Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Mass.) 1828-1830, 1828-12-09

repletlon has been confined to an sftey-
moons distention of the alimentary canal
and has not been communicated 10 the
system
Notwithstanding this, however, we believe there is
much truth in what he says further
1t is certain that an exclusive animal
diet is not consistent with regular health
and that without some admixture of yeoe.
tables, disease will generally be induced !.
whereas, an exclusively vegetable diet
though not perhaps adequate to sustain
the greatest possible vigour, may be per.
severed in without any such bad conse-
quences. TO the inhabitants of cities
and especially to the sedentary, and to ali
those whose occupations require or per-
NIT OF, little muscular exertion, we have
no doubt that larger proportion of vepe-
table food than is generally used, would
be of benefit
With regard to the periods at which
our different meals should be taken. we
conceive il is of little consequence. pro-
vided a due regularity at stated hours is
attended to; and provided also that the
meals are not too numerous. A strict
regularity in the hours oftaking our meals,
is certainly salutary custom. We are
in every thing very much the creatures of
habit, and certain periodical revolution
in the human machine, as well as in every
department of the system of nature around
US, seems to be regularly kept up. On
the whole, we think the usual allowance
of three meals day, with the Intervention
of the liquid refreshment of tea or coffee.
is fair, and at the same time ample. all
lowance. In eating, due attention should
be paid to the proper mastication of the
food, as this is highly important prepa-
ratory process to digestion on this ac-
count, we should rather eat slow than fast.
The proper periods of exercise, it is gen.
orally said, should be some time before a
meal, and three or four hours afterwards.
when the digestion is completed, and the
system, being renovated with nourishment.
is most disposed for muscular exertion.
Too much stress cannot be laid on the
paramount importance to most persons of
regular and daily exercise in the open
air; and there can be little doubt that it
is more from the want of this, among the
inhabitants Of large cities-among the Sc
dentary-the studious-but above ALL
among the idle and the indolent, than
from all the Irregularities and luxuries of
the table, that their diseases proceed. It
cannot be supposed that a feeble and
relaxed frame, pale and sickly, like the
plant OF dollhouse, should possess vigor-
GUS uigestfve organs, CapaDIe or perIOfm-
ing the functions without disorder; while,
on the other hand, to the healthy and TO-
bust frame, almost every usual species of
food is alike acceptable and alike salutary.
Such as these may smile at the rules and
nice distinctions of the writers on diet,
and they may smile with impunity. We
must look then on the systems of the rigid
dletecians rather as rules for the sick and
disordered, than as precepts for the gene
raj guidance of the robust and healthy"
One thing we would add, that in our opinion it is
almost universally the case, that those who deny
themselves the privilege of eating many things of
which they are fond because they have experience
ed bad effects from them at some period, would
find, on looking back to that time, that it was not
the food itself, but the unconscionable quantity of
what they partook, that produced the injury.
Finally, we think that the balefl consequences of
different articles of food have their rise much
more frequently in imagination than reality, and
that, if all would, except in extreme cases of i'll
health, follow the advice of hearty and sturdy
friend of ours "when eating not to think you have
any stomach" there would be fewer invalids in
the world