The Art of Invigorating and Prolonging Life Part 9

We deprecate the custom of _sitting for Hours after Dinner, and keeping the Stomach in an incessant state of irritation by sipping Wine,--nothing can be more prejudicial to Digestion_[62]--it is much better to mix Food and Drink--and to take them by alternate mouthsful.--See page 11.

Our "VINUM BRITANNIc.u.m"--good Home-brewed Beer--which has been very deservedly called "_Liquid Bread_," is preferable to any other Beverage during Dinner or Supper--or _Port_ or _Sherry_ diluted with about three or four times their quant.i.ty of Toast and Water--(No. 463*): undiluted, these Wines are too strong to be drank during Dinner,--they act so powerfully on the feelings of the Stomach, that they dull the desire for solid Food, by producing the sensation of Restoration,--and the System, instead of receiving material to repair and strengthen it,--is merely stimulated during the action of the Vinous spirit.

However, the dull stimulus of Distention, is insufficient for some delicate Stomachs, which do absolutely require to be screwed up with a certain quant.i.ty of diffusible Stimulus[63],--without which, they cannot proceed effectively to the business of Digestion,--or indeed any other business--we do not recommend such, especially if they have pa.s.sed the Meridian of Life, to attempt to entirely wean themselves of it--but advise them, _immediately after Dinner_, to drink as much as is necessary to excite that degree of action in their System, without which they are uncomfortable, and then to stop.--See Observations on _Siesta_.

Now-a-days, _Babies_ are brought to table after Dinner by Children of larger growth--to drink Wine,--which has as bad an effect on their tender susceptible stomachs, as the like quant.i.ty of ALCOHOL would produce upon an Adult.

Wine has been called "the Milk of Old Age," so "Milk is the Wine of Youth." As Dr. Johnson observed, it is much easier to be abstinent than to be temperate--and no man should habitually take Wine as Food till he is past 30 years of age[64] at least;--happy is He who preserves this best of Cordials in reserve, and only takes it to support his Mind and Heart when distressed by anxiety and fatigue. That which may be a needful stimulus at 40 or 50, will inflame the Pa.s.sions into madness at 20 or 30--and at an earlier period is absolute Poison.

Among other _innumerable Advantages which the Water-drinker enjoys_, remember he saves at least FIFTY GUINEAS per annum--which the Beer and Wine drinker wastes--as much to the detriment of his health, as the diminution of his Finances: moreover, nothing deteriorates the sense of Taste so soon as strong liquors--the _Water-drinker_ enjoys an exquisite sensibility of Palate, and relish for plain food, that a Wine-drinker has no idea of.

Some people make it a rule to drink a certain number of Gla.s.ses of Wine during and after dinner, whether they are dry, or languid, or not--this is as ridiculous as it would be to eat a certain number of Mutton Chops whether you are hungry or not. The effect produced by Wine is seldom the same, even in the same person--and depends on the state of the animal spirits at the time--whether the stomach be full or empty, &c.

The more simply Life is supported, and the less Stimulus we use, the better--and Happy are the Young and Healthy who are wise enough to be convinced that Water is the best drink, and Salt the best sauce.

But in Invalids past the Meridian of Life, we believe as much mischief is going on when our Pulse hobbles along as if the Heart was too tired to carry on the Circulation, as can possibly be done to the const.i.tution by taking such a portion of Wine as will remove the collapse--and excite the mainspring of Life to vibrate with healthful vigour.

