“I knew a black servant of Mr. Pitt, an Indian Merchant in America, who was fond of Soup made of Rattle Snakes,—in which the Head, without any regard to the Poison, was boiled along with the rest of the animal.”—Dr. G. Fordyce, on Digestion, &c. 8vo. 1791, p. 119.
No food is so delicious that it pleases all palates,—nothing can be more correct than the old adage, “one man’s meat is another man’s poison.”
It would be as difficult for a Laplander, or an earth-eating Ottomaque, to convince our good citizens that Train Oil, and gutter-mud, is a more elegant relish than their favourite Turtle—as for the former to fancy that Kay or Birch’s Soup can be as agreeable as the Grease and Garbage which custom has taught them to think delicious.
Celsus95 very sensibly says, that “a healthy man, under his own government, ought not to tie himself up by strict rules,—nor to abstain from any sort of food; that he ought sometimes to fast, and sometimes to feast.” Sanis, sunt omnia Sana.
When the Stomach sends forth eructant signals of distress, for help against Indigestion, the Peristaltic Persuaders (see the end of this Essay) are as agreeable and effectual assistance as can be offered; and for delicate Constitutions, and those that are impaired by Age or Intemperance, are a valuable Panacea.
They derive, and deserve this name, from the peculiar mildness of their operation96. One or two very gently increase the action of the principal viscera, help them to do their work a little faster,—and enable the Stomach to serve with an ejectment whatever offends it,—and move it into the Bowels.
Thus Indigestion is easily and speedily removed,—Appetite restored,—(the mouths of the absorbing vessels being cleansed) Nutrition is facilitated,—and Strength of Body, and Energy of Mind97, are the happy results.
If an immediate operation be desired, take some Tincture of Rhubarb—as a Pill is the most gentle and gradually operating form for a drug—a Tincture in which it is as it were ready digested, is the most immediate in its action.
To Make Tincture of Rhubarb.—Steep three ounces of the best Rhubarb (pounded) and half an ounce of Carraway Seeds, (pounded) in a bottle of Brandy, for ten days. A table-spoonful in a wine-glass of hot water will generally be enough.
Compound Tincture of Senna, has been recommended, especially to those who have accustomed themselves to the use of spirituous Liquors and high living. Several similar preparations are sold under the name of Daffy’s Elixir—or as much Epsom Salt, in half a pint of hot water, as experience has informed you, will produce one motion,—a Tea-spoonful (i. e. from one to two drachms) will generally do this—especially if it be taken in the morning, fasting, i. e. at least half an hour before Breakfast.
The best way of covering the taste of Salt, is to put a lump of Sugar and a bit of thin-cut Lemon Peel98 into the hot water, for a few minutes before you stir the Salt into it,—to which you may add a few grains of grated Ginger.
Epsom Salt is a very speedy laxative, often operating within an hour,—does the business required of it with great regularity,—and is more uniform in what it does,—and when it does it,—than any Aperient;—ten minutes after you have taken it, encourage its operation by drinking half a pint, or more, of warm water—weak Broth—Tea—thin Gruel (No. 572), with some salt and butter in it—or Soda Water (No. 481.*) See Index.
“Nil tam ad sanitatem, et longevitatem conducit, quam crebræ et domesticæ purgationes.”—Lord Bacon.—i. e. “Nothing contributes so much to preserve Health, and prolong Life, as frequently cleansing the alimentary canal with gentle laxatives.”
We perfectly agree with Lord Bacon, and believe that in nine cases out of ten, for which Tonic Medicines are administered, Peristaltic Persuaders will not only much more certainly improve Appetite,—but invigorate the Constitution; by facilitating the absorption of nutriment,—which, in aged and debilitated people, is often prevented by the mouths of the vessels being half closed by the accumulation of viscid mucus, &c.
Aperient Medicine does enough, if it increases the customary Evacuation,—and does too much,—if it does more,—than excite one additional motion.
