The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1830-05-05
From the Journal Of H.sith.
CAUTIONS FOR THE SEAcoN

CGfBDFdTe the advpT
OF gentle spring, tbs wind winged emhIon, =,
| nope, and love, and youth, and badness w
would not mar such fair picture by iIl.time
sHdoihg' Let u remain to be enioyed bv a
VINO have taSte for natural beauties. and or
blessed at the same time with the bnovarcv =
health and constitutional vieor. We wonIG
however, that it should be temporarily en;ova,
toy even this description of persons. Our nrov
ince iesds us not to turn away ungraciousIv O
ungyltetu from the rich stores of the seasons
VIII bountiful Providence spreads before No
Dsa' rather to prolong the pleasure by temper
ate and discriminating use.
The sluggish movements and nala sbrrnl
skin, induced by wintry cold, are now succeed
ed ny the light bounding step, carnatIon :int
and sparkling eye. The tendencies of all ami.
m,atec nature, even to the vegetable creation
l.lo1sure lorPio' are now nxnitnd-tk- s =. !
are more acute, the feelings and intellect more
susceptible of varied and energetic display. All
the sympathies between organs are now doubly
active. The great changes of temperature, and
IN the direction and force of the winds at this
season, in which one day differs from another,
as greatly as summer is at variance with winter,
are attended by corresponding mutations in the
activity of the functions of the living body.
The skin, warmed and excited to perspiration
In the noontide sun, will, without due precau-
ton, be chilled, and have its pores suddenly
closed by the keen, cold air of the evening and
night. The hurried breathing and circulation,
by the active exercises of a yernal dav, are Of
ten causes eff painful palpitations, pains in the
side, and headaches, especially when they coin.
eide with sudden obstruction to perspiration.
The sensibilities of the digestive organs being
increased, the full diet of winter, will, if per-
sisted IN, give rise to fever, and aid in evolving
inflammation of the lungs or of the liver, or
rouse into action, latent irritations of the skin
In fine, there is a general tendency to pertur-
button In the vital movements of the animal
economy. Every part is prone to be excited,
and to transmit its disturbance to other parts.
Is the skin obstructed in it's office, it makes the
throat, lungs, and muscles suffer-as we see
IN sore Threats, coughs, pleurisies, splitting of
blood, and rheumatism. Let the stomach be
overtaskSd, and the complaints of the dvspeptic
are redoubled-fushed cheeks and sick-head-
ache become his constant companions The
person who has suffered from intermittent fever
during the preceding autumn, is now in dan
ger OF return of the disease. Gout and apo
plexy, excessive mental excitement, and mad
ness itself, not unfrequently mark the vernal
equinox. Scrofula, little troublesome during
the winter, now breaks out with renewed VIC,
lence-the glands, or small round bodies along
the neck; on each side, become enlarged and
painful, and if neglected they ulcerate Dis
eases of the skin, whether letter or others, are
also troublesome at this time, and give their
possessor most unpleasant notice of the rousing
of sensibilities, which had been in measure,
dormant through the winter.
This may strike the reader as a dark cata-
logue,-and most startling and painful con-
trast with the highly colored and enchanting
ms Al: eis We hope it may arrest
ings on the risks to which he is exposed No
one can boast his entire immunity from danger,
and consequent freedom from the necessity
of precautions. These we shall give with
plainness and brevity. They consist mainly in
attention to clothing, exercise, and diet. No
sudden, or, for length of time yet to come,
any, diminution of the winter clothing, should
be attempted. Exercise should be moderate
less than could have been safely taken in clear
winters day; nor ought the person to be lon
exposed to the sun. If, from any unforeseen
or unavoidable cause, great bodily exertion have
been used, so as to induce perspiratlon and ia
tlgue,-rest in the open air, or remaining sta
tlonary IN passages or cold rooms, or going out
the same evening or night, must be carefully
avoided. Any feeling of chilliness or aching
of the limbs at night, ought to be met by
warm fsot bath, frictions with flannel, or flesh
brush, and draught of simple warm herb tea,
or even hot water.
1HCI6dSo Ol IHlTSl, l0NSEISH neat, pans Oh the
head, or palpitation, with a sensation of languor
or uneasiness, are best obviated by reduction
of the usual quantity of food-and substitu-
ton, almost entire, of vegetable for animal sub
stances. Liquors of all kinds, distilled, vinous
or malt, are to be specially abstained from
The experience of their toleratien during the
winter will be most deceptive, if taken as
guide during the spring. Even the use of cof-
fee and tea, must, in many cases, be diseontin-
| ued-the former especially, if the person be
subject to palpitations Of the heart, or diseases
of the skin.
People afflicted with the latter, are thought
to have their blood in an impure state, and tc
be under the necessity of having recourse tC
various depurative syrups, decections, and whai
not They are fine game for nostrum makers
and vendors, and become ready dupes of sucf
characters. We profess, indeed, to have our
selves some purifying and alternative beverages
in the virtues of which, we place great reliance
Before introducing them to notice, must
however, beg pardon of those persons laboring
under scrofula and cutaneous affections, tC
whom they are in peculiar manner beneficial
for the two notable drawbacks TO our winning
their appreciation and confidence. The frs
.hing is that these drinks cost little or nothing
the second, that they are of good taste, ant
with healing virtues so unequivocally sanction
cd by the wise and experienced Of all ages ant
countries as neither to require any putting no
tice, or lying eulogy. They are not of the elias
of those marvellous agents which are pompous
ly introd. red to public notice, as hurting no
body, and curing every body which an infan
might swallow with impunity, and the mos
desperate leper take, with the full assuranc
of his being cleansed from all impurities as en-
tirely as the Syrian of old, after bathing, by tn
prophets command, in the waters of the Jsr
dan. Not to keep the reader any longer in sus
pense, the elixir of life, and the genuine restc
rative are, first, pure water; and second, mill
either pure as obtained from the cow, or dilute
with water, or its component parts separated
as in butter-milk or whey. Copious potaton
of water, at this season, will be found the yer.
best purifier of the blood and remover of al
peccant matter: while milk, as an article o
diet, with good light bread, baked on the pre-
ceding day, or vegetables, may be regarded a
the grand cordial and true tonic This is, i
many countries, the food of the robust plough