine. The dose is an ordinary +one. This powerful drug is much resorted to by grippe victims. + +=Removal of Foreign Substances.=--Considering the frequency with which +foreign bodies are swallowed, especially by children, the best treatment +to employ in such cases should be generally known. A variety of such +methods have been advocated, but just now the so-called "potato cure" +appears to be the most popular. One physician not long ago reported that +he had successfully applied it with the best results in three cases. One +was that of a 6-year-old boy, who swallowed a small weight; another that +of a girl, 9 years old, who had swallowed a nail; and the remaining one +that of a woman who had swallowed a set of teeth. He fed the patients +for three days on nothing but potatoes. This treatment is a method in +vogue among the pickpockets of London, who, swallowing their booty, live +on potatoes until the stolen articles have passed down and out of the +body. + +=Rheumatism.=--Those who have a tendency to that disease should "take a +stitch" now and free their systems from all injurious retained matter. +They should live abstemiously, exercise freely, keep the skin active by +frequent bathing, the bowels open with fruits, and drink water in large +quantities. Water dissolves and washes waste matter out of the system; +it is therefore an absolute essential where there is any impairment in +the action of the kidneys, bowels, or skin. He who applies this simple +treatment, and takes proper care of himself otherwise, may feel quite +secure from attacks of rheumatism. + +"Practical Medicine" suggests: "Make a concentrated emulsion of black +soap, 200 grammes; add thereto 100 or 150 grammes of turpentine, and +shake the whole vigorously until a beautiful creamy emulsion is +obtained. For a bath take half of this mixture, which possesses an +agreeable pine odor. After remaining in the bath a quarter of an hour, +the patient should get into bed, when a prickling sensation, not +disagreeable, however, is felt over the entire body; then, after a nap, +he awakens with marked diminution of rheumatic pains." + +Flour of sulphur dusted into the soles of the shoes and stockings is +said to be a perfect preventive. The exciting causes of rheumatism are +cold or wet applied to the body when in a state of heat, exposure to +cold winds, remaining long in wet clothes, sleeping in a damp bed, or +blood-poisoning. Acute attacks of rheumatism should be treated by +painting the affected part with tincture of iodine. + +=Seasickness.=--Experts claim that seasickness can be regulated by a +system of breathing. One must sit still and time the breathing to the +upward and downward motion of the boat. As the boat falls there should +be a full expiration, and as the boat rises start on an inspiration +ending just as the boat begins to drop. + +=Sleep.=--The "Home Maker" says: "Up to the fifteenth year most young +people require ten hours, and till the twentieth year, nine hours. After +that age everyone finds out how much he or she requires, though, as a +general rule, at least six to eight hours are necessary. Eight hours' +sleep will prevent more nervous derangements in women than any medicine +can cure. During growth there must be ample sleep if the brain is to +develop to its full extent, and the more nervous, excitable, or +precocious a child is, the longer sleep should it get if its +intellectual progress is not to come to a premature standstill, or its +life be cut short at an early age." + +A doctor of prominence says: "There is no doubt in my mind but the +belief that human beings should sleep with their bodies lying north and +south has its foundation in true scientific facts. Each human system has +two magnetic poles--one positive and one negative. Now, it is true that +some persons have the positive pole in the head and the negative pole in +the feet, and _vice versa_. In order that the person sleeping should be +in perfect harmony with the magnetic phenomena of the earth, the head, +if it possesses the positive pole, should lie to the south, or if the +feet possess the positive pole the head should lie to the north. The +positive pole should always lie opposite to the magnetic center of the +continent and thus maintain a magnetic equilibrium. The positive pole of +the person draws one way, but the magnetic pole of the earth draws the +other way and forces the blood toward the feet, affects the iron in the +system, tones up the nerves, and makes sleep refreshing and +invigorating. But if the person sleeps the wrong way and fails to become +magnetically _en rapport_ with the earth, he will then probably be too +magnetic, and he will have a fever resulting from the magnetic forces +working too fast, or he will not be magnetic enough, and the great +strain will cause a feeling of lassitude, sleep will not be refreshing, +and in the morning he will have no more energy than there is in a cake +of soap. Some persons may scoff at these ideas, but the greatest +scientific men of the world have studied the subject. Only recently the +French Academy of Science made experiments upon the body of a +guillotined man, which go to prove that each human system is in itself +an electric battery, one electrode being represented by the head, the +other by the feet. The body was taken immediately after death and placed +on a pivot, to move as it might. After some vacillation the head +portion turned toward the north, the body then remaining stationary. One +of the professors turned it half way around, but it soon regained its +original position, and the same result was repeatedly obtained, until +organic movement finally ceased." + +=Small-pox and Vaccination.=--Notwithstanding existing prejudices, +statistics prove the great usefulness of vaccination. In small-pox +epidemics, of those persons attacked who have not been vaccinated, one +case in four is fatal; while of those who have been vaccinated, the +death rate is not one in four hundred and fifty. In cities, it is +important that every infant should be vaccinated before it is six months +old. In the country, the operation may be deferred until the infant is a +year old. Care should be taken to have the virus fresh and from the cow. +The taking of virus from a child, or an adult, should never be allowed, +as constitutional diseases are often transmitted in that way. +Vaccination is performed by making a small incision in the skin and +introducing the virus on the point of a lancet or needle. On the third +day, if the desired result has been attained, a small red spot may be +seen. This increases in size, becomes elevated, and, by the sixth day, +is filled with a clear, yellow liquid. About the eighth day, the pustule +is fully formed, when symptoms of small-pox are usually felt,--headache, +shivering, loss of appetite, etc. These symptoms subside in a day or +two; the fluid in the pustule dries up, and a scab forms, which remains +about two weeks and then disappears, leaving a scar. The affected part +should be protected by a loose bandage, and all scratching or rubbing +prevented. + +The theory in regard to vaccination is that the disease in a mild form +takes hold of the system, and either completely or partially destroys +the liability to contract the same disease in the future. If the +destruction is only partial, it can be made total by future +vaccinations. All authorities agree that it is necessary to revaccinate +frequently--just as often, in fact, as the system shows itself in +readiness to take the vaccinations. Then as often as once in five or +seven years vaccination should be repeated in order to obtain complete +immunity from small-pox. + +=Superstitions.