Bowels which are forced into double action to-day—must, consequently, be costive to-morrow, and Constipation will be caused by the remedy you have recourse to to remove it,—this has given rise to a Vulgar Error,—that the use of even the mildest Laxative is followed by Costiveness.
Rhubarb is particularly under this prejudice,—because it has been more frequently employed as a domestic remedy,—and unadvisedly administered in either too little, or too large a Dose. It has, however, been recommended by a Physician of acknowledged Ability, and extensive Experience.
“If the Bowels are constipated, they should be kept regular by a Pill of Rhubarb of five grains every morning.”—Pemberton on the Abdominal Viscera, p. 113.
People are often needlessly uneasy about the Action of their Bowels.—If their general Health is good, and they have neither Head-ach nor other deranged sensations, and they live temperately, during the second period of Life, whether they have two motions in one day, or one in two days, perhaps is not of much consequence;—however, that the Alvine Exoneration should take place regularly is certainly most desirable;—especially after Thirty-Five years of age99, when the elasticity of the machinery of Life begins to diminish.
To acquire a Habit of Regularity, Mr. Locke, who was a Physician as well as a Philosopher, advises that “if any person, as soon as he has breakfasted, would presently solicit nature, so as to obtain a stool, he might in time, by a constant application, bring it to be habitual.” He says “I have known none who have been steady in the prosecution of this plan, who did not in a few months obtain the desired success.”—On Education, p. 23, &c.
“It is well known that the alvine evacuation is periodical, and subjected to the power of habit; if the regular call is not obeyed, the necessity for the evacuation passes away; and the call being again and again neglected, habitual costiveness is the consequence.”—Hamilton on Purgatives, p. 72.
It will facilitate the acquirement of this salutary evacuation,—to take at night—such a dose of an Aperient medicine, as Experience has pointed out, as just sufficient to assist nature to produce a Motion in the Morning.
Habitual Costiveness is not curable by Drugs alone,—and is most agreeably corrected by Diet and Regimen, those most important, and only effectual, although much neglected (because little understood) means of permanently alleviating Chronic Complaints, for which
“Coquina est optima Medicina.”
Strong Constitutions are generally Costive100,—that perfect and vigorous action of the absorbents, which is the cause of their strength, is also the cause of their Constipation:—
“Oportet sanorum, sedes esse figuratas.”
This ought to make them content,—but the Constipated are for ever murmuring about a habit—which, if managed with moderate care,—is the fundamental basis of Health and Long Life. A little attention to Regimen will generally prevent it—a simple Laxative will suffice to remove it—and neither will be often necessary, for those who observe a deobstruent Diet—take proper Exercise in a pure Air—sufficient liquid Food—and eat freely of Butter, Salt, and Sugar.
The peculiarity of most Constitutions is so convenient, that almost all Costive persons—by attending to the effects which various things produce upon their Bowels—may find, in their usual Food and Drink, the means of persuading their sluggish Viscera to vibrate with healthful celerity.
A Supper or Breakfast of thin Gruel, (No. 572,) with plenty of Butter and Salt in it,—ripe Fruits, particularly Grapes101,—Oranges,—Strawberries,—Raspberries,—Mulberries,—Marmalade,—Honey,—Treacle,—roasted Apples,—stewed Prunes,—Figs,—Raisins,—Tamarinds,—French Plumbs, &c.;—will almost always produce the desired effect.
Two or three strong Cinnamon or Ginger Lozenges, (see page 234,) gradually dissolved in the mouth when the Stomach is empty, will act as an Aperient on many persons.
Salad Oil is a very pleasant Peristaltic Persuader:—by the following means it may be introduced (as a supper) to the most delicate Stomach,—without any offence to the most fastidious Palate.
