The insatiable ruling passions of the second and third periods of Life,—Ambition and Avarice,—the loss of our first and best friends, our Parents,—regret for the past, and anxiety about the future, prevent the enjoyment of the present,—and are the cause of those Nervous and Bilious Disorders, which attack most of us at the commencement of the third period of Life—these precursors of Palsy and Gout, may generally be traced to Disappointments and Anxiety of mind33; and

People need not groan about the Insanities and Absurdities of others—it is surely quite sufficient to suffer for our own, of which most of us have plenty—we ought to endeavour to convert those of others, into causes of comfort and consolation, instead of fretting about them—if you receive rudeness in return for civility—and ingratitude for kindness, it may move your Pity—but should never excite your Anger—instead of murmuring at Heaven for having created such Crazy Creatures! be fervently thankful that you are not equally inconsistent and ridiculous—and Pray, that your own Mind, may not be afflicted with the like aberrations.

Indigestion34, is the chief cause of perturbed Sleep, and often excites the imaginary presence of that troublesome Bedfellow the Nightmare. On this subject see Peptic Precepts

Some cannot Sleep if they eat any Supper—and certainly the lighter this meal is, the better—Others, need not put on their Night cap, if they do not first bribe their Stomachs to good behaviour by a certain quantity of Bread and Cheese and Beer, &c. &c., and go to Bed almost immediately after.

As to the wholesomeness of a Solid Supper, per se, we do not think it advisable,—but habit may have made it indispensable, and we know it is often the most comfortable Meal among the middle ranks of Society, who have as large a share of Health as any.

We caution Bad sleepers to beware how they indulge in the habit of exciting sleep, by taking any of the preparations of Opium—they are all injurious to the Stomach—and often inconvenient in their effects upon the Bowels:—

“Repose by small fatigue is earned, and Weariness can snore upon the flint, when nesty Sloth, finds a down pillow hard.”

As there can be no good Digestion without diligent Mastication,—so there can be no sound Sleep, without sufficient Exercise.

The most inoffensive and agreeable Anodyne is to drink some good White Wine, or Mulled Wine, by way of a supplement to your Night cap.—One glass, taken when in Bed, immediately before lying down, is as effective as two or three if you sit up any time after.—(See Tewahdiddle, No. 467.)

Many people, if awoke during their first sleep, are unsettled all that night—and uncomfortable and nervous the following day.—The first sleep of those who eat Suppers, commonly terminates when the food passes from the Stomach.—Invalids then awake, and sometimes remain so, in a Feverish state,—the Stomach feeling discontented from being unoccupied, and having nothing to play with:—a small crust of Bread, or a bit of Biscuit well chewed, accompanied or not, as Experience and Instinct will suggest, with a few mouthsful of Mutton or Beef Broth (No. 564), or Toast and Water (No. 463*), or single Grog35, (i. e. one Brandy to nine Waters), will often restore its tranquillity, and catch Sleep again, which nothing invites so irresistibly, as introducing something to the Stomach,—that will entertain it, without fatiguing it.

We have heard persons say they have been much distressed by an intemperate craving for Food when they awoke out of their first sleep, and have not got to sleep soundly again after—and risen in the morning as tired as when they went to bed at night—but without any appetite for Breakfast—such will derive great benefit from the foregoing Advice.

A Broth (No. 564), or Gruel (No. 572) Supper, is perhaps the best for the Dyspeptic,—and those who have eaten and drank plentifully at Dinner.

The Bed Room should be in the quietest situation possible, as it were “the Temple of Silence,”—and, if possible, not less than 16 feet square—the height of this Apartment, in which we pass almost half of our Time, is in modern houses absurdly abridged, to increase that of the Drawing Room, which is often not occupied once in a month:—instead of living in the pleasant part of the House, where they might enjoy Light and Air, how often we find people squeezing themselves into “a nice snug Parlour,” where Apollo cannot spy.

We do not recommend either Curtains or Tester, &c. to the Bed, especially during the Summer;—by the help of these, those who might have the benefit of the free circulation of air in a large Room, very ingeniously contrive to reduce it to a small Closet:—Chimney-Boards and Window-Curtains are also inadmissible in a Bed Room; but Valetudinarians who are easily awoke, or very susceptible of Cold, will do wisely to avail themselves of well made Double36 Windows and Doors, these exclude both Noise and Cold in a very considerable degree.