=--Numerous are the dangerous superstitions about +marriage. For instance, the bride must not try on her wedding gown, or +ill-luck will follow. She must not look in the glass after she is fully +dressed and ready for the ceremony. She must not enter her new home by +stepping over the threshold, but must be carried over it by one of her +relatives. A piece of the bride's cake must be broken over her head as +soon as she is safely on the other side. It is very unlucky for her to +be in a happy state on her wedding-day. She must be as dolorous as +possible, violent fits of weeping being especially beneficial. + +It is a good idea for the brides-maids to throw away as many pins as +possible on the wedding-day, as this will hasten marriage. The bride +should throw away her slipper in leaving the wedding feast, and she who +catches it will be the first married. The month of May is generally +conceded to be the most unfortunate for marriages. The lucky months are +January, April, August, October, and November. January is especially +lucky. + +Lovers should carefully avoid passing a sharp or pointed instrument from +one to the other. Such things tend to cause quarrels. The wedding should +be put off by all means if a cat sneezes on the eve of the wedding-day. +It should never take place if the cat is black. To sweep dust over a +girl's feet or legs will be certain to make an old maid of her. + +Should the younger sister of a family marry first, the older sisters +will be condemned to lasting celibacy unless they dance at her wedding +in their stocking-feet. + +The wedding-ring of the mother is an infallible cure for eruptions on +the skin of the child. The ring must be rubbed three times around each +sore. Cure is certain. + +The virtue of the dew that glitters and sparkles in every leaf and +flower of a May morning has been recognized from the earliest times. If +a young girl wishes to obtain and preserve a glorious complexion she +should venture out of a May morning and wash her face in this dew. + +To spit in the hand before undertaking anything, whether in love, war, +or business, will not fail to bring luck. If you are out fishing, do +not step over your rod, or you will catch no more fish than did Simple +Simon in his mother's pail. + +Of births, it may be said in general that a crying child will grow up to +be a great and useful man. This omen is not very clearly settled, +however, and is often given the other way. Some seer far back in the +ages discovered the following: Born on Monday, fair in the face; born on +Tuesday, full of God's grace; born on Wednesday, sour and sad; born on +Thursday, merry and glad; born on Friday, worthily given; born on +Saturday, work for your living; born on Sunday, you will never know +want. + +To recall a person after they have left the house is bad luck. To go +back for something forgotten is also bad luck, unless you sit down +before going out again. + +If, when you sit before the fire, a live coal jumps out, it is a sign +that you are to have good luck, especially in money matters. To wash in +water another has washed in is not only bad sanitarily, but also +superstitiously. He who makes many crumbs at the table will never have +any money to spare. It is flying in the face of fortune to sweep dust +out of the front door or to allow it to be swept out. In so doing you +are sweeping out your good luck. To count one's gains brings luck, but +to find money is the worst possible luck. + +The 4-leaved clover once found, should be treasured, as every +school-child knows and believes. It brings luck of every description. +Eve attempted to carry a 4-leaved shamrock of precious stone from +Paradise with her, but it fell and shattered at her feet. Think of the +disaster thus entailed upon the human race! + +To see the moon over the left shoulder is as unlucky as to hold the four +of clubs at cards. But the new moon seen over the right shoulder, or +straight in front, portends fortune as smiling as her own bright rays. + +One should be careful in writing a letter not to cross out a word in it. +To do so means that any request you may have made in the letter will not +be granted. It is very unlucky to dry a letter before the fire, instead +of allowing it to dry slowly and naturally. But unluckiest of all is to +drop the letter on the floor after finishing it. + +Birth, marriage, and death are the three most important events in every +life. Death, being the most dreadful, comes in for the largest share. +One of the best ways given us of avoiding it when mortal sickness is +upon us is to allow the report to be circulated that you are already +dead. The chances are strongly in favor of getting well. Especially is +this so if friends begin to arrange for the funeral. A sure sign of +early death is for a person to scatter the leaves of a red rose upon the +ground. It is extremely hazardous to an infant's life to pare its nails +before it is a year old. They should be bitten off. + +Some superstitions of my early life which I still remember are:-- + +1. Turning a loaf of bread upside down creates family quarrels. 2. +Allowing anyone to pass between you and your companion evil and death to +follow. 3. Breaking a mirror, death in the family. 4. Having your hair +cut on Sunday, forgetfulness. 5. Beginning an undertaking on Friday, ill +luck. 6. Sitting at table or in company when just 13 are present, a +death of one of their number before the year is done. 7. Presenting a +sharp instrument or edge-tool to anyone, ill luck to ensue. 8. Putting +on any garment inside out, unless you retain it until the sun goes down, +bad luck to come. 9. Spilling salt, unless some is thrown into the fire +or over the left shoulder, misfortune. During my life I have done +everything in the above list that is claimed should not be done, that +fell in my way to do, and still live and prosper, although born on +Friday, and being one of a family of 13 children. + +=Snake Bites.=--Tie a string or ligature hard around the injured limb +and above the bitten place; suck the wound, so as to extract the poison, +but be careful to see that the person who performs the sucking has no +open sore in his mouth; wash with warm water and apply caustics, such as +carbolic acid or concentrated liquor of ammonia; give five to ten grains +of carbonate of ammonia, in water, every hour, and stimulate the patient +with whisky or brandy; rub the limbs with pieces of flannel dipped in +hot whisky or diluted alcohol. Medical attendance should be secured as +soon as possible. + +=Tape-worm.=--Recently attention has been called to cocoanuts as a +vermifuge. Professor Paresi, of Athens, when he was in Abyssinia, +happened to discover that ordinary cocoanut possesses vermifuge +qualities in a high degree. He took, one day, a quantity of the juice +and pulp, and shortly afterward felt some gastric disturbance, which, +however, passed off in a few hours. Subsequently he had diarrhea, and +was surprised to find that there had been expelled a complete tape-worm, +head and all, quite dead. After returning to Athens he made a number of +observations which were most satisfactory, the tape-worm being always +passed and quite dead. He orders the milk and pulp of one cocoanut to be +taken early in the morning, fasting, no purgative or confinement to the +house being required. + +=Teeth.=--For toothache rub a little essential oil on the face, at the +hinge of the jaw, on the side that aches. + +=Tobacco.