Put a table-spoonful of Sherry into a wine-glass—on this a table-spoonful of Olive Oil—on this another table-spoonful of Sherry—or rub together a table-spoonful or two of Oil, with the yolk of an Egg boiled hard, (No. 547,) add a little Vinegar and Salt to it, and eat it at Supper as a Sauce to a Salad (No. 138*) of Mustard and Cresses,—or Lettuce,—Radishes,—Button Onions,—Celery,—Cucumber, &c.;—or cold boiled Asparagus,—Brocoli,—Cauliflower,—Carrot,—or Turnip,—Kidney or French Beans,—or Pease;—or Pickled Salmon, (No. 161,) Lobster, (No. 176,) Shrimps, Herrings, Sprats, (No. 170**,) or Mackarel, (No. 168,) or as a Sauce to cold Meat, &c.
You may give it an infinite variety of agreeable flavours; the ingredients to produce which are enumerated in (No. 372) of “the Cook’s Oracle.”
Hypochondriac people are fond of taking Medicine at certain times, the spring and fall,—at the full or the new Moon, &c. whether they want it or not.—For those in Health to attempt to improve it by taking Physic, is absurd indeed. Remember the epitaph on the Italian Count—
“I was well—
Wished to be better—
Took Physic—and died.”
Hypochondriasis—Spleen—Vapours—the Blue Devils—the Bile—Nervous Debility, &c. are but so many different names for those Disorders which arise either from Chronic Weakness of the Constitution—or an inconsiderate management of it.—A man who has a strong stamina will bear irregularities with impunity—which will soon destroy a more delicate frame.
We do not laugh at the melancholy of the Hypochondriac,—or consider his Complaints as merely the hallucinations of un Malade Imaginaire; but trace the cause of them to either some Indigestion interrupting the functions of the Alimentary Canal—which a gentle Aperient would immediately remove—or the ineffective performance of the Restorative Process—insufficiently nutritive Diet—or depression of the vital and animal functions from anxiety or over-exertion of either the Mind or the Body:—which nothing but Rest and nutritive Food can repair.
The Editor of this little treatise has had from his Youth to bear up against an highly irritable nervous system,—the means he has found useful to manage and support it, he is now recording for the benefit of other Nervous Invalids.
We advise our Friends—never to call in even the gentle aid of Peristaltic Persuaders,—but when Instinct absolutely insists upon it—some of the Indications of which are, “A disagreeable taste in the Mouth—Eructations—Want of Appetite—Sensations of distention in the Stomach and Bowels—Pains in the Stomach or Head—Vertigo—Feverishness—Restlessness—Peevishness,” &c.—but these will often disappear by taking a liquid meal, instead of a solid one, or using more exercise, will often answer the purpose.—Mr. Jones very sensibly observes, “if people will by no means rest from constantly tampering with laxatives, instead of using exercise, the habit of using the Lavement every evening cannot be so destructive, as it irritates only twelve inches of intestine, and spares raking down the other thirty-nine feet.”—See Med. Vul. Errors, p. 44.
Relaxed Bowels102 are often extremely unmanageable, and difficult to regulate—and are the principal cause of that Chronic Weakness which is so generally complained of, and of many other distressing Nervous Disorders.
If the Bowels are unfaithful to the Stomach, and, instead of playing fair,—let go their hold of the “Pabulum Vitæ,” before the Absorbents have properly performed the process which that grand organ has prepared for them—Nutrition will be deficient; and Flatulence, &c. &c. Giddiness,—Spasms,—Head-ache,—and Back-ache,—and what are called Bilious and Nervous Disorders,—and all the Diseases incident to Debility, will attack you on the slightest cause.
Those who are afflicted with a relaxation of the Bowels, are advised to a Dry diet, rather than a Liquid one, and must submit to a Regimen diametrically contrary to that we have recommended to cure Constipation.
“Since I lessened my Drink I have been much more costive than I was before, and have for two years past freed myself from a Diarrhœa. Costiveness generally attends dry food in other animals as well as men.”—B. Robinson, on Food and Discharges, p. 82 and 64.