The best Bed is a well stuffed and well curled Horsehair Mattress, six inches thick at the Head, gradually diminishing to three at Feet, on this another Mattress five or six inches in thickness: these should be unpicked and exposed to the air, once every Year. An elastic Horsehair mattress, is incomparably the most pleasant, as well as the most wholesome Bed.

Bed Rooms should be thoroughly ventilated by leaving both the Window and the Door open every day when the weather is not cold or damp—during which the Bed should remain unmade, and the Clothes be taken off and spread out for an hour, at least, before the Bed is made again.

In very Hot Weather, the temperature becomes considerably cooler every minute after ten o’clock—between eight o’clock and twelve, the Thermometer often falls in Sultry weather—from ten to twenty degrees—and those who can sit up till twelve o’clock, will have the advantage of sleeping in an Atmosphere many degrees cooler, than those who go to bed at ten:—this is extremely important to Nervous Invalids—who however extremely they may suffer from heat, we cannot advise to sleep with the smallest part of the window open during the night—in such sultry days, the Siesta (see page 94,) will not only be a great support against the heat, but will help You to sit up to enjoy the advantage above stated.

A Fire in the Bed Room, is sometimes indispensable—but not as usually made—it is commonly lighted only just before bed-time, and prevents Sleep by the noise it makes, and the unaccustomed stimulus of its light.

Chimneys frequently smoke when a fire is first lighted, particularly in snowy and frosty weather; and an Invalid has to encounter not only the damp and cold of the Room—but has his Lungs irritated with the sulphureous puffs from the fresh lighted Fire.

A Fire should be lighted about three or four hours before, and so managed that it may burn entirely out half an hour before you go to Bed—then the air of the room will be comfortably warmed—and certainly more fit to receive an Invalid who has been sitting all day in a parlour as hot as an Oven,—than a damp chamber, that is as cold as a Well.

THE SIESTA.

Old and Cold Stomachs—The Gouty—and those whose Digestive Faculties are Feeble—should never have any thing Cold37, or Old, put into them—especially in Cold Weather.

Food must take the temperature of our Stomach, (which is probably not less than 120,) before Digestion can commence.

When the Stomach is feeble, Cold Food frequently produces Flatulence—Palpitation of the Heart, &c.—and all the other troublesome accompaniments of Indigestion.—The immediate remedy for these is Hot Brandy and Water, and the horizontal Posture.

Dyspeptic Invalids will find 75 a good temperature for their drink at Dinner, and 120 for Tea, &c.

Persons who are in a state of Debility from Age,—or other causes,—will derive much benefit from laying down, and seeking Repose whenever they feel fatigued, especially during (the first half-hour at least of) the business of Digestion—and will receive almost as much refreshment from half an hour’s Sleep—as from Half a Pint of Wine.

The Restorative influence of the recumbent Posture, cannot be conceived—the increased energy it gives to the circulation, and to the organs of Digestion, can only be understood by those Invalids who have experienced the comforts of it.

The Siesta is not only advisable, but indispensable to those whose occupations oblige them to keep late hours.

Actors especially, whose profession is, of all others, the most fatiguing—and requires both the Mind and the Body to be in the most intense exertion between 10 and 12 o’clock at Night,—should avail themselves of the Siesta—which is the true source of Energy—half an hour’s repose in the horizontal posture, is a most beneficial Restorative.

Good Beef Tea38, (No. 563), with a little bit of slightly toasted Bread taken about nine o’clock—is a comforting restorative, which will support You through exertions that, without such assistance, are exhausting—and you go to bed fatigued—get up fevered, &c.

When Performers feel Nervous, &c.—and fear the circulation is below Par,—and too languid to afford the due excitement, half an hour before they sing, &c.—they will do wisely, to wind up their System, with a little “Balsamum Vitæ.”—See “Peptic Precepts.”—Or tune their throats to the pitch of healthy vibration with a small glass of Johnson’s39 “Witte Curacoa,” see (No. 474) and Index, a glass of Wine, or other stimulus.—

To “Wet your Whistle,” is occasionally, as absolutely necessary, as “to rosin the Bow of a Violin.”—See “Observations on Vocal Music,” prefixed to the Opera of Ivanhoe.