=--Probably no subject in our book can interest the majority of +persons more than this great question of the use of tobacco. We have a +collection of opinions from the best authorities:-- + +The _Medical News_ published a paper by Dr. Wm. L. Dudley, Professor of +Chemistry in the Vanderbilt University, giving the results of recent +careful analytical experiments made by him in his laboratory with the +smoke of an ordinary cigarette. Mice were used upon which to employ his +tests. It is not needful that we should give the professor's description +of his _modus operandi_ by means of air-tubes, an aspirator, a glass +jar, etc., the results of his experimentation being the chief object of +interest in which the reader is concerned. Suffice it to say, then, that +in each of his several chemical tests by the gradual combustion of a +single cigarette, the mouse that was the recipient of the resultant +smoke died in the course of the operation, being literally poisoned to +death by inhaling the carbonic oxide evolved from the "noxious weed." +The blood of the dead creature being subjected to spectroscopic +examination, it was found that the veinous fluid had been so completely +altered and vitiated that death was the inevitable effect. The tests +were thoroughly scientific and conclusive. The fact was demonstrated, +beyond the chance of doubt or question, that carbonic oxide is the chief +constituent of cigarette smoke, if not all tobacco smoke, and that its +inhalation into the air-passage and lungs must of necessity be +exceedingly deleterious, as much so to men and boys as to mice. + +Cases of poisoning due to meat which seemed thoroughly wholesome have +sometimes occurred and have remained unexplained. In the _Revue d' +Hygiene_, M. Bourrier, inspector of meat for the city of Paris, makes a +suggestion. He described his experiments with meat impregnated with +tobacco smoke. Some thin slices of beef were exposed for a considerable +time to the fumes of tobacco, and afterward offered to a dog which had +been deprived of food for twelve hours. The dog, after smelling the +meat, refused to eat it. Some of the meat was then cut into small pieces +and concealed within bread. This the dog ate with avidity, but in twenty +minutes commenced to display the most distressing symptoms, and soon +died in great agony. + +All sorts of meat, both raw and cooked, some grilled, roasted, and +boiled, were exposed in tobacco smoke and then given to animals, and in +all cases produced symptoms of acute poisoning. Even the process of +boiling could not extract from the meat the nicotine poison. Grease and +similar substances have facilities of absorption in proportion with +their fineness and fluidity. Fresh-killed meat is more readily +impregnated, and stands in order of susceptibility as follows--pork, +veal, rabbit, poultry, beef, mutton, horse. + +A simple experiment which will show how injurious is cigarette smoke +inhaled may be easily performed by means of a handkerchief: After taking +a mouthful of smoke, put the handkerchief tightly over the lips and blow +the smoke through it. You will find a dark brown stain on it. If the +smoke is inhaled, and then blown through the handkerchief, there is very +little stain, if any; consequently all that nicotine must remain in the +lungs. + +_An Ex-Smoker's Advice._--A young man who, not long ago, was an +inveterate smoker, but who was recently induced to "swear off," came to +me and talked in this strain: "I have been doing some figuring lately, +and the result astonishes me. When I was smoking my hardest my average +was eight cigars a day. Sometimes it would run over eight and sometimes +under; but eight was about the all-round figure. I rarely bought my +cigars by the box, and as I indulged in straight 10-cent goods, 80 cents +a day was what my smoking cost me. This, with 40 cents added for cigars +that I gave away and lost shaking dice, make a total of about $6.00 a +week that I now save. It is just nine weeks and three days since I swore +off, and by Saturday I shall have $60 in the bank, without an effort on +my part save that required to control an unnecessary appetite. I must +also regard as an asset the superabundance of animal spirits I enjoy as +a direct result of my abstinence from a habit that everybody knows is +weakening, when indulged in to excess. Smoke yourself, do you? Well, try +my scheme. Swear off and put your cigar money in the bank. You might +need it some day, even if you are a newspaper man." + +The New York _Medical Journal_ contains a convincing article on tobacco: +"Tobacco contains an acrid, dark brown oil, an alkaloid, nicotine, and +another substance called nicotianine, in which exists its odorous and +volatile principles. When tobacco is burned a new set of substances is +produced, some of which are less harmful than the nicotine, and are more +agreeable in effect, and much of the acrid oil--a substance quite as +irritating and poisonous as nicotine--is carried off. These +fire-produced substances are called, from their origin, the 'pyridine +series.' By great heat the more aromatic and less-harmful members of the +series are produced, but the more poisonous compounds are generated by +the slow combustion of damp tobacco. This oil which is liberated by +combustion is bad both in flavor and in effect, and it is better, even +for the immediate pleasure of the smoker, that it should be excluded +altogether from his mouth and air passages. + +"Smoking in a stub of a pipe is particularly injurious, for the reason +that in it the oil is stored in a condensed form, and the smoke is +therefore highly charged with the oil. Sucking or chewing the stub of a +cigar that one is smoking is a serious mistake, because the nicotine in +the unburned tobacco dissolves freely in the saliva, and is absorbed. +'Chewing' is, on this account, the most injurious form of the tobacco +habit, and the use of a cigar holder is an improvement on the custom of +holding the cigar between the teeth. Cigarettes are responsible for a +great amount of mischief, not because the smoke from the paper has any +particularly evil effect, but because smokers--and they are often boys +or very young men--are apt to use them continuously, or at frequent +intervals, believing that their power for evil is insignificant. Thus +the nerves are under the constant influence of the drug, and much injury +to the system results. Moreover, the cigarette smoker uses a very +considerable amount of tobacco during the course of a day. 'Dipping' and +'snuffing' are semi-barbarities which need not be discussed. Not much +effect is obtained from the use of the drug in these varieties of the +habit. + +"Nicotine is one of the most powerful of the 'nerve poisons' known. Its +virulence is compared to that of prussic acid. If birds be made to +inhale its vapor in amounts too small to be measured, they are almost +instantly killed. It seems to destroy life, not by attacking a few, but +of all the functions essential to it, beginning at the center, the +heart. A significant indication of this is that there is no substance +known which can counteract its effects; the system either succumbs or +survives. Its depressing action on the heart is by far the most +noticeable and noteworthy symptom of nicotine poisoning. The frequent +existence of what is known 'tobacco heart' in men whose health is in no +other respect disturbed is due to this fact." + +"A youth of eighteen at Bayshire, L. I., has become insane from the +excessive use of cigarettes." + +Those who can use tobacco without immediate injury will have all the +pleasant effects reversed and will suffer from the symptoms of poisoning +if they exceed the limits of tolerance. These symptoms are: 1. The +heart's action becomes more rapid when tobacco is used. 2. Palpitation, +pain, or unusual sensations in the heart. 3. There is no appetite in the +morning, the tongue is coated, delicate flavors are not appreciated, and +acid dyspepsia occurs after eating. 4. Soreness of the mouth and throat, +or nasal catarrh appears, and becomes very troublesome. 5. The eyesight +becomes poor, but improves when the habit is abandoned. 6. A desire, +often a craving, for liquor or some other stimulant is experienced. + +"In an experimental observation of thirty-eight boys of all classes of +society, and of average health, who had been using tobacco for periods +ranging from two months to two years, twenty-seven showed severe injury +to the constitution and insufficient growth; thirty-two showed the +existence of irregularity of the heart's action, disordered stomachs, +cough, and a craving for alcohol; thirteen had intermittency of the +pulse, and one had consumption. After they had abandoned the use of +tobacco, within six months one-half were free from all their former +symptoms, and the remainder had recovered by the end of the year." + +_Pasteur Recommends Camphor Smoking._--In an interview with M. Pasteur, +he was asked whether he considered la grippe occasioned by bacteria? The +professor smiled sardonically and shrugged his shoulders, but said +nothing. On being asked what he considered the best remedy for the +malady, he remarked: "Let men and women both quit smoking tobacco and +smoke camphor instead, and they will probably escape the pest."