Live principally upon Animal Food sufficiently cooked, and Stale Bread, or biscuit;—instead of Malt liquor (unless it be very mild and good Homebrewed Beer, which is the best of all Beverages) drink Beef-Tea, (No. 563), or well made Toast and Water103 (No. 463*), with about one-fourth part of Wine, and a little Sugar and grated Nutmeg or Ginger in it;—if the Stomach be troubled with Acidity, or great Flatulence, one-eighth part of Brandy may agree with it better:—whatever You eat and drink should be Warmed.—See page 94 on Siesta, and page 158.
Be watchful of the effects of the Food which you take,—avoid whatever appears to irritate, and eat only that which experience has proved acceptable.
Irritable Bowels are excited to inconveniently increased action by any thing that the Stomach has either not the ability, or the inclination, to prepare for them,—and Diarrhœa is the consequence.
The easiest and most effectual method of restoring tranquillity in the Bowels—is to be content with a light diet of Gruel, Broth, or Fish, &c. till the return of a keen Appetite assures you, that the Stomach has recovered its powers, and being ready for action, requires its usual supply of solid food.
When the Bowels get a trick of emptying themselves too often,—a teaspoonful of Compound Powder of Chalk in your Tea,—or a wine-glassful of the following mixture, taken twice or thrice a day, will generally cure them of it very speedily:—
℞ Chalk mixture, six ounces.
Tincture of Cinnamon (No. 416*), one ditto.
Opiate Confection, one drachm.
Mixed together.
If Diarrhœa continues obstinate, more powerful Astringents104 may be necessary.
Tincture of Cinnamon (No. 416*) is one of the best cordial tonics—see also (No. 569) and (Nos. 413 & 15.)
Opium Lozenges, containing a quarter of a grain each, and strongly flavoured with Oil of Peppermint, are recommended to those who are troubled with relaxed Bowels.
Strong Peppermint Lozenges are the most convenient portable carminative:—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 Æther; and are recommended to Singers105 and Public Speakers, as giving effective excitement to the organs of the Voice,—as a support against the distressing effects of fasting too long—and to give energy to the Stomach between meals.
N.B. Sixty different sorts of Lozenges, are made in the most superlative manner, by Mr. Smith, Fell Street, Wood Street, Cheapside.
His Rose Jujubes—are a very elegant preparation, which those who have not a remarkably Sweet Breath, are recommended to take the last thing at night, and the first in the morning—the breath smells faintest when the Stomach is emptiest.
His Mellifluous Aromatics are so delicately flavoured, they moisten the mouth and throat without cloying the Palate, Stomach, &c., which is more than can be said of most Lozenges.
To make Forty Peristaltic Persuaders.
Take,
Turkey Rhubarb, finely pulverized, two drachms.
Syrup (by weight) one drachm.
Oil of Carraway, ten drops (minums).
Made into Pills, each of which will contain Three Grains of Rhubarb.
The Dose of the Persuaders must be adapted to the constitutional peculiarity of the Patient:—when you wish to accelerate or augment the Alvine Exoneration—take two, three, or more, according to the effect you desire to produce—two Pills will do as much for one person as five or six will for another; they generally will very regularly perform what you wish to-day,—without interfering with what you hope will happen to-morrow;—and are, therefore, as convenient an argument against Constipation as any we are acquainted with.
The most convenient opportunity to introduce them to the Stomach—is early in the Morning, when it is unoccupied,—and has no particular business to attend to, i. e. at least half an hour before Breakfast.
Physic should never interrupt the Stomach, when it is engaged in digesting Food—perhaps the best time to take it, is when you awake out of your first Sleep—or as soon as you awake in the morning. Moreover, such is the increased sensibility of some Stomachs at that time, that half the quantity of Medicine will suffice.
From two to four Persuaders will generally produce one additional motion within twelve hours.
They may be taken at any time—by the most delicate Females, whose Constitutions are so often distressed by Constipation106, and destroyed by the drastic purgatives they take to relieve it. See also page 224.
Their agreeable flavour recommends them as the most convenient aperient for Children, whose indispositions most frequently arise from obstructions in the Bowels;—it is not always a very easy task to prevail upon a spoiled Child to take Physic;—therefore—we have made our Pill to taste exactly like Gingerbread.