Actors and Singers are continually assailed by a variety of circumstances extremely unfavourable to Health—especially from sitting up late at night—to counteract which, we recommend the Siesta, and plenty of Exercise in a pure Air.

When they feel Nervous—Bilious, &c. i. e. that their whole System is so deranged by fatigue and anxiety, that they cannot proceed effectively and comfortably,—they must give their Throats two or three days’ rest—cleanse the Alimentary Canal with Peristaltic Persuaders—see Index—and corroborate the Organs of Digestion with the Tonic Tincture (No. 569), see Index.

Strong Peppermint Lozenges, made by Smith, Fell Street, Wood Street, Cheapside, are very convenient portable Carminatives:—as soon as they are dissolved, their influence is felt from the beginning to the end of the Alimentary Canal—they dissipate Flatulence so immediately, that they well deserve the name of Vegetable Ether; and are recommended to Singers and Public Speakers—as giving effective excitement to the Organs of Voice—as a support against the distressing effects of Fasting too long—and to give energy to the Stomach between Meals.

The Power of the Voice depends upon the vigorous state of the circulation supplying the Organs of Voice, with energy to execute the intentions of the Singer or Speaker—without which—the most accurate Ear and experienced Throat, will sometimes fail in producing the exact quality and quantity of Tone they intend.

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

The Dyspeptic, who Tries the effect of Recumbency after Eating,—will soon be convinced that Tristram Shandy was right enough, when he said, that “both pain, and pleasure, are best supported in an horizontal posture.”

“If after Dinner the Poppies of repletion shed their influence on thy Eyelids—indulge thou kind Nature’s hint.”—“A quiet slumber in a comfortable warm room, favoureth the operation of Digestion—and thou shalt rise, refreshed, and ready for the amusements of the Evening.”

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

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

“From Eating comes Sleep—from Sleep Digestion.”—Sanctorius, Sec. iv. Aph. 59.

“Perhaps one of the uses of Sleep, and of the horizontal posture during that period—may be to facilitate the introduction of Chyle into the Blood.”—Cruickshank on the Absorbents, p. 95.

“The Brute Creation invariably lay down and enjoy a state of rest, the moment their stomachs are filled. People who are feeble, digest their Dinner best, if they lie down and sleep as most Animals do, when their stomachs are full.”—Darwin’s Zoonomia, vol. iv. p. 137.

“Dr. Harwood, Professor of Anatomy at Cambridge, took two pointers who were equally hungry, and fed them equally well,—one he suffered to follow the promptings of Instinct—curled himself round till he was comfortable—and went to sleep, as animals generally do after eating—the other was kept for about two hours in constant exercise. On his return home—the two Dogs were killed.—In the Stomach of the one who had been quiet and asleep, all the food was digested; in the Stomach of the other, that process was hardly begun.”

“Quiet of Body and Mind for two hours after Dinner, is certainly useful to the Studious, the Delicate, and the Invalid.”—Adair on Diet, p. 44.

“After Dinner, rest for three hours.”—Abernethy’s Surgical Obs. 8vo. 1817, p. 93.

“After Dinner sit a while.”—Eng. Prov.

“If you have a strong propensity to Sleep after Dinner—indulge it, the process of Digestion goes on much better during Sleep, and I have always found an irresistible propensity to it—whenever Dyspeptic symptoms were considerable.”—Waller on Incubus, 1816, p. 109.

“Aged Men—and weake bodies, a short Sleepe after Dinner doth help to nourish.”—Lord Bacon’s Nat. Hist. Cent. I. 57.

CLOTHES.

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

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

A Gentleman who has a mind to carry the adjustment of his Clothes to a nicety—may have the shelves of his Wardrobe numbered 30, 40, 50, 60, &c. and according to the degree of Cold pointed to by his Fahrenheit40, he may wear a corresponding defence against it:—This mode of adjusting Dress according to the vicissitudes of the weather, &c. is as rational as the ordinary practice of regulating it by the Almanack, or the Fashion, which in this uncertain Climate and capricious Age—will as often lead us wrong, as right.

