The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1831-1858, 1832-12-26
From The Journal of Health.
MY UNCLE,s EXPERIENCE.


sense ]" exclaimed my uncle the otht r
evening, after having read through atten-
lively. one of the most celebrated papers on
hygiene " Behold me now sixty years Of
! age, hale and hearty-to attain TO this con-
dition at a period when other men sink
beneath their years, did diet and starve,
and worry, and fuss !? no, mol drained
my bottle Of wine daily, besides, on occa-
slons. an additional one or two, to keep my
friends in countenance have enten hot
suppeIs. and cold suppers without number
! have gune to bed at twelve O'clock night
after night, and didn't rise next morning, as
you may suppose, much before nine o'clork
and can assure you, all this never caused
Inc moments uneasy feelings much less
of sickness"
| So spake my uncle, and in the honesty
of his heart he verify believed that he was
utteriDg the actual result of his own expe-
rlence. The truth of his declarations he
would have maintained before Emperors
and Councils, Judges and Jures. And yet
very slight retrospect of his own life,
could he have divested himself for a moment
OF certain prejndices, the result of opinions
and habits to which he had for so many
years been addicted, would have shown
HIM that IN nearly every particular, the
real facts of the case were the very re-
verse of what his statements would lead us
to suppose. That in truth he was himself
living commentary Of the reality and i'm
porianee Of hygienic rules.
My uncle was by birth a Saxon. AT an
early age he left his native land. and arrv-
ed in Philadelphia, with no other capital
than light heart an intimate acquaintance
with every thing relating to the practical
details OF commerce, and ample certificates
of his industry, his sobriety and his prcb!ty.
With these slender means, and in the midst
Of strangers, he succeeded SO well in get
ing on in the world" that his thiriieth year
found him furnishing wholesale and re-
tail merchant with capital of ten thousand
dollars
With the exception of the ordinary all
ments of childhood, and a cold upon the
chest, that had very nearly consigned him
to his final abode, and which he caught
while serenadlng the lady who subsequent
ly became his wife, one stormy night in the
fall ofthe year, he had lived to the age Just
mentioned in state of uninterrupted health.
Full of spirits, with just that much devo-
ton to business which prudence dictates az
necessary TO ensure success, plain and
simple in his diet, contented in his mind
his only amusements were walk, Of length
sufficient, however, to cripple modern
dandy, an occasional excursion on horse
back, and once a week a private concert,
and a game at nine pins or ut tennis.
At thirty my uncle married, and soon
after, he exchanged MS store for counting
house-conining business entirely to that
of shipp'ng merchant. For some time, no
alteration whatever took place in his ordi-
! nary habits. He of course had n greater
amount of leisure than when he was tied
( down to the counter for the greater part OF
| the day, and this leisure was chiefly spent
! in domestic cares or in the houses of his
own friends, or those of his wifi's numer-
Gus relatives. His manner of living was
still as plain, regular and simple as hereto
! fore. His health too was as good, and his
mind as cheerful.
At length, however, my uncle's habits
did undergo change-but by degrees
only. He became less artive-day after
day passed without any longer walk being
taken by him, than from his dwelling to his
counting house and home again. He IN
dulged himself more too in the morning
than he bad been wont to do; the State.
| house clock often sounded eight, and even
/ nine, before he was abroad at the same
| time the pleasures the table began to he a
] mattero of more serious importance than he
had considered them formerly-he became
| more difficult to please than formerly both in
| the nature and preparation of his food, and
often, worst change of all, he would con
sumo the greater part of the afternoon in
discussing by himself hottie of rare wine
| and know uet, and doubt whether he did
! himself, how many cigars. Very quickly he
! became so much the slave of his stomach
that besides his domestic meal, rich in va
riety, and inGuiged into safety, the night
also was spent in fcasting. Little parties
of his friends and countrymen were formed
| 10 meet at some favoriie eating house, for
! the only apparent purpose of devouring
J plate-ful after plate-full of fried oysters
! stewed terrapns or boiled Holsters with
ct ceteras, and to drink large draughts Of
I wine or whskey punch. Although my I'M
Gle was never known to drink to such an
excess as to produce state of absolute in
( toxication, yet the mole of life we have
just described produced a very marked
change in his appearance. AT his forty fifth
year, his body had nearly doubled in bulk
he lost nearly all the vivacity he displayed
in former years-bis eyes exhibited dull
sleepy look, and his nights were sleeplesc
or disturbed. Although from his portly
exterior and dark rosy complexion, he was
often complimented on his robust health
: yet he frequently complained of being
troubled with certain uneasy but scarcely
dehnable sensations in his head, stomach
and limbs. For these the doctor was otter
consulted. though his prescriptions were
seldom followed more than one day. My
uncle had little faith in the virtues of medi
cnes. In this manner he went on until hi:
forty eighth year, when he was suddenly
attacked one day, Immediately after dinner
with Il severe fit Of appoplexy; from which
however, he was happily recovered by The
prompt and efficient treatment of his med
cal attendants. Sorely against his will
however, he was restricted for upwards o
three months 10 very spare diet, was de
barred the use of wine, ana forced 10 exer
else daily in various ways. At the end o
this period he was pronounced entirely
well. Never in fact, MS he himself comics
sed, had he felt himself in better health
| Gradually, however, he fell into his forme
] mode Of living, and in his filteth yeai h,
was confined to his bed with a severe at
tack of the govt; the first he had expert
enced. His physician now very plainly ex
| planned TO him his danger, and pointed on
the only condition upon which he coul,
hope TO enjoy life without intense suffering
and postpone for many months fatal in
road upon his stomach or his brain. Ate
much persuasion, he was induced to adop
to u certain extent, the plan Of living whicl
! had been laid down for bin. That is [,