For Infants, too young to swallow a Pill, pound it, and mix it with Currant Jelly, Honey, or Treacle.
On the first attack of Disease—it may generally be disarmed by discharging the contents of the Bowels:—in every Disorder107 the main point is carefully to watch, and constantly to keep up the activity of the Alimentary Canal—for want of due attention to this, Millions (especially of Children) HAVE DIED OF MEDICABLE DISORDERS!!
For Bilious or Liver108 Complaints, (which are now the fashionable names for all those deranged sensations of the Abdominal Viscera—which as often arise from the want, as from the excess of Bile—and perhaps most frequently from Indigestion)—and for expelling Worms109, for which it is the fashion to administer Mercury110 (which, because it is the only remedy for one Disease, people suppose must be a panacea for every disorder) and other drastic mineral medicines, which are awfully uncertain both in their strength and in their operation.
If, instead of two or three times a week tormenting your Bowels with Corrosive Cathartics,—Hydragogues,—Phlegmagogues, &c., you take one or two gentle Persuaders, twice or thrice a day;—they will excite a gradual and regularly increased action of the Viscera—restore the tone of the Alimentary tube—and speedily and effectually cure the disorder, without injuring the Constitution.
There is not a more universal or more mischievous Vulgar Error, than the notion, that Physic is efficacious, in proportion as it is extremely disagreeable to take, and frightfully violent in its operation,—unless a medicine actually produces more Distress in the System, than the Disorder it is administered to remove—in fact, if the Remedy be not worse than the Disease, the million have no faith in it—and are not satisfied that they can be perfectly cured if they escape Phlebotomy,—unless put to extreme pain, and plentifully supplied with Black Doses, and drastic Drugs;—they have the best opinion of that Doctor who most furiously
“Vomits—Purges—Blisters—Bleeds, and Sweats ’em.”
To perfectly content them that you have most profoundly considered their case, you must to such Prescription—add a Proscription of every thing they appear particularly partial to!!!
People who in all other respects appear to be very rational—and are apt to try other questions by the rules of Common Sense, in matters relating to their Health, surrender their understanding to the fashion of the Day,—and in the present Century, on all occasions take Calomel as coolly as in the last, their Grandfathers inundated their poor Stomachs with Tar-Water.
Tonic Tincture, (No. 569) is
Peruvian Bark, bruised, one ounce and a half.
Orange Peel, do. one ounce.
Brandy, or Proof Spirit, one pint.
Let these ingredients steep for ten days, shaking the bottle every day—let it remain quiet two days—and then decant the clear liquor.
Dose—one teaspoonful in a wineglass of water, twice a day, when you feel languid, i. e. when the Stomach is empty, about an hour before Dinner, and in the Evening. Twenty grains of the Powder of Bark may be added to it occasionally.
To this agreeable Aromatic Tonic we are under personal obligations, for frequently putting our Stomach into good temper, and procuring us good Appetite and good Digestion.
In low Nervous affections, arising from a languid Circulation—and, when the Stomach is in a state of shabby debility from age—intemperance, or other causes—this is a most acceptable restorative.
N.B. Tea made with dried and bruised Seville Orange Peel, (in the same manner as common Tea,) and drank with milk and sugar, has been taken for Breakfast by Nervous and Dyspeptic persons with great benefit.
Chewing a bit of Orange Peel twice a day when the Stomach is empty, will be found very grateful, and strengthening to it.—
Stomachic Tinctures.
Two ounces of Cascarilla Bark (bruised)—or dried Orange Peel,—or Colomba Root—infused for a fortnight in a pint of Brandy, will give you the Tinctures called by those names.
Dose—one or two teaspoonsful in a wine-glass of water.
Tincture of Cinnamon, (No. 416*).
This excellent Cordial is made by pouring a bottle of genuine Cogniac (No. 471) on three ounces of bruised Cinnamon (Cassia will not do). This cordial restorative was more in vogue formerly, than it is now;—a teaspoonful of it, and a lump of Sugar, in a glass of good Sherry or Madeira, with the yolk of an Egg beat up in it—was called “Balsamum Vitæ.”