The following is the Editor's plan of taking liquid food at Dinner,--when he cannot get Good Beer:--he has two wine gla.s.ses of Sherry, or one of Whiskey[65], or Brandy, (No. 471), and three-fourths of a pint of good Toast and Water, (No. 463), (which when Dyspeptic he has warmed to about Summer Heat, _i. e._ 75 of Fahrenheit,) and puts a wine-gla.s.s of Sherry, or half a gla.s.s of Whiskey, &c. into half a pint of the water, and the other gla.s.s of Sherry, or half gla.s.s of Whiskey, &c. into the remaining quarter pint--thus increasing the strength of the liquid towards the conclusion of Dinner, after which he drinks from two to four gla.s.ses of Port or Sherry--as Instinct suggests the state of the circulation requires--if it be very languid, a _Liqueur_ gla.s.s of JOHNSON'S[66] _Witte Curacoa_[67] is occasionally recommended as a renovating _Bonne Bouche_--about a quarter of an hour after dinner, he lies down on a Sofa, and sleeps for about half an hour--this has been his custom for the last twenty years--half an hour's horizontal posture is more restorative to him--than if he had sat up and drank three or four more gla.s.ses of wine.

As to _the Wholesomeness of various Wines_[68],--that depends on the integrity and skill of the Wine-maker,--and upon the peculiar state of the stomach of the Wine-drinker:--when my Stomach is not in Good Temper,--it generally desires to have _Red Wine_,--but when in best Health,--nothing affronts it more than to put _Port_ into it--and one of the first symptoms of its coming into adjustment, is a wish for _White Wine_.

One of the chief causes of that derangement of the Stomach, which delicate and aged persons so constantly complain of after _Dining out_--is the drinking of Wines, &c. which they are unused to.

_White_, deserve to be preferred to _Red Wines_,--because the latter being harder pressed, and subjected to a stronger fermentation to extract the colouring matter from the husks of the Grape, are more loaded with feculence.

Of RED WINES, _Claret_ is the best; and it is to be lamented, that the Duty imposed upon it is so great, that to moderate fortunes it amounts to a prohibition--when we make this observation, we do not mean to impeach the prudence which has induced those who no doubt best understand the subject,--to determine that political necessity imperatively decrees that the delightful and salubrious wines of France--must be taxed twice as high as the coa.r.s.e unwholesome wines of Portugal.

Of the _White_ Wines, we believe that _Sherry_ is the most easy--and _Madeira_ the most difficult to obtain genuine--most of the SWEET Wines are as artificially compounded, as the Beers of this country; the addition of Capillaire to Port wine, makes what is commonly called _Tent_. _Mountain, Calcavella, &c._ are made up in the same manner.

For further Ill.u.s.trations of this subject, see ACc.u.m _on Adulterations_, 2d Edition, 12mo. 1820.

_An Inquiry into the Effects of Fermented Liquors, by a Water-drinker_, 2d Edit. 1818.

SANDFORD'S _Remarks on Wine_. Worcester, 1799.

LETTSOM, _on the Effects of Hard Drinking_.

TROTTER, _on Drunkenness_, 1804.

ACc.u.m'S _Art of making English Wine_, 1820.

CARNELL, _on Family Wine Making_, 1814.

ACc.u.m, _on Brewing_, 1820.

RAWLINSON, _on Brewing in Small Quant.i.ties_,--printed for Johnson, 1807, price 1s.; _and Home Brewed Ale_, printed for Robinson, 1804, price 2s.

_Facts Proving Water the best Beverage._ Printed by Smeeton, in St.

Martin's Lane.

_Manuel de Sommelier, par_ A. JULLIEN, Paris, 1817.

PEPTIC PRECEPTS.

"Suaviter in modo, sed fort.i.ter in re."

Not one Const.i.tution in a thousand, is so happily constructed or is constantly in such perfect adjustment, that the operations of the Abdominal Viscera (on which every other movement of the system depends) proceed with healthful regularity.

The following hints will point out to the Reader, how to employ Art to afford that a.s.sistance to Nature, which in Indisposition and Age, is so often required, and will teach him to counteract in the most prompt and agreeable manner--the effects of those accidental deviations from strict Temperance,--which sometimes overcome the most abstemious philosopher--when the seducing charms of Conviviality tempt him to forego the prudent maxims of his cooler moments.

They will help those who have delicate Const.i.tutions, to obtain their fair share of Health and Strength,--and instruct the Weak, so to economize the powers they have, that they may enjoy Life as well as the Strong.