--_Paris +Special._ + +The _Bulletin_ of this city has a good article on insanity and the +cigarette. Ten or twelve boys have within a short time been committed to +the insane asylum at Napa whose insanity has been traced directly to the +smoking of cigarettes. The number who by reason of the same indulgence +have brought on a degree of imbecility that may ultimately land them in +the asylum or in the penitentiary cannot be reduced to an exact +estimate. But having occasion recently to make some inquiry about a +number of boys who had figured in the records of the criminal courts, it +was found that a majority of them were habitual smokers of cigarettes. + +The connection between cigarette smoking, mental imbecility, idiocy, and +crime has recently attracted more than usual attention. No boy or young +man can smoke a cigarette without being harmed thereby. One of the +reasons ascribed for the lunacy of several boys was that the cigarettes +were made up of the vilest stuff. They contained a narcotic beyond that +usually found in pure tobacco. This is supposed to be some of the +cheaper forms of opium. But, whatever it may be, it is making imbeciles +and idiots of many boys, and criminals of some of them. In a number of +instances where boys have been sent to the asylum, it was found that +after a short period, the cigarette and all other forms of dissipation +having been cut off, the patients rapidly improved, and after a few +months' detention they were sent home. The evil does not end here. If a +boy becomes an inveterate cigarette smoker, the chances are greatly +against any reformation. Some friend may take him in hand and show him +the danger in season. The larger number will keep right on. Of this +number it is doubtful if ten per cent will ever come to anything. And +even these will accomplish far less than if they had never weakened +their mental powers by this vile indulgence. + +The crazy boys who bring up in the asylum are only the few wretched +examples of the cigarette mania. Other examples are constantly found in +the criminal courts. The moral sense has been utterly lost, or so +weakened that there is no clear distinction between right and wrong. +Every boy who smokes a cigarette has started to go to the bad. Just +where he will bring up--whether in the insane asylum, in the criminal +courts, or in a condition of such hopeless moral and mental imbecility +that friends must support him, or the almshouse must finally give him +shelter, is one of the questions that time will settle for him. But if +any better record is to be made for him, the boy and the cigarette must +have a prompt and final separation. + +The Boston _Herald_ states: "It is said that Turkish tobacco contains +prussic acid, and that Havana tobacco has another alkalide called +collidine, of which one-twentieth of a drop will kill a frog, with +symptoms of paralysis. The half-liquid matter that accumulates in the +bowl of a pipe will kill a small animal in three-drop doses. A few drops +of nicotine inserted under the conjunctiva of an animal will kill at +once. Eight drops will kill a horse, with frightful general convulsions. +It has been observed that the living systems quickly become tolerant of +tobacco poison--"an animal that is thrown into convulsions by half a +drop one day will require twice as much the next day, and so in four or +five days four or five times as much." + +The following is suggestive: No student who smokes can obtain a +scholarship at Dartmouth College, Hanover, N. H. It is a new rule of the +faculty. + +As the purchase of the breweries of the United States has been commenced +by the capitalists of the eastern continent, I trust they will extend +their purchases to the distilleries and tobacco warehouses and +plantations on this continent, especially of the United States; its +financiers being shrewd will the sooner observe the advancement of +intelligent progress in the line of thought, and change their +investments from breweries, distilleries, and cigarette and tobacco +manufactories, to the sinking of artesian wells and the invention of +some improved water-filter. + +=Tonsillitis, Quinsy,= _Black Tongue, or Ulcerated Sore Throat._-- + +PRESCRIPTION. + + Solution chlorate of potash (1 in 16) 3 ounces + Tincture muriate of iron 2 drachms + Tannic acid 10 grains + Tincture of capsicum 1 drachm + Add glycerine to make 4 ounces + +Shake well before using. + +Dilute in equal parts of water, and gargle every half hour in a severe +case for the first three hours. After that every two or three hours. The +above is invaluable and unfailing in case of quinsy. + +=Vital Statistics.=--Statisticians are bringing out some curious facts +with regard to the birth and death-rates of the leading nations of the +world. Unfortunately, our tables are not as accurate as those collected +in the European States. Abroad there is a careful record of marriages, +births, and deaths. These are collected by us without any thoroughness, +save only when a census is being taken. In England and Wales it has been +found that the birth-rate is 35.4 and the death-rate is 20.5 per 1,000 +persons. In Sweden the birth-rate is 30.2, against a death-rate of 18.1. +In the German Empire, birth-rate 39.3 and death-rate 26.1. Austria, 39.1 +birth-rate, 29.6 death-rate. The official returns state that our annual +birth-rate is 36 and death-rate 18, but clearly our birth-rate is much +larger, as we are growing in numbers faster than any people on earth. +Our increase is fully 10,000,000 since the last census was taken in +1880. Our colored population have a higher birth-rate than have the +Southern whites. Among the latter it is 28.71, while for the colored it +is 35.08. Although the death-rate of the blacks is quite large, still +they are increasing relatively faster than the white. It is also a +curious fact that more colored females are born than whites, but taking +blacks and whites together the births of the males exceed those of the +females. + +The report of the California State Board of Health for the month of +April, 1889, contains the following: Reports from 75 different +localities, with an estimated population of 701,950, give a mortality of +835, which is a percentage of 1.18 per 1,000 in the month, or an annual +mortality of 14.16, which is the lowest annual percentage at which we +have yet arrived, indicating a remarkably good condition of the public +health throughout the State. + +=Voice.=--A question in connection with the training of the voice is to +be discussed, viz., when it should be commenced. With regard to the +question, says a distinguished scientist, "I am strongly of opinion that +training can hardly be begun too early. Of course, the kind and amount +of practice that are necessary in the adult would be monstrous in a +young child, but there is no reason why, even at the age of six or +seven, the right method of voice production should not be taught. +Singing, like every other art, is chiefly learned by imitation, and it +seems a pity to lose the advantage of those precious early years when +that faculty is most highly developed. There is no fear of injuring the +larynx or straining the voice by elementary instruction of this kind; on +the contrary, it is habitual faulty vocalization which is pernicious." + +There are three essential elements in voice production: First, the air +blast, or motive power; second, the vibrating reed, or tone-producing +apparatus; third, the sounding-board, or re-inforcing cavities. These, +to parody a well-worn physiological metaphor, are the three legs of the +tripod of voice. Defect in or mismanagement of any one of them is fatal +to the musical efficiency of the vocal instrument. The air supplied by +the lungs is moulded into sound by the innumerable little fingers of the +muscles which move the vocal cords, and their training largely moulds +the tone and volume of voice. Much of the lung and throat troubles +existing can be traced to the ignorance of vocal teachers and parental +indulgence in allowing the voice to be strained beyond its register. To +know a teacher that understands the proper treatment of the vocal +organs, from one that does not--judge them by their pupils; if a pupil +has an impaired throat, and there is no improvement after six lessons, +change teachers. Every vocal teacher can instruct in the rudiments of +music, but only _one_ in _fifty_ knows anything about the voice. + +=Warts.