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

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

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

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

Our Coat41 should be made so large—that when buttoned we may be as easy as when it is unbuttoned, so that without any unpleasant increase of pressure on the Chest, &c. we can wear it closely buttoned up to the Chin—the power of doing this is a convenient provision against the sudden alternations from heat to cold—buttoning up this outer garment, will protect the delicate from many mischiefs which so often arise in this inconstant climate from the want of such a defence; and the additional warmth it produces will often cure slight Colds, &c.

Another way of accumulating Caloric, is to have two sets of button holes to the Cuff of the Coat, (especially of your Great Coat,) one of which will bring it quite close round the wrist.

When the Circulation is languid, and your Feet are Cold—wear worsted Stockings, have your Shoes well warmed—and when you take them from the Fire—put your Slippers42 to it—that they may be warm and comfortable for you on your return home.

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

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

The restoration, and the preservation of the Health, especially of those who have passed their Fortieth Year,—depends upon minute and unremitting attentions to Food,—Clothes,—Exercise, &c. which taken singly may appear trifling—but combined, are of infinite importance.

“If you are careful of it, Glass will last as long as Iron.” By a regular observance of a few salutary precepts, a delicate Constitution will last as long, and afford its Proprietor as many Amusements, as a Strong Body,—whose Mind takes but little care of it.

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

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

Clothes should be warm enough to defend us from Cold43,—and large44 enough to let every movement be made with as much ease when they are on,—as when they are off.

Those whose employments are sedentary,—especially hard Students—who often neglect taking sufficient Exercise45, suffer extremely from the pressure of tight Waistbands—Garters, &c. which are the cause of many of the mischiefs that arise from long sitting—during which they should be loosened.

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

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

Tight Stays—and Braces—obstruct the circulation of the Blood, &c. are the cause of many Chronic Complaints, and often create Organic Diseases46.

FIRE.

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

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

We suppose it almost needless to say that every room in the house should be thoroughly ventilated47 by a current of fresh Air—at least once every day, when the weather is not very damp—or cold. By making a Fire accordingly—this may be done almost every Day in the Year.

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

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

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

We do not advise Invalids to indulge themselves in heating their rooms to a higher temperature48 than from 60 to 65.—Those who have resided the best part of their Life in warm climates—will like the latter best. While we recommend the Aged and Infirm to be kept comfortably warm—they must at the same time cautiously avoid excess of heat.

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

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

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

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

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

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

AIR.

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

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

Chemical Philosophers assert indeed—that a Gallon of the unsavoury Gas from Garlick Hill, gives as high a proportion of Oxygen, as the like quantity of the ethereal element of Primrose Hill:—this seems incredible, and must arise either from the imperfection of the Eudiometer giving erroneous results, or from the air being impregnated with matter unfriendly to Health, which the instruments employed to analyze it, have not the power of denoting:—let any one thread the mazes of a crowded city, and walk for the same space of time in a pleasant Country—the animal spirits will soon testify, which is the most exhilarating.

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

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

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

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

EXERCISE.

The more luxuriously you live, the more Exercise49 you require,—the “Bon Vivant” may depend upon the truth of the advice which Sir Charles Scarborough gave to the Duchess of Portsmouth, “You must Eat less,—or take more Exercise50—or take Physic,—or be Sick.”

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

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

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

After Exercise, take care to get cool gradually—when your Head perspires, rub it, and your Face, &c. dry with a cloth:—this is better for the Hair than the best “Bear’s Grease,” and will beautify the Complexion beyond “La Cosmétique Royale,” or all the Red and White Olympian Dew that was ever imported.

One of the most important precepts for the preservation of Health, is to take care of the Skin51.

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

WINE.

The measure of a Bottle of Wine ought to be as definitive, as that of a Pot Of Porter:—is it not astonishing that the Legislature have not ordered a Standard and Stamped Quart, for the Wine-merchant—as they have a Pot for the Publican?

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

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

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

Proportions of the Wine Gallon, according to the last London Pharmacopœia:—

Gallon.		Pints.		Fluid Ounces.		Drachms.		Minims or Drops.
1	=	8	=	128	=	1024	=	61,440

There are	32	ounces in a legal wine quart.
Multiply by	12	quarts in three gallons.
	–—
	384	ounces in ditto.

Measure the number of ounces your bottle holds—divide 384 by it, and the quotient will give you the number of such bottles required to contain three gallons of wine.

