Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1830-07-07
HEALTH.
From the Journal Of II 9th.
THE FOUR GREAT SOURCES OF HEALTH.

~, ''u "oicoy CilCuidtc Wldely tlrOuSn
the land, what we know to be wise coun-
sci; as is our good fortune to do upon the
present occasion, by laying before our
readers the following chapter from val
liable work, entitled, simplicity OF
! Health"
"Ihe preservation of health mainly
depends on early rising, temperance in
eating and drinking, exercise, and clean
liness.
"Thcse important advantages are dis
trbuted between the rich and the poor in
a tolerably fair proportion, which ac-
counts for the apparent equability in the
length of life between one and the other
The poor have early rising, which is of
the very first consequence, and olwhich
| shall speak hereafter more fully. From
this the rich are almost excluded, because
they have no obligation to compel them,
and because they go to bed too late.
"The humble and often scanty diet of
the poor, which they so much deplore, is
yet of advantage to their health. True
it is that, as they work hard, they could
bear more substantial diet than they can
generally procure. But luxurious living
is very prcjudicial; it vitiates the blood
and humours, and lays the foundation of
numerous complaints. From not being
able to afford suppcrs, the poor enjoy
sound rest, the want of which is so much
complained ofby the rich. But the poor
injure themselves materially by intoXica-
ton, and that with strong drink OF an i'll
terior and hurtful quality. 1t is certain
that every fit of drunkenness has its
share in the shortening oflile, for howev-
er we may find men to whom it appears
to do no injury, nothing is more reasona-
BILE than to conclude, that they would live
longer by avoiding inebriation. Amongst
the better classes, this vice has happily,
for many years past, been gradually de-
Ginning; and it is now great reprOach to
gentlemen to be seen drunk. But they
use rich wines, liquers, and spirits, OF
which, at their numerous meals, without
getting tipsy or drunk, they take too
much altogether. They likewise eat
much more than is necessary or proper,
and that generally olthings so artificially
prepared, that the simple qualities are
lost, and may almost be considered as a
medicine instead of natural food.
"Of exercise, which is allowed by all
as indispensable for the preservation of
health, the poor have generally enough,
and frequently too much; whilst, on the
contrary, the rich, who from their sump-
tuous living, really require more, can,
scarcely be said to take any. This is a
heavy draught on the resources of lon
gevity. The subject is of great impor-
tance, and will in the course of the work
be treated with particular attention.
"But it is in cleanliness that the rich
have indeed inappreciable advantages
over the poor. The word has too extern
sive meaning to be considered, under
all its bearings, in this concise sketch.
1t will suffice here to say, that it must
he taken in something more than its usu-
al signication, personal cleanliness
In the present view, it embraces numcr-
Gus comforts, domestic and personal, and
many valuable convenicnces, presenting
important securities against injury to the
health. That personal cleanliness, a
thing nearly quite disrcgardcd or unprac-
tised by the poor, is of the greatest utli-
ty, will be hereafter fully shown; but
there arc other serious disadvantages to
which their poverty or want of means
subject them. Clothes soaked with rain,
and then sitting by fire, and being
obliged, from want of changes, to wear
the same damp the next day--bad shoes
humid apartments from neglected roofs,
washing of clothes, and other causes
foul air, from many persons crowded in
to single room. Such arc few of the
consequences of the privations of the
poor as to cleanliness and comforts, from
which result constant coughs and colds,
asthma, rheumatism, s. other complaints,
which would preclude them from old age,
were it not for their early rising, simple
diet, and exercise"
"-Therc is much difference between
the laborer in the country and the work
ing classes in large towns. If the for
mcr has to endure wet and hardships out
of doors, he is accustomed to it from his
infancy and is descended from hardy
race; his hovel or hut, be it ever so mis-
cradle, or so crowded, has the advan-
tage of a much purer air than the room
keepers garrct in town; he has fewer op-
portunties OF dissipation; his food, though
poor, is wholesome; his hours of meal
time are more regular, and his work is
more uniformly hcalthlul.
"Ihe country gentleman too has adj
vantagcs over his equal in town. His
exercise is of n roughcr and more dcci-
dcd cast; his food is more plain, because
the conicciioncr, the pastry cook, and the
fore ign ifniicrcr. arc not nlMnys cniiYcn-