=--A drop of cinnamon oil on each wart daily, continued for a +fortnight, will usually remove them. The most successful remedy we have +ever tried is to have the wart saturated three times a week for three +weeks with the saliva of a person of _positive_ magnetism, not a member +of the family. There is a scientific reason for it not here explained, +_but try it_. + +=Water.=--If a small quantity of oxalic acid added to water produces a +white precipitate, lime is contained in the water. Tincture of galls +added to the water which contains iron will yield a black precipitate. +Water which causes a bright piece of steel to turn yellow, when dipped +into it, contains copper. Sulphuric acid, dropped into water and turning +it black, shows that the water contains vegetable and animal matter. +For detecting sewage contamination, fill a clean pint bottle +three-fourths full of the water to be tested; add a teaspoonful of +granulated sugar; cork the bottle, and set it in a warm place for two +days; if the contents of the bottle become cloudy or muddy, the water is +unfit for domestic use. Half an ounce of the neutral solution of +bisulphate of alumina added to 200 gallons of water will precipitate the +organic matter therein contained; the water may be then used freely for +drinking purposes. To remove the odor from cistern water, suspend in the +water a bag containing a peck of charcoal. + +According to Dr. Leuf, when water is taken into the full or partly full +stomach, it does not mingle with the food, as we are taught, but passes +along quickly between the food and lesser curvative toward the pylorus, +through which it passes into the intestines. The secretion of mucus by +the lining membrane is constant, and during the night a considerable +amount accumulates in the stomach; some of its liquid portion is +absorbed, and that which remains is thick and tenacious. If food is +taken into the stomach when in this condition it becomes coated with +this mucus, and the secretion of the gastric juice and its action are +delayed. These facts show the value of a goblet of water before +breakfast. This washes out the tenacious mucus and stimulates the +gastric glands to secretion. In old and feeble persons water should not +be taken cold, but it may be with great advantage taken warm or hot. +This removal of the accumulated mucus from the stomach is probably one +of the reasons why taking soup at the beginning of a meal has been found +so beneficial. + +There is no remedy of such general application, and none so easily +obtainable, as water, and yet nine persons in ten will pass it by in +emergency to seek for something of less efficacy. There are but few +cases of illness where water should not occupy the highest place as a +remedial agent. A strip of flannel or a napkin wrung out of hot water +and applied round the neck of a child that has croup will usually bring +relief in ten minutes. A towel folded several times and quickly wrung +out of hot water and applied over the seat of the pain in toothache or +neuralgia will generally afford prompt relief. This treatment in colic +works like magic. A physician writes: "We have known cases that have +resisted other treatments for hours yield to this in ten minutes. There +is nothing that will so promptly cut short congestion of the lungs, sore +throat, or rheumatism as hot water when applied promptly and thoroughly. +Pieces of cotton batting dipped in hot water and kept applied to sores +and new cuts, bruises, and sprains, is the treatment adopted in many +hospitals. Sprained ankle has been cured in an hour by showering it with +water poured from a few feet. Tepid water acts promptly as an emetic, +and hot water taken freely half an hour before bed-time is the best +cathartic in the case of constipation, while it has a most soothing +effect on the stomach and bowels. This treatment continued for a few +months, with proper attention to diet, will alleviate any case of +dyspepsia. + +=Water Pollution Remedy.=--According to Dr. S. S. Kilvington, the +Mississippi River received during the past year 152,675 tons of garbage +and offal, 108,550 tons of night-soil, and 3,765 dead animals from only +eight cities; the Ohio 46,700 tons of garbage, 21,157 tons of +night-soil, and 5,100 dead animals from five cities; and the Missouri +36,000 tons of garbage, 22,400 tons of night-soil, and 31,600 dead +animals from four cities. Doctor Kilvington urges the cremation of most +of the refuse, and 23 out of 35 health officials consulted by him +favored the plan. + +=Whooping-Cough.=--Mr. W. A. Stedman, superintendent of the Rochester +Gas Works, gives his opinion:-- + +"The fumes of the substance used to purify gas are generally recognized +as a specific for this disease. + +"The composition used for purifying gas is composed of wood shavings, +iron filings, lime, and sometimes copperas. This substance cleanses the +gas of the ammonia and sulphur it contains. If a child with the +whooping-cough is allowed to breathe the fumes of the purifier after it +becomes foul, immediate relief will be experienced. The fumes of the +lime after it has been taken out are particularly beneficial. The lime, +after it is taken out, begins to heat and throws off fumes strongly +impregnated with ammonia. After breathing these fumes for a short time +the cough seems to loosen, and two of these visits will generally cure +the most obstinate case. + +"In Newport one winter, when I was superintendent of the gas works +there, there was an epidemic of whooping-cough, and I treated over 200 +cases, with the happiest results. I had so many patients that I was +forced to put benches in the purifying-room. Once in awhile there are +people affected with whooping-cough to whom this gas treatment gives no +relief, but they are the exception rather than the rule. In nearly every +instance it gives immediate relief and effects a positive cure. I know +of many physicians who send all their whooping-cough patients +straightway to the gas works. I know that it is a sure cure from +personal experience, and we would be happy to extend the courtesies of +our purifying-room to any person who is suffering from the disease." + +=Yellow Fever.=--The yellow fever is one of the varied forms of the +typhus, the name being derived front the hue of the victim, while the +Spanish call it _vomito negro_--the black vomit--from one of its +symptoms. Its home is tropical Africa and tropical America, but it is +never found in India and China, hot as the climate may be. The cause of +this difference, however, has never been explained. Its greatest +prevalence is on the sea-coast or banks of navigable rivers. Its +ordinary duration of attack is from 36 to 48 hours. The yellow tinge +first appears in the eye and then spreads over the face, gradually +reaching the extremities and often becoming dark brown. The rate of +mortality varies in a striking degree, for in some places one-third of +the cases prove fatal, while in others the mortality reaches two-thirds, +and then at other times it has not exceeded three per cent. Treatment +varies more in this disease than in any other, which is a proof that +thus far it has baffled the best practitioners. Like all other forms of +pestilence, it not only walketh in darkness but destroyeth at noonday. + +The disease itself is not as dangerous as typhoid fever when properly +handled. It is a continuous fever, lasting 72 hours. The premonitory +symptoms are a pain in the back of the head and in the loins, followed +by a slight chill. The pulse and temperature then rise rapidly, the +former attaining usually about 110 beats to the minute, and the latter +104 degrees in a few hours. On the second day the pulse begins to drop +and continues to do so slowly until the normal is reached, while the +temperature remains steady, and this peculiarity is the one +pathognomonic symptom of the disease, as