Some Bottles do not contain more than 26 ounces.

26)	384	(14 Bottles, 1 Pint, and a Quarter.
	26
	—
	124
	104
	—–
	20

Or,

Multiply	26	i. e. the number of ounces
By	12	your bottle will contain.
	——
	312	the number of ounces  contained in your dozen  bottles, which
Ought to hold	384	the number of ounces in
Subtract	312	Three Gallons.
	——
Divide by the number}	32) 72	(2 Quarts and half a Pint
of ounces in a Quart,}	64	short of measure.
	—
	8	ounces.

So, instead of Three Gallons—you have only Two Gallons, one Quart, and a Pint and a half.

The Quantity a Bottle will contain, may easily be accurately ascertained, by Lynes’s graduated Glass measure, which holds half a pint, and is divided into ounces, &c.—it is a convenient vessel to mix Grog in.

A Pipe of Port contains, on the average, 138 Gallons, of which three must be allowed for Lees, &c.—This is enough for waste, if the Wine has been properly fined, and steadily bottled.

It is convenient for small Families to have part of their Wine in Pint Bottles.

That Wine is much best when quite fresh opened, is a fact it is needless to observe,—half a Pint of Wine (i. e. 8 ounces, i. e. 4 ordinary wine-glasses) is as much as most people (who have not spoiled their stomachs by intemperance) require.

The Rage for Superannuated Wine,—is one of the most ridiculous Vulgar Errors of Modern Epicurism,—“the Bee’s Wing,” “thick Crust52 on the Bottle,” “loss of strength, &c.” which Wine-fanciers consider the Beauty of their tawny favourite, “fine Old Port,”—are forbidding manifestations of decomposition, and the departure of some of the best qualities of the Wine.

The Age53 of maturity for exportation from Oporto, is said to be the second year after the Vintage, (probably sometimes not quite so long.)

Our Wine-merchants keep it in Wood from two to six years longer, according to its original strength, &c.—surely this must be long enough to do all that can be done by keeping it—what crude Wine it must be to require even this time to ameliorate it—the necessity for which, must arise either from some error in the original manufacture,—or a false taste, which does not relish it, till Time has changed its original characteristics.

Ordinary Port is a very uncleansed, fretful Wine—and experienced judges have assured us, that the Best Port is rather impoverished than improved, by being kept in Bottle longer than Two54 Years, i. e. supposing it to have been previously from two to four years in the Cask in this Country,—observing, that all that the outrageous advocates for “vin passé”—really know about it, is, that Sherry is Yellow,—and Port is Black,—and that if they drink enough of either of them,—it will make them Drunk.

White Wines, especially Sherry and Madeira, being more perfectly fermented, and thoroughly fined before they are bottled—if kept in a cellar of uniform temperature, are not so rapidly deteriorated by Age.

The Temperature of a Good Cellar is nearly the same throughout the year. Double Doors help to preserve this. It must be dry, and be kept as clean as possible.

The Art of preserving Wines, is to keep them from fretting, which is done by keeping them in the same degree of heat, and careful Corking55. “If persons wish to preserve the fine flavour of their Wines, they ought on no account to permit any Bacon, Cheese, Onions, Potatoes, or Cider, in their wine-cellars. Or, if there be any disagreeable stench in the Cellar, the wine will indubitably imbibe it; consequently, instead of being fragrant and charming to the nose and palate, it will be extremely disagreeable.”—Carnell on Wine Making, 8vo. 1814, p. 124. See also Manuel du Sommelier, par A. Jullien, Paris, 1817.

That Madeira (if properly matured before) improves in quality by being carried to the East Indies and back, by which Voyage it loses from 8 to 10 Gallons,—or to the West, by which about 5 are wasted56,—however these round-about manœuvres may tickle the fancy of those folks who cannot relish any thing that is not far-fetched, dear-bought, and hard to be had, and to whom rarity is the “sine qua non” of recommendation—it is one of those inconvenient prejudices, from which common sense preserve us!

