The Sun.
London, England, 1839-04-08 00:00:00

SIMPLICITY OF LIVING, OBSERVA-
TIONS ON THE PRESERVATION OF
HEALTII IN INFANCY. YOUTH, MAN.
HOOD, AND AGE. By JOHN HARRISON Cuitrls,
ESQ. London : Renshaw. Third Edition.
The man who denies the value of rules as a
means of preserving health ought, to be consistent,
to discard rules in every other matter of human in-
terest. If he asserts that instinct alone is
a sufficient guide to correct practice, in what
affects his bodily welfare, he ought equally to grant
the competency of the moral sense or instinct to
direct us aright in our conduct towards others, and,
as a consequence, to regard as utterly useless all the
laborious inquiries of philosophers into the princi-
ples of morals
The opinion above alluded to is now becoming
obsolete, and the growth of an opposite, and, in our
view, more accurate opinion is indicated by the in-
creasing demand for works of the class to'which the
book whose title we have quoted, belongs, on which
we purpose to make to make a few remarks by way
of introducing it to our readers.
The object of Mr. Curtis's work is to furnish a
compendium of rules for practical guidance in all
that relates to health at every period of life,
founded on the laws of the animal economy. This
is done in a distinct anal intelligible mariner, without
any parade of scientific or professional learning,
white a sufficient, though brief, account is given of
those branches of physiology which serve to show
the reasonableness of the precepts afterwards enun-
ciated. The work is divided into four chapters,
one being devoted to the consideration of each of
the four principal stages:of human existence.
This third edition contains many important addi-
tions on subjects of general interest, such as the causes
of disease, the adulteration of food, the improvements
of the metropolis, the choice of watering places and
mineral waters, &c. &c., on all of which much va-
luable information is given. The following extracts
will convey to our readers a more distinct perception
of the distinguishing qualities of the work than any
thing further from our pen could do.
The beneficial effects of useful exertion on the
health :
Persons whose circumstances enable them to dispense
with labour, and who, having no activity of mind, pas
their days in listless idleness, are, of all men, least to be en-
vied. Not only are they too frequently led into vices in-
jurious to health, but the nervous system becomes the vic-
tim of sloth ; ennui, hypochondriaism, indigestion, affect
these unhappy mortals, who not seldom put au end to their
miserable existence by suicide. Let the man who depends
for subsistence upon the toil of his muscles or of his brain
console himself by pondering on these facts; and let those
who are independent of labour recollect that man is a social
being, and that the Creator has ordained that useful exer-
tion shall be essential to individual happiness."
A word of advice to political enthusiasts :
" As politics are one of the leading causes of excite-
ment at the present day in this country, I may be excused
for referring somewhat more at large to them. It is
strange that this subject should excite immoderately many
men who display comparatively little anxiety about those
private affairs which one would think (without attempting
to undervalue the importance of politics) bear a far mere
direct relation to their well-being. How many hot-headed
persons are there who are in a state of constant excitement
upon matters of the most trifling moment, who throw them-
selves into a fever in discussing a subject which concerns
no one. The media via of politics, neither indifference
nor partizanship, is the best, both for the health of indi-
viduals and for the general good. It is to be regretted
that men while striving, as they imagine, to promote the
prosperity of their country, should so much injure their own
happiness."
The advantages of country excursions :
" A short trip into the country, even for a single day, is
exceedingly beneficial, by diverting the mind from the or-
dinary objects of contemplation, and removing from it for
a time that load of anxious cares, which if suffered too long
to remain, destroys its elasticity. For a few pounds a per-
son may visit the lakes of Cumberland or Westmoreland,
the mountains and lochs of Scotland, or the picturesque
scenes which abound in the Emerald Isle, and inhale
strength and vigour from the ocean's breeze ; he may store
his mind with the recollection of the beauties of nature, and
of the various pleasing occurrences that befel him while
absent from home; and in the midst of the crowded city,
and of pressing occupations, he may often relieve and
amuse his harassed mind by the contemplation of these in-
tellectual images."
An agreeable suggestion
" Great satisfaction has been given to the lovers of out-
door exercise by the occasional playing, in Kensington
Gardens, of the band of the Horse Guards stationed at
Knightsbridge barracks ; and it is to be regretted that this
amusement is so scantily furnished to the inhabitants of the
metropolis. It would add much to the charms of Regent's
Park, and induce many more personeto take exercise in it,
than at present, were the band of the regiment at the Park
barracks directed to play in it, at stated times, during fine
weather. The band of the regiment stationed at the Wel-
lington barracks might, in like manner, be directed to play
in the inclosure of St. James's Park. If each of these
three excellent bands were to play twice a-week, from three
till five in the afternoon, a most agreeable recreation would
be furnished to the inhabitants of the metropolis."
A curious fact :
" The Parisian bakers are said to adulterate their bread
with gypsum ; and the Germans make use'of an article called
mountain or bread meal, which consists of the silicified re-
mains of the Campy podiscus Clypens for the same purpose
as was conclusively shown by Mr. Ross, by means of his
achromatic microscope, a few evenings since at the Royal
Institution. These animalculm were discovered by Pro-
fessor Ehrenberg. and have been extensively used in Ger-
many to adulterate bread. They are not wholly destitute
of nutritive matter, the gelatinous substance of the animal
in some few specimens not being greatly changed ; but a
very large proportion of the material thus introduced into
this essential article of food is pure silica, a mineral which
is something worse than so much finely powdered glass."
Many useful hints are scattered throughout the
volume, among which we would notice that for the
adoption of stench traps to the gratings in the streets
leading to the sewers ; and the suggestion for
compelling the consumption on the premises, of the
smoke generated in factories, gas-works, breweries,
&c. &c.
The work, we have no doubt, will be found a
old
dfraonmd
twhleiiycohuntlgie,
comprehensive
a nmoafnbutiasli business, sh, etahl et he),
may alike
i
diminution
of d
capablei seoafs
eandsuffer-
ing, being turned
to account n the
and in the increase of enjoyment and the pro-
longation of life.

THE CANADIAN, l‘o. 1.
Mitchell, London, 1839.

This monthly journal is brought out at a very
seasonable time, when the subjects of Canada, and
the American Boundary Line, are engrossing public
attention. It contains several ably written articles ;
and among them, some chapters of a History of
Canada; which, we presume, will be continued,
and the tone of which is temperate and impartial;
an amusing account of fashionable life in Upper
Canada, which is an agreeable relief to the same-
ness of the discussions respecting this notorious
province ; and a specimen of, w hat the editor calls,
the " Colonial Muse," in the shape of a pleasing
poem from the pen of a lady named Moodie. As
the magazine is cheap and wed got up, we think it
stands a very fair chance of copularity.

THEORY, PRACTICE, AND .ARCHITEC-
TURE OF BRIDGES.
Weale, London. 1839.
A useful, practical publication, embellished with
numer•us illustrative plates, and proposed to be
completed in twelve monthly parts. The chief
contributors are Messrs. Hann and Hosking.