ascertained by experts who have +studied many epidemics. Toward the third day the temperature is often up +to 105. This is a grave symptom, and unless it can speedily be reduced, +"black vomit" or gastric hemorrhage appears, or the kidneys refuse to +act on account of acute inflammation and destruction of tissue. The +famous black vomit is not fatal in more than 50 per cent of cases well +treated, but when albumen appears in the urine death almost inevitably +follows. Nursing is everything. The treatment of the disease is wholly +expectant. A hot mustard foot-bath and a large dose of castor-oil are +preliminaries. After this nothing is given but orange-leaf tea, to +promote perspiration, and sometimes a little extract of jaborandi. +Champagne in small quantities is found to be the best preventive of +black vomit, and dry cupping and blisters are resorted to in case of a +tendency to kidney trouble. The nurse does more than the doctor in +yellow fever to effect a cure, and in New Orleans nearly all the black +"mammies" are experts in handling the disease, which undoubtedly +accounts for the very low mortality in that city's epidemics. To watch +the patient, be quick to start a fire if a north wind comes to chill the +air, to keep the clothing adjusted, see that no talking is allowed, and +be familiar with the symptoms forerunning black vomit or kidney trouble, +and know how to treat them promptly--these are necessaries in nursing +yellow fever, and in these the darkey women of New Orleans are more +familiar than are the doctors in other towns. + +On the third day after the attack, when the fever heat subsides, the +patient is left in a weak and horribly nervous condition, and for many +hours is subject to immediate relapse upon the slightest provocation. +Then it is that the tolling of a bell, the sudden shock of a cannon +fired by silly authorities, the slightest indigestion or exposure to +cold or excitement, will do murder. The stomach is left raw, and for +many days only milk, gruel, and crackers are given, doled out in miserly +quantity. + + + + +SUPPLEMENTAL. + + +The following important items do not appear under their regular +alphabetical heading, but are none the less efficacious. + +=Blindness.=--_A Simple Remedy That Often Will Prevent This Dreadful +Misfortune._--It is distressing to learn that out of the 7,000 persons +blind from their birth in this country, who owe their loss of sight to +inflammation of the eyes, at least two-thirds might now have been in the +enjoyment of their sight but for the ignorance or neglect of their +earliest guardians. It seems that the remedies for the infantile +inflammation which causes blindness are both many and simple. Thus, says +the London _Figaro_, it cannot be too widely made known that the eyes of +the newly-born child, if inflamed, should be washed with pure warm +water, and that then a single drop of a 2 per cent solution of nitrate +of silver should be instilled into each with a drop-tube. In Germany +midwives are enjoined to adopt the above remedial treatment, under oath, +and since this has been done the decrease in the number of blind +children has been most appreciable. + +_Increase of Blindness._--Dr. Lucien Howe says blindness has increased +in the State of New York during the past five years thirteen times as +fast as the population; and the State Charities Commissioners state that +the excess in the increase of the insane in the State over the increase +in the population for the last nine years has been forty-four per cent. +These figures are most startling, especially when it is considered that +the modes of treating the eyes and brain are supposed to have been so +much improved of late years.--_Ex._ + +=Hiccough.=--_A Mechanical Cure._--Procure a glass of water and pour a +little of it down the patient's throat. While he is drinking the water +he should press a finger on the orifice of each ear. By this method you +open the glottis, and in five seconds the thing is done. Should you by +any chance meet with an obstinate case, you may rest assured that the +throat and ears were not closed at one and the same time; either the +water was swallowed before the ears were thoroughly stopped, or the +water was not sufficient to fill the throat. Another precaution is to +keep the chin well up. This cure was obtained by the writer from an old +Indian medical officer who had experimented for some years to discover a +method of relieving the terrible stage of hiccoughing in yellow fever, +and this cure was the outcome.--_Pharmaceutical Journal._ + +=Hydrophobia.=--Dr. Bokai, a professor at the Klausenburg University, +Hungary, claims to have discovered an absolutely certain remedy for +hydrophobia and for destroying the virus at the seat of the bite. The +remedy consists of a solution of chlorine, bromine, sulphuric acid, and +permanganate of potash, with oil of eucalyptus. The above was received +in the United States as a press dispatch, from Vienna, February 3, 1890. + +=Intemperance.=--"We believe," says the Canada _Health Journal_, "that +there is no better direct remedy for intemperance than strict +vegetarianism. Sir Charles Napier tried a vegetable diet as a cure for +intemperance in twenty-seven cases, and the cure was effected in every +case, the time varying from thirty-six days to twelve months." + +=La Grippe.=--_How to Prevent It._--A Boston physician has a novel +preventive of the influenza, which has been named la grippe. He orders a +small quantity of the flour of sulphur to be put in an envelope and worn +in the bottom of shoes. "Only this and nothing more." Patients who +complied with the conditions laid down, escaped the influenza. This +particular physician evidently has some knowledge of human nature. If he +had told his patients, in a general way, to keep their feet warm, they +would have paid no attention to his directions. But there was an odor of +a drug store in the sulphur prescription, and they followed it. Perhaps +that was the easiest way to keep the feet warm. + +=Teeth.=--_Extraction Painless._--By spraying the region of the external +ear with ether, Drs. Henoque and Fridel, of Paris, render the dental +nerves insensible, and extract teeth without pain or general +anaesthesia. + + + + +INDEX. + + + Accidents, Percentage of, Preventable, 30-32 + Prevention of, 85-87 + + Advice of an Ex-smoker, 148 + + Aids to Morality, Philadelphia _Ledger_, 58 + + Alcohol, Treatise by Dr. Felix Oswald on, 87, 88 + + Alcoholic Habit, 87-92 + + Alcoholism, Remedy for, 92 + Reviewed by Dr. Spitka, 88, 89 + + Animal and Human Lives Compared, 45 + + Antipyrine, Female Intoxicant, 91 + Paralysis Caused by, 139 + + Appetite, How to Improve an, 92 + + Artery, Ruptured, Treatment of a, 96 + + Asphyxiation, Remedy for, 93 + + Attorney, the Most Conscientious, 60, 61 + + + Babies, Mortality out of 1,000, 45, 46 + + Bathing, Dr. Steele's Ideas of, 21, 93-96 + + Beer-drinking Excessive, 90 + + Beggar Centenarians, 13 + + Bethesda Water, Benefits of, 98, 108, 109, 113 + + Bites of Snakes, Remedy for, 145 + + Black Tongue, Prescription for, 152 + + Bleeding, Treatment and Cure for, 96 + + Blindness, a Simple Remedy for, 159 + Increase of, in State of N. Y., 159 + + Boston _Globe_ Reporter, Experience of a, 6 + + Brain-Workers, Time to Rest for, 82 + + Brain Worry, Panacea for, 97 + + Breakfast, _Menu_ for, 24 + + Breathing, Healthful Mode of, 97, 98 + + Breweries, English Purchasers of, 152 + + Bright's Disease, Remedy for, 98 + + Brown Sequard's Vital Elixir, 48, 114 + + Bruises, Specific for, 99 + + Bunions and Corns, Preventive for, 108 + + Burns, Remedies for, 99 + + Butchers' Trade, Effect of, 60 + + + Cancer Not Cured by Surgery, 99 + + Catholics and Liquor Evil, 37 + + Cemeteries of London, Pollution of the, 33, 34 + + Chevreul, M., Health at 100 Years, 68 + + Chewing-gum, Injurious Effect of, 99, 100 + + Chills and Fever, W. S. Green on, 130-133 + + Cholera, Remedies for, 100 + + Church and Society Duties, 37 + + Cigar Dissipation, 15 + + Cigarette-smoking, Insanity Results from, 150 + + Cleanliness, Hints on, 100, 101 + of Teeth, Tongue, and Throat, 20 + + Clothing, Importunities