The Vulgar objection to New Wine—(by which we mean Wine that has been maturing in Wood two years in Portugal—two in England—and in Bottle more than twelve months), is, that its exhilarating qualities are too abundant, and intoxicate in too small a dose—those “Bons Vivants,” to whom “the Bottle, the Sun of the table,” and who are not in the habit of crying to go home to Bed while they can see it shining,—require Wines weaker than those which are usually imported from Spain and Portugal,—however Port and Sherry may be easily reduced to the standard desired by the long-sitter,—“paululum aceti acetosi,” will give the Acid Goût,—“aqua pura” will subdue their Spirit “ad libitum,”—and produce an imitation of the flavour acquired by Age, extempore—and You can thus very easily make fine fruity nutritious new Wine,—as Light,—and as Old57,—and as Poor, as you please—and fit it exactly to your customer’s palate, whether “Massa drinky for Drinky,—or drinky for Drunky Massa.”

To ameliorate very new, or very old Wine—mix a bottle of the one with a bottle of the other—or to a bottle of very old Port add a glass or two of good new Claret—to very new, a glass of Sherry.

Of all our Senses,—the Taste, especially for Liquids, is the most sophisticated Slave of Habit—“De gustibus, non est disputandum.”

The Astringent matter, and Alcohol—which render Port Wine the prop of an Englishman’s Heart—are intolerable to the palate of an Italian, or Frenchman.—But a Stomach which has been accustomed to be wound up by the double stimulus of Astringents, and Alcohol also,—will not be content with the latter only,—especially if that be in less quantity—as it is in the Italian and French Wines; which, therefore, for the generality of Englishmen, are insufficiently excitant.

He who has been in the habit of drinking Porter at Dinner,—and Port after—will feel uncomfortable with Home-brewed Ale, and Claret.

Mr. Accum, the chemist, analyzed for the Editor, some Port and Sherry of the finest quality—the Port58 yielded 20 per cent—and the Sherry 19-25 per cent, of Alcohol of 825 specific gravity—i. e. the strongest Spirit of Wine that can be drawn, full double the strength of Brandy, which seldom has 40 per Cent, and common Gin59 not more than 30—or 25.

Some people have a notion that if they go to the Docks, they can purchase a Pipe of Wine for twenty pounds less, than they must pay to a regular Wine Merchant—and, moreover, have it neat as imported—as if all Wines of the same Name, were of the same Quality.

Port varies at Oporto in quality and price as much as Porter does in London—it is needless to say how difficult it is to obtain the best Beer at any price—it is quite as difficult to obtain the best Port Wine at Oporto, where the very superior wine is all bought up at a proportionately high price by the agents for the London Wine Merchants.

Brandies and Wines vary in quality quite as much as they do in Price: not less than twenty pounds per Pipe in the country where they are made.

The only way to obtain genuine wholesome liquor, is to apply to a respectable Wine Merchant—and beg of him to send you the best wine at the regular market price.

If you are particular about the Quality of what you buy—the less You ask about the price of it the better—if you are not, bargain as hard as you please.

The Editor buys his Wines of Messrs. Danvers and Clarke, No. 122, Upper Thames Street; his Brandy and Liqueurs60 of Messrs. Johnson, in Pall Mall; and his Spirits, &c. of Mr. Rickards, Piccadilly.

A Moral and Physical Thermometer; or, a Scale of the Progress of Temperance and Intemperance, by J. C. Lettsom, M. D.

Liquors, with their Effects, in their usual Order.

Those who drink Wine61, &c. for the purpose it was given, as a Cordial, to cheer the Circulation, when it falters from Fatigue, Age, or profuse Evacuations of any kind, “for the Stomach’s sake,” as St. Paul recommends it, and for our “often infirmities” as a medicine—will understand, that of all the ways of saving, to run any risk of buying inferior Wine, is the most ridiculously unwise Economy.

To Ice Wine is another very unprofitable and inconvenient custom—and not only deteriorates its flavour, but by rendering it dull in the mouth—people are induced to drink too much, as they are deprived of the advantage of knowing when they have got enough—for as soon as the Wine becomes warm in their Stomachs,—the dose they have taken merely to exhilarate them—makes them drunk.

The true Economy of Drinking,—is to excite as much Exhilaration as may be,—with as little Wine.

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 Digestion62—it is much better to mix Food and Drink—and to take them by alternate mouthsful.—See page 11.

Our “Vinum Britannicum”—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 quantity 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 quantity of diffusible Stimulus63,—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 passed 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.