“Cur moriatur homo, qui sumit de Cinnamomo?”—“Cinnamon is verie comfortable to the Stomacke, and the principall partes of the bodie.”
“Ventriculum, Jecur, Lienem Cerebrum, nervosque juvant et roborat.”—“I reckon it a great treasure for a student to have by him, in his closet, to take now and then a spoonfull.”—Cogan’s Haven of Health, 4to. 1584, p. 111.
Obs.—Two teaspoonsful in a wineglass of water—are a present and pleasant remedy in Nervous Languors—and in relaxations of the Bowels—in the latter case five drops of Laudanum may be added to each dose.
Soda Water, (No. 481*.)
The best way of producing agreeable Pneumatic Punch, as a learned Chemist has called this refreshing refrigerant, is to fill two half-pint Tumblers half full of Water,—stir into one 30 grains of Carbonate of Potash,—into the other 25 grains of Citric111 Acid, (both being previously finely pounded,)—when the powders are perfectly dissolved—pour the contents of one tumbler into the other—and sparkling Soda Water is instantaneously produced.
To make Double Soda Water, use double the quantity of the Powder.
Single Soda Water is a delightful drink in sultry weather—and may be very agreeably flavoured by dissolving a little Raspberry or Red Currant Jelly in the Water, (before you add the Carbonate of Potash to it), or a little Tincture of Ginger, (No. 411,)—or Syrup of Ginger, (No. 394,)—or Syrup of Lemon Peel, (No. 393,)—or infuse a roll of fresh and thin-cut Lemon Peel, and a bit of Sugar in the water—or rub down a few drops of (No. 408,) with a bit of Lump Sugar, with or without a little grated Ginger;—a glass of Sherry or a tablespoonful of Brandy is sometimes added.
The addition of a teaspoonful of the Tonic Tincture (No. 569,) will give you a very refreshing Stomachic—and ten drops of Tinct. Ferri Muriati put into the water in which you dissolve the Citric Acid—a fine effervescing Chalybeate.
The day after a Feast, if you feel fevered and heated, you cannot do better than drink a half-pint glass or two of Single Soda Water between Breakfast and Dinner.
Double Soda Water (especially if made with tepid water) is an excellent auxiliary to accelerate the operation of Aperient Medicine—and, if taken in the Morning fasting, will sometimes move the Bowels without further assistance.
If some good Cogniac or Essence of Ginger (No. 411) be added to it, it is one of the best helps to set the Stomach to work—and remove the distressing languor which sometimes follows hard drinking.
Essence of Ginger, (No. 411).
The fragrant aroma of Ginger is so extremely volatile, that it evaporates almost as soon as it is pounded—the fine Lemon peel goût flies off presently.
If Ginger is taken to produce an immediate effect—to warm the Stomach—dispel Flatulence, &c., or as an addition to Aperient Medicine—the following is the best preparation of it:—
Steep three ounces of fresh grated Ginger, and one ounce of fresh Lemon Peel, (cut thin) in a quart of Brandy—or Proof Spirit, for ten days, shaking it up each day.
N.B. Tincture of Allspice, which is sometimes called Essence of Bishop, for making Mulled Wine, &c. extempore, is prepared in the same manner.
Gruel, (No. 252).
1st. Ask those who are to eat it, if they like it THICK or thin; if the latter, mix well together by degrees, in a pint basin, one tablespoonful of Oatmeal with three of cold water;—if the former, two spoonsful.
Have ready, in a Stewpan, a pint of boiling water or milk—pour this by degrees to the Oatmeal you have mixed—return it into the Stewpan—set it on the fire—and let it boil for five minutes—stirring it all the time to prevent the Oatmeal from burning at the bottom of the Stewpan—skim—and strain it through a Hair Sieve.