about, 111-113 + Hygienic Advance in, 49 + + Cold and Tired Feet, How to Prevent, 101 + + Colds, Cure for, 101-103 + + Commandments, the Ten Health, 28 + + Constipation, Remedies for, 19, 20, 103 + + Consumption, Causes and Palliatives, 47 + Dr. Chapin's Treatise on, 103 + Treatment of, 103-108 + + Consumptives' Pride Unhealthful, 19 + + Convulsions (Fits), Treatment of, 108 + + Corns and Bunions, Preventive and Cure of, 108 + + Cough Remedy, 102 + Whooping, Cure for, 158 + + Crematories Will Stop Contagion, 33-35 + + Crime, Prevention of, Dr. Crosby, 58-60 + + Croup, Instantaneous Relief of, 109 + + + Dartmouth College, No Student Smoker at, 152 + + Deafness, Prevention and Cure of, 113, 114 + + Death, How Produced, 44, 45 + no Physiological Reason for, 76-78 + + Death-rate, of Poor and Rich, 49, 50 + of Principal Cities, 49 + + Deity, Belief in, a Necessity, 54, 55 + + Del Monte Hotel, Model for Cleanliness, 41 + + Diabetes, Treatment and Remedies for, 109 + + Digestion, Time Required for, 122 + + Dinner _Menu_, 25, 26 + + Diphtheria, Dr. Deriker's Prescription, 111 + Dr. Roulin's ", 111 + Dr. Scott's ", 110 + Notes on, and Treatment of, 109-111 + + Diseases and Their Remedies, 79-160 + Individual Experience with, 14, 29 + + Disparity between Actions and Teachings, 79 + + Dissipators Long-lived, Why?, 12 + + Dives and Variety Theaters, Grand Jury's Report, 35 + + Doctors and Dentists a Necessity, 6, 7 + + Drinks for the Voice, 124 + + Dropsy, Treatment for, 113 + + Dyspepsia, Treatment and Remedy for, 113 + + + Ears, Care of the, 113 + + Eat, How You Should, 22, 27 + + Eat, What You Should, 22 + " " " " Not, 22 + + Editor's Opinion of Evil, 36 + + Eggs, How Best to Preserve, 123 + + Electric Light, Incandescent, Best, 40 + + Elixir, Brown Sequard's, 48, 114 + + Employment Necessary for Health, 30 + + Epidemics, History of, 114-116 + + Erysipelas, Facts Regarding, 116 + + Esculapius, 6, 70 + + Evil, Editor's Opinions of, 36 + Ministers' ", 36 + + Exercise, Ben Hogan's Opinion of, 116, 117 + + Ex-smoker's Advice, 148 + + Eye-glasses, When to Use, 118 + + Eye, Surgical Operation on the, 47 + + Eyes, Care of the, 117-119 + + + Faith in the Source of Goodness, 9 + + Feet, Cold and Tired, How Remedied, 101 + + Fever, Yellow, Treatment of, 157, 158 + + Filtered Water a Necessity, 21,, 35 + + Filters Indispensable, 35 + + Fire Losses in U. S., How to Avoid, 30 + + Fits (Convulsions), Treatment of, 108 + + Food, Carbonates of, 23 + for Each Meal, 24-28 + Most Wholesome, 119-123 + Nitrates of, 23 + Phosphates of, 23 + Sinew Producing, 23 + Temperature Most Healthful for, 12 + + Foreign Substances, Removal of, 139 + + Forgotten Lore Remembered, 41-43 + + Fountains, Public, a Necessity for, 35 + + Freckles, How to Remove, 123 + + Friends or Quakers, Average Life of, 11 + + + Garbage Creates Contagion, 32 + + Gargle for Throat Troubles, 123 + + General Government, Duties of the, 37 + + Germ Theory, Discovery of the, 81 + + God, Clearer Perception of, 9 + Who and What Is, 54, 55 + + Gossip, by Dr. J. G. Holland, 61 + Remedy for, 61, 62 + + Grand Jury's Report, of S. F., Cal, 35, 36 + + + Hair, Treatment to Preserve the, 123 + + _Hall's Journal of Health_ on Food, 119 + + Hammond, Dr., Death Not Imperative, 76-78 + + Happiness, 51-65 + Formula for, 55 + + Happiness, Not Found in Ignorance, 53 + + Headache, Causes and Remedies for, 124 + + Health, 5-50 + Beverages, 124 + Chief Desideratum, 5-50 + Commandments, Ten, 28 + Contagious as Disease, 10 + Happiness and Longevity, 5-78 + How to Keep in, 10, 14-18 + Laughter a Promoter of, 46 + Maxims, 41-43 + Officers' Attention, 32, 33 + Requirements of, 41-43 + + Healthful Houses, by Dr. Cushing, 40 + + Hemorrhoids, Remedy for, 135 + + Hermit Centenarians, 13 + + Hernia or Rupture, Cure for, 125 + + Hiccough, Remedies for, 125, 159 + + High License, Liquor Remedy, 36 + + Hotel Del Monte, Model for Cleanliness, 41 + + House Decorations, _Sanitary News_, 40 + Sanitary, Model for, 38-41 + + Human and Animal Lives Compared, 45 + Life Prolonged, Professor Hammond, 73 + + Hydrophobia, Drs. Mott and Baldwin on, 126 + Remedies for, 125, 126, 160 + + Hygiene, Systematic, Dr. J. H. Brown, 70-72 + + Hygienic Clothing, 49 + + + Ignorance Is Not Happiness, 53, 54 + + Incandescent Light the Best, 40 + + Individual Duties, 30 + + Influenza (La Grippe), Remedy for, 126 + + Insanity and the Cigarette, _Bulletin_, 150 + + Insomnia, Relief for, 126 + + Insurance, Persons Not Eligible, 31 + + Intemperance, Cures for, 92, 160 + Deaths Caused by, 90 + + Intemperate Men, Age of, 13 + + Invalids Should Not Eat, What?, 27 + + Irrigation and Malaria, by W. S. Green, 130-133 + + + Kidney Surgical Operation, Successful, 47 + + + La Grippe (Influenza), Remedy for, 126 + Pasteur's Cure for, 150 + Prevention of, 160 + + Lane, Prof. L. C., on Quackery, 6 + + Laughter, a Health Promoter, 46 + + Lawyer, the Most Conscientious, 60, 61 + + Lawyer's Profession, Influence Exerted by, 60 + + Lepers of Hawaii, Number of, 127 + Pork Eaters Are, 27 + + Leprosy, Statistics Regarding, 126-128 + + Life Being Prolonged, Reason for, 9 + + Life-table of 1,000 Souls, 45, 46 + Vitiated by Anxiety for, 84 + + Light, Electric, Incandescent, Best, 40 + + Liquor Remedy, High License, 36 + + Liquors Consumed in U. S., Value of, 88 + + Lockjaw, Successful Treatment of, 129 + + London Cemeteries, Condition of, 33-35 + + Longevity, 66-78 + by Dr. Maurice, 73-76 + Curiosities of, Dr. Oswald, 69, 73 + Possible Without Virtues, 9, 12 + Statistics Regarding, 66 + + _Longman's Magazine_ on Vegetable Diet, 121 + + Love, Those Deserving, 53 + + Luncheon, _Menu_, 25, 26 + + + Macdonald, Geo., Neighbor of, 52 + + Mackay, Chas., on Love's Subjects, 53 + + Malaria and Irrigation, by W. S. Green, 130-133 + Chills and Fever, Cures for, 133 + New Theory by W. S. Green on, 130-133 + + Maladies and Ills Cured, 79-160 + + Man, Oldest, 69 + + Marriage, Facts Regarding, 62, 129, 130 + Physical Degeneration, M. Huth on, 130 + + Married Life, Is It a Failure?, 62, 63 + + Maxims for Health, 41-43 + + Measles Contrasted with Small-pox, 115 + + Meats, How Best Prepared, 25 + Kind and Quality of, 25 + + Men, Oldest, 69 + + Microbes and Bacilli in Water, 21 + + Milk, Purity, How Ascertained, 122 + + Minister, Teacher, and Physician, 7 + + Minister's Opinion of Evil, 36 + + Misconceivements, 43, 44 + + Miser Centenarians, 13 + + Mistakes of Life, 53 + + Morality, Aids to, 58 + + Municipalities, Duties of, 32 + + + Naphtha, a Female Intoxicant, 91, 92 + + Nelly Bly's Experience with Doctors, 6 + + Nervousness and Worry, 134 + + Nicotine in Tobacco, Deadly Poison, 148, 149 + + Nose-bleed, Remedy for, 96 + + + Obesity and Thinness, Treatment for, 134 + + Oldest Man Living in U. S. in 1890, 66 + + + Patti's Formula for Health, 16 + + Physician, Minister, and Teacher, 7 + + Piles, Remedy for, 135 + + Poem, "Deserving Love," by Chas. Mackay, 53 + Heart's Test, by Ella W. Wilcox, 51 + Milton's "Adam to Angel", 3 + "The Two Workers", 56 + "Where Do You Live?" by Josephine Pollard, 56-58 + + Poisons and Antidotes, 135-139 + Mineral, 136-139 + Taken with Impunity, 13 + Vegetable, 135 + + Politeness, Health Interfering, 18 + + Pork, Disease Producing, 26 + Unfit for Food, 26 + + Practical Knowledge, Health Begetting, 14 + + Prevention of Accidents, 85-87 + + Prohibitionist's Reason for Longevity, 11 + + Public Fountains a Necessity, 35 + Urinals " ", 37 + + + Quaker's Life Prolonged, Why? 11 + or Friends, Average Life of, 11 + + Quinsy, etc., Prescription for, 152 + + + Regularity, First Consideration Is, 8 + + Religionist's Reason for Long Life, 11 + + Religious Perceptions, 55 + + Remedies for Alcoholism, 92 + Diseases, 79-160 + Supplemental List, 159, 160 + + Rest, One Day in Seven Necessary, 38 + + Rheumatism, Prevention and Cure of, 139, 140 + + Rupture or Hernia, Cure for, 125 + + + Sanitation and Sanity, 80 + + Sanitary House Building, 38-41 + + Scientific Education, Practical Knowledge, 14 + + Scientist's Reasons for Longevity, 11 + + Sea-bathing, Effects of, 95 + + Seasickness, How to Prevent, 140 + + Selfishness Excusable in Tax-payer, 31, 32 + + Sleep, Hours Required, 20, 140-142 + Position