The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1829-11-25
From the Wea0 HaUen Advertiser.
HOW TO BE SICK.

1t is a matter of some consequence Il
know how to be sick to the best advantage
The method too commonly pursued of being
SICK at the halves, or attending to business
with one hand, while you are holding your
perlcranium to its place with the other, is
the very worst, the most tedious and ex-
penslve. There is no fun at all in it. You
VIII only lose time, lose character for pa
tlence, and lessen your chance of recovery,
by trying to be well when you are not. As
soon, therefore, as you find yourself too
much down in the dumps to do business
properly, your best possible way is, to give
i IL up entirely, seclude yourself as perfectly
as you may from bustling world, and Ie-
main insulated from it and all its cares. To
effect this, choose room as far from the
sound OF your knocker as possible, and adj
NIT none but necessary attendants. The
very Sheriff will excuse you if he has any
thing human about him, on being told that
you are sick in bed; but none will excuse
SO long as you are up, though half dead with
pam. Have no side curtains to your bed
they are an abomination to the sick or WE'LL
for, besides being liable to take fire from
every candle that approaches them, they
contine the air, which soon becomes unfit
for respiration. Shut out any light which
is at all disagreeable, and lie down, resolved
not to stir for any one till you get ready. If
your case be not dangerous, YOU may now
consider your cure as half effected since
swell begun is half DONE"
You may now have as much covering or
as little as you please; may sleep if you
can, or browse, or dose, or lie awake, but
on no account think of business or presume
to look into book. Nothing is worse than
reading in bed it is bad practice for the
well, but horrid for the sick it will not on
ly fatigue. but bring you back to the world
again like magic. The room you occupy
must be considered as your little universe,
beyond which your eyes and thoughts are
not to wander. But, as the waking eye
must rest on some object, while the mind
will not consent to be entirely inactive, you
may gaze, with half closed lids, at the wall
over head, associating the stains and crew
ices into pigmy castles, mountains, or ar
mics, or exercise your sconce in contem-
plating the rude figures on the paper which
covers the opposite side of the room. This,
while it does not fatigue, will serve to con-
line the attention, and prevent the mind
from wandering into more complex subjects.
AS for eating and drinking, they should
be pretty much out Of the question, especial
ly as you will not be very voracious about
these times, and twenty-four hours fast
ing will do wonders towards setting you
upon your feet again. A little warm Cruel,
U. -->.,l- TOO nl-.>;-~iIl-,. l..4 thnsa
should be INDUCED in very temporarily.
A physicians advice at such time will
be very proper, but attention to these petty
particulars will vastly aid his prescriptions,
while it is ten to one if he thinks to enun.e-
rate them all to you.
Many, by adopting such aregimen at the
first onset of the disease, may be able to
emerge into the world again, after obliter-
ating one or two days from their calender,
who might otherwise lose many weeks or
months. TRY 1T.