2d. To convert this into Caudle—add a little Ale—Wine—or Brandy—with Sugar—and if the Bowels are disordered, a little Nutmeg or Ginger grated.
Gruel may be made with Broth112 (No. 490,) or (No. 252,) or (No. 564,) instead of Water—(to make Crowdie, see No. 205*,)—and may be flavoured with Sweet Herbs—Soup Roots and Savoury Spices—by boiling them for a few minutes in the water you are going to make the Gruel with—or Zest (No. 255)—Pea Powder (No. 458)—or dried Mint—Mushroom Catsup (No. 439)—or a few grains of Curry Powder (No. 455)—or Savoury Ragout Powder (No. 457)—or Cayenne (No. 404)—or Celery Seed bruised—or Soup Herb Powder (No. 459)—or an Onion minced very fine and bruised in with the Oatmeal—or a little Eschalot Wine (No. 402)—or Essence of Celery (No. 409)—or (No. 413)—(No. 417)—or (No. 420),&c.
Plain Gruel, such as is directed in the first part of this Recipe, is one of the best Breakfasts and Suppers that we can recommend to the rational Epicure;—is the most comforting soother of an irritable Stomach that we know—and particularly acceptable to it after a hard day’s work of Intemperate Feasting—when the addition of half an ounce of Butter, and a teaspoonful of Epsom Salt will give it an aperient quality, which will assist the principal Viscera to get rid of their burden.
“Water Gruel” (says Tryon in his Obs. on Health, 16mo. 1688, p. 42,) is “the King of Spoon Meats,” and “the Queen of Soups,” and gratifies nature beyond all others.
In the “Art of Thriving,” 1697, p. 8, are directions for preparing Fourscore Noble and Wholesome Dishes, upon most of which a Man may live excellent well for Twopence a day: the author’s Obs. on Water Gruel is, that “Essence of Oatmeal” makes “a noble and exhilarating meal!”
Dr. Franklin’s favourite Breakfast was a good basin of warm Gruel, in which there was a small slice of Butter with Toasted Bread and Nutmeg—the expense of this, he reckoned at three half-pence.
“Mastication is a very necessary Preparation of solid Aliment, without which there can be no good Digestion.”—The above are the first lines in Arbuthnot’s Essay on Aliment.
This first act of the important process of Digestion, is most perfectly performed, when the flavour, &c. of our Food is agreeable to our Taste;—we naturally detain upon our Palate those things which please it,—and the Meat we relish most, is consequently most broken down by chewing, and most intimately incorporated with the Saliva—this is the reason why what we desire most, we digest best.
Here, is a sufficient answer, to the Folios which have sprung from the Pens of cynical and senseless Scribblers—on whom Nature not having bestowed a Palate, they have proscribed those pleasures they had not Sense113 to taste, or comprehend the wise purposes for which they were given to us, and
How large a share of the business of Digestion is managed by Mastication, has been shown by the experiments of Spallanzani114.
To Chew long, and leisurely, is the only way to extract the essence of our food—to enjoy the taste of it, and to render it easily convertible into laudable Chyle, by the facility it gives to the gastric juices to dissolve it without trouble.
The pleasure of the Palate, and the health of the Stomach, are equally promoted by this salutary habit, which all should be taught to acquire in their infancy.
The more tender meat is, the more we may eat of it.—That which is most difficult to Chew, is of course most difficult to Digest.
From 30 to 40 (according to the tenderness of the meat) has been calculated as the mean number of Munches, that solid meat requires, to prepare it for its journey down the Red Lane; less will be sufficient for tender, delicate, and easily digestible white meats.
The sagacious Gourmand, will calculate this precisely,—and not waste his precious moments in useless Jaw-work, or invite an Indigestion by neglecting Mastication.
I cannot give any positive rules for this, it depends on the state of the Teeth115; every one, especially the Dyspeptic, ought to ascertain the condition of these useful working tools; and to use them with proportionate diligence, is an indispensable exercise which every rational Epicure will most cheerfully perform, who has any regard for the welfare of his Stomach116.