of Body During, 141 + + Small-pox and Vaccination, 142 + Contrasted with Measles, 115 + + Smoking, Evil Effects of, 148-152 + Pasteur's Substitute, Camphor, 150 + + Snake-bites, Remedy for, 145 + + Social Evil, Grand Jury's Report of, 36, 37 + + Society and Church Duties, 37 + + Sound Health, Secret of, 83 + + Spectacles, When to Use, 118 + + Stimulants, Most Healthful, 24 + + Strychnine Taken with Impunity, 13 + + Substances, Foreign, Removal of, 139 + + Sulsonal, a New Opiate, 48 + + Sunday, or One Day, for Rest, 38 + + Superstitions of the World, 143-145 + + Supplemental List of Remedies, 159, 160 + + + Tanks for Water, Death-traps, 32 + + Tape-worms, Cure for, 146 + + Tax-payer, Selfishness Excusable in the, 31, 32 + + Teacher, Minister, and Physician, 7 + + Teeth, Painless Extraction of, 160 + Treatment of the, 17, 20 + + Ten Health Commandments, 28 + + Temperament, by Ella Wheeler Wilcox, 51, 52 + + Temperance Not Necessary to Longevity, 12 + + Temperature for Food and Drinks, 12 + + Thinness and Obesity, Treatment for, 134 + + Tobacco Habit, Dr. Dudley on, 146 + Experiments Regarding, 150 + Authorities on, 146-152 + + Tonsillitis, etc., Prescription for, 152 + + Toothache, Remedy for, 146 + + Typhoid Fever, Substances Affected by, 47 + + + Ulcerated Sore Throat, Remedy for, 152 + + Under-garments, Important Function of, 111-113 + + Urinals, Public, a Necessity, 37 + + + Vaccination and Small-pox, 142 + + Vegetable Diet, Why Preferred, 121, 122 + + Vegetarian Restaurants in London, 122 + + Virtues, Rank of the, 8 + + Vital Statistics, 10, 152, 153 + Principal Cities, 49 + + Voice, Drinks for the, 124 + Essential Elements in the, 154 + Treatment of the, 153, 154 + + + Warts, Remedies for, 154 + + Water, Detection of Impurities in, 154-156 + Filtration of, 154-156 + Pollution Remedy, 156 + When to Drink, 155 + + Water-tanks, Uncleanly, 32 + + Weariness, Different Phases of, 44 + Treatment for, 44 + + What We Inherit, 63-65 + + "Where Do You Live?" by Josephine Pollard, 56 + + Whooping-cough, Positive Cure for, 156,157 + + Wilcox, Ella Wheeler, on Temperament, 51, 52 + + Wisdom, Prerequisites for, 54 + + "Workers, the Two", 56 + + Worry and Nervousness, 134 + + + Yellow Fever, Statistics and Treatment of, 157, 158 + + + + + ADJUSTING SPECTACLES + + _To suit the various conditions of sight a specialty. No other optician +has or can get such facilities as are found at this establishment, +because the instruments used for measuring the strength of the eye are +my own invention and patent, and the only ones ever invented that will +give the exact amount of imperfection in one's sight._ + + [Illustration: + + L.A. BERTELING + SCIENTIFIC + THE ONLY RELIABLE + OPTICIAN + 427 KEARNY ST. + +] + +My Own Invented Instruments are the very Best ever Made for Measuring +Defective Sight. + +I value my Reputation. + +My Own Discovered Method is the only Accurate one by which to Determine +Imperfections of the Eye + +I guarantee Satisfaction. + +_BERTELING'S INVENTIONS:_ + + _Demonstrative Ophthalmoscope_, _Compound Optometer_, _Eyeglasses_, + _Refraction Ophthalmoscope_, _Simple Optometer_, _Charts_, + _Centralizing Prisometer_, _Myopic Scale_, _Objective._ + +MY SUCCESS HAS BEEN DUE TO THE MERITS OF MY WORK. + + + + + THE + ANNUAL STATISTICIAN + AND ECONOMIST, + +[Illustration: BY L. P. McCARTY.] + +Published between March and June of each year. + + _Price, in Cloth_ _$4.00_ + _ " " Leather_ _$5.00_ + +The above work has been published annually since 1876 (fourteen +volumes). The set makes a most complete encyclopaedia of the events and +discoveries in art, science and literature the world over during those +and previous years. The work has become a recognized authority on all +statistical matters throughout the world. + +Complete Sets of the above Work may be had of the undersigned on +reasonable terms. + +Send for circular giving full particulars. Address, + + SAMUEL CARSON & CO., + BOOKSELLERS, + 208 POST STREET, SAN FRANCISCO, CAL. + + + + +A HOME INDUSTRY. + + _THE PIONEER AND ONLY PRINTING INK + MANUFACTORY ON THE + PACIFIC COAST._ + +E. J. 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CO. + +Saws of every description on hand and made to order. + +17 & 19 Fremont Street, + +SAN FRANCISCO, CAL. + + * * * * * + +Duncan, and Garcin & Son's Timber Jacks; H. Royer's Lace Leather; +Planing Knives; Curriers' Knives. + +Agents for C. B. Paul's Files. + + + + +BEAMISH CUSTOM-MADE Shirts. + +Importer and Manufacturer of + + Gents' Furnishing Goods, Underwear, + Gloves, Handkerchiefs, Collars, Etc. + +NUCLEUS BUILDING, COR. MARKET & THIRD STS., + +_SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA_. + + * * * * * + + Bookkeeping, Shorthand, Type-writing, Telegraphy, + _PENMANSHIP, ENGLISH BRANCHES, ETC._ + +[Illustration: + + PACIFIC Business College, + 320 POST ST. + SAN FRANCISCO. + +] + +Individual Instruction. + +No Vacations. + +LADIES ADMITTED TO ALL DEPARTMENTS. + +_Life Scholarship, Full Business Course,--$75._ + + Send for Circular. T. A. ROBINSON, M. A., President. + + * * * * * + +[Illustration] + +A SPLENDID STOCK + +Of Common Sense Shoes kept constantly on hand, superior goods only, at +bedrock prices, at + + Kast's, 738 & 740 + MARKET ST., S. F. + + BRANCH: + Broadway, Oakland. + + + + + +THE PACIFIC + +Mutual Life Insurance Company of California, + +_418 CALIFORNIA ST., SAN FRANCISCO_. + + Geo. A. Moore, President. + Geo. W. Beaver, Vice-Pres. + Thos. Bennet, Supt. + J. N. Patton, Secretary. + S. M. Marks, Asst. Sec. + H. F. Band, Asst. Supt. + + LIFE AND ACCIDENT INSURANCE. ORGANIZED 1868. + +Assets, $2,250,000. Paid on Policy-Holders' Acct., $4,300,000. + +Policy Contracts unsurpassed. Claims paid on presentation of +satisfactory proof's. For Policy Holders the best legal organization. + + * * * * * + +W. W. Montague & Co. + +MANTELS, GRATES, TILES. + +BRASS, BRONZE, STEEL, AND IRON + +Fire Place Trimmings. + +_Warm Air, Hot Water, and Steam_ + +Heating Apparatus + +For Warming Churches, Halls, School-Houses, Dwellings and Public +Buildings. + +Wrought Steel Ranges. + +309--317 MARKET STREET, SAN FRANCISCO. + + * * * * * + +SHERMAN, CLAY & CO. + +IMPORTERS, MANUF'S AND JOBBERS. + +PIANOS. +Weber, Estey, Emerson, +SOLD ON INSTALLMENTS +At Cash Prices. + +GUITARS. +C. F. Martin, H. L. Mason. +Fairbanks & Cole Banjos. +Bohman Mandolines. + +Organs. +Estey, Story & Clark, +MANUFACTURERS OF +CHURCH +PIPE ORGANS. + +Band Instruments. +Strings, Accordions, and +MUSICAL MERCHANDISE. +Sheet MUSIC, Music +Books, Etc., Etc. + +CORNER +Kearny and Sutter Sts. +SAN FRANCISCO, CAL. + + +[Illustration: Bird's-Eye View of the Celebrated Hotel Del Monte, +Monterey, California.] + + + + +Transcriber's Notes: + + +Page 22 Add missing period. +.. its greatest velocity. If inanimate ... + +Page 22 Add missing period. +... and beef at 15. + +Page 39 Correct spelling: celler to cellar. +... not from the cellar itself or ... + +Page 39 Correct spelling: unesthetic to unaesthetic. +... and, however unaesthetic, varnished. + +Page 42 Correct spelling: succintly to succinctly. +... may find succinctly stated ... + +Page 54 Correct spelling: Shakspere's to Shakespeare's. +... startling of Shakespeare's plays, ... + +Page 81 Change comma to period. +... of sanitary value, is disproved. Few doctors ... + +Page 135 Correct spelling: quaniny to quantity. +...with a sufficient quantity of cocoa ... + +Page 149 Correct typo: in-instantly to instantly. + +Page 152 Correct spelling: conjuctiva to conjunctiva. +... under the conjunctiva of an ... + +Page 152 Correct spelling: Tonsilitis to Tonsillitis. +=Tonsillitis, Quinsy,= + +Page 166 Correct spelling: Tonsilitis to Tonsillitis. +Tonsillis, etc., ... + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Health, Happiness, and Longevity, by +Louis Philippe McCarty + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HEALTH, HAPPINESS, AND LONGEVITY *** + +***** This file should be named 39219.txt or 39219.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/9/2/1/39219/ + +Produced by Bryan Ness, Laura and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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