Maxims on the preservation of health, and the prevention of diseases : selected from the best authorities : with The way to wealth, from Dr. Franklin.

Date:
[1813?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Maxims on the preservation of health, and the prevention of diseases : selected from the best authorities : with The way to wealth, from Dr. Franklin. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    little sleep weakens the nerves, exhausts the spirits, and oc- casions diseases ; and too much renders the mind dull, the bod}' gross, and disposes to apoplexies, lethargies, and oth- er complaints of a similar nature. The giddy practice of throwing aside our winter cloathb too cvly in the spring, and that of exposing our bodier. when overheated to sudden cold, has destroyed more peo- ple than famine, pestilence ©r sword. I saw (says on American officer) thirteen grenadiers ly- ing dead by a spring, in consequence of drinking too freely of cold water, while dripping with sweat in a hard day's march in summer. And many a charming girl, worthy of a tenderer husband, has sunk into the icy embraces of death, by suddenly exposing her delicate frame, warm from the ball-room, to the cold air. And since the universal cause acts not by partial, but by general laws/' many a good soul, with more piety than prudence, turning out quite warm from a crowded preaching into the c©ld air without cloak or surtout, hus gone off in a galloping con- sumption to that happy world, wbeie pain and sickness are unknown. What a Melancholy thing it is, that people can- not take care of their souls, without neglecting their bodies, nor seek their solvation without turning their health! Theu.eof flannel shirts has become very general in America : They should be changed once or twice a week. No one need be afraid of becoming too delicate from the use of them They have quite a contrary effect. The celebrated Dowhave used to say, that nobody suffer- ed by cold save fools and beggars5 the latter not being able to procure clothes, and the former not having sense to wear them. Be this as it may, 1 ran with the.strictest truth de- clare, that in many cases where the powers of medicine had been <ricd in vain, I i. ,ve cur.' the patient by recom- mending thick shoes, a flamid waistcost ?nd drawers, a pair of under stockings or a flannel peticoat, to be worn during the cold season at least I have known several instances of sore throat from thin shoes Every act of intoxication puts Nature to the expence of a fever, m order to discharge the poisonous draught. When this is repeated almost every dsv, it i -asy to foresee the consequences. That co . t be strong indeed; which is able long to hold ou ui ly fever! tut fe- vers occasioned bv drinking do uc 39 off in a day;