It has been recommended, that those whose Teeth are defective, should mince their meat—this will certainly save trouble to both Teeth and Stomach—nevertheless, it is advisable, let the meat be minced ever so fine, to endeavour to mumble it into a pulp before it be introduced to the Stomach—on account of the advantage derived from its admixture with the Saliva.
“By experiment, I determined the quantity of Saliva secreted in half an hour, to be whilst the parts were at rest, four drachms,—whilst eating, five ounces four drachms.”—Stark on Diet, p. 99.
Mastication is the source of all good Digestion;—with its assistance, almost any thing may be put into any stomach with impunity:—without it, Digestion is always difficult, and often impossible: and be it always remembered, it is not merely what we eat, but what we digest well, that nourishes us.
The sagacious Gourmand is ever mindful of his motto—
“Masticate, Denticate, Chump, Grind, and Swallow.”
The four first acts, he knows he must perform properly,—before he dare attempt the fifth.
Those who cannot enjoy a savoury morsel on account of their Teeth, or rather on account of the want of them, we refer to the note at the foot of p. 260, and also have the pleasure to inform them, that Patent Masticators are made by Palmer, Cutler, in St. James’s Street.
To those who may inadvertently exercise their Masticative faculties on unworthy materials—or longer on worthy ones than nature finds convenient, we recommend “Peristaltic Persuaders.” See page 235.
When either the Teeth or Stomach are extremely feeble, especial care must be taken to keep Meat till it is tender—before it is cooked—and call in the aid of the Pestle and Mortar.—And see Nos. 10,—18,—87,—89,—175,—178; from 185 to 250,—502—542—and especially 503. Or dress in the usual way whatever is best liked—mince it—put it into a Mortar—and pound it with a little Broth or melted Butter,—Vegetable,—Herb,—Spice,—Zest, No. 255, &c.—according to the taste, &c. of the Eater.—The business of the Stomach is thus very materially facilitated.
“Mincing or Pounding Meat—saveth the grinding of the Teeth; and therefore (no doubt) is more nourishing, especially in Age,—or to them that have weak teeth; but Butter is not proper for weak bodies,—and therefore, moisten it in pounding with a little Claret Wine, and a very little Cinnamon or Nutmeg.”—Lord Bacon’s Natural History, Century 1.—54.
This is important Advice for those who are afflicted with “Tic Douloureux,”—the paroxysm of which is generally provoked by the exercise of Eating,—and the Editor has known that dreadful disorder cured by the Patient frequently taking food thus prepared in small portions, instead of a regular meal.
The Teeth should be cleaned after every meal with a “Tooth Preserver,” (i. e. a very soft brush,) and then rinsed with tepid water—never neglect this at night;—nothing destroys the Teeth so fast as suffering food to stick between them—those who observe this rule, will seldom have any occasion for Dentifrices—Essences of Ivory—Indurating Liquid Enamels, &c.
But it is the rage just now with some Dentists, to recommend Brushes so hard, that they fetch Blood like a Lancet wherever they touch; and instead of “Teeth Preservers,” these should rather be termed “Gum Bleeders.”
Not even a Philosopher can endure the Toothach patiently—what an overcoming agony then it must be to a Grand Gourmand!—depriving him of the means of enjoying an amusement which to him is the grand solace for all sublunary cares.—To alleviate, and indeed generally to cure this intolerable pain—we recommend
Toothache and Anti-rheumatic Embrocation, (No. 567.)
Sal Volatile—three parts.
Laudanum—one part.
Mix and rub the part in pain therewith frequently. If the Tooth which aches is hollow, drop some of this on a bit of cotton, and put it into the Tooth,—if the pain does not abate within an hour—take out the cotton, and put another piece in—changing it every hour four or five times, till the pain ceases.
In a general Face-ach, or sore Throat—moisten a piece of flannel with it and put it to the part affected,—rub any part afflicted with Rheumatism night and morning, and in the middle of the day. I have frequently cured old and inveterate Rheumatic affections with this Liniment.