To humour that desire for the marvellous, which is so universal in medical (as well as in other) matters,--the makers of _Aperient Pills_ generally select the most DRASTIC PURGATIVES, which operating considerably in a dose of a few grains, excite admiration in the Patient, and faith in their powers, in proportion as a small dose produces a great effect,--who seldom considers how irritating such materials must be,--and consequently how injurious to a Stomach in a state of Debility, and perhaps deranged by indulging Appet.i.te beyond the bounds of moderation.

INDIGESTION will sometimes overtake the most experienced Epicure;--when the gustatory nerves are in good humour, Hunger and Savoury Viands will sometimes seduce the Tongue of a "_Grand Gourmand_" to betray the interest of his Stomach[69] in spite of his Brains.

On such an unfortunate occasion,--whether the intestinal commotion be excited by having eaten too much, or too strong food--lie down--have your Tea early after Dinner--and drink it warm.

This is a hint to help the Invalid, whose digestion is so delicate, that it is sometimes disordered by a Meal of the strictest Temperance. If the anxiety, &c. about the Stomach does not speedily abate, apply the "_Stomach Warmer_." This valuable companion to Aged and Gouty Subjects, may be procured at No. 58, Haymarket.

A certain degree of Heat is absolutely necessary to excite and support a regular process of Digestion;--when the Circulation is languid, and the food difficult of solution, in Aged persons and Invalids,--_External Heat_ will considerably a.s.sist Concoction, and the application of this califacient concave will enable the Digestive organs to overcome refractory materials,--and convert them into laudable Chyle.

Unless the Const.i.tution is so confoundedly debilitated, that the Circulation cannot run alone--_Abstinence_[70] is the easiest--cheapest--and best cure for the disorders which arise from _Indigestion_ or _Intemperance_. I do not mean what Celsus calls the first degree of it, "when the sick man takes nothing," but the second, "when he takes nothing but what he ought."

The Chylopoietic organs are uncomfortable when entirely unoccupied,--when the Stomach is too tired to work, and too weak to be employed on actual service,--it desires something to be introduced to it, that will entertain it till it recovers its energy.

After INTEMPERATE FEASTING one day, let the food of the following day be Liquid, or of such materials as are easy of solution.

Various expedients have been recommended for preventing and relieving the disorders arising from too copious libations of "the Regal purple Stream."

When a good fellow has been sacrificing rather too liberally at the shrine of the Jolly G.o.d, the best remedy to help the Stomach to get rid of its burthen, is to take for Supper some GRUEL, (No. 572, _see Index_,) with half an ounce of b.u.t.ter, and a teaspoonful of _Epsom Salt_ in it; or two or three _Peristaltic Persuaders_,--which some Gastropholists take as a provocative to appet.i.te, about an hour before Dinner.

Some persons take as a "_sequitur_" a drachm of _Carbonate of Soda_.

Others a teaspoonful of _Calcined Magnesia_:--when immediate relief is required, never administer this uncertain medicine, which, if the Stomach has no Acid ready to dissolve it,--will remain inert; it must be taken, only when _Heart-burn_ and symptoms of Acidity are manifest.

As a _Finale_ to the day of the Feast, or the _Overture_ of the day after, take (No. 481*,) or two drachms of _Epsom Salt_ in half a pint of _Beef Tea_,--or some _Tincture of Rhubarb_ in hot water,--the first thing to be done, is to endeavour to get rid of the offending material.

A Breakfast of _Beef Tea_[71] (No. 563,) is an excellent Restorative;--when _the Languor following Hard Drinking_ is very distressing, indulge in the horizontal posture; (see _Siesta_, p. 94;) nothing relieves it so effectually, or so soon cheers the Circulation, and sets all right;--get an early Luncheon of restorative Broth or Soup.

HARD DRINKING _is doubly debilitating, when pursued beyond the usual hour of retiring to Rest._

Those devotees to the Bottle, who never suffer the orgies of Bacchus to encroach on the time which Nature demands for Sleep,--escape with impunity, many of the evils which soon--and irreparably--impair the Health of the Midnight reveller.