Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-01-10
POPULAR ERRORS IN MEDICINE
By an Edinburgh Physician.

A very common practice in eating such fruit
as cherries is to swallow the stones, with the
vague notion that these promote digestion. No
error can be more fatally absurd. Many cases
have occurred where such practices have been
The cause of death, and that of very eXcruciat-
ing nature. One instance is on record of la
dy who died in great agony after years of sut-
ferng and the cause found to be several
large balls found in the intestines, accumulated
around clusters Of cherry stones. The husks OF
pooseberrieS are often swallowed with the idea
that they prevent any bad effects from the fruit.
On the contrary they are the most indigestible
substance that can be swallowed, and pass the
stomach without any change, although they
cause excessive irritation, and not unfrequent-
ly Inflammation in the bowels
Many people put great faith in the whole
someness of eating only Of one dish at dinner.
They suppose that the mixture of substances
prevents easy digestion. They would not eat
fish and flesh, fowl and beef animal food and
vegetable. This seems plausible notion, but
daily practice shows its utter abSurdlty. what
dinner sits easier on the stomach than slice OF
roast or boiled mutton, and carrots or turnips,
and the indispensable potato? What man ever
-elt the worse of a cut of cod or turbot followed
by beefsteak, or q slice of roast beef and pud-
ding? In short, variety of wholesome food
does not seem incompatible at meals, II one do
not eat too much-here the error lies.
1t is common practice with batherS after
having walked on hot day to the seaside, TO
sit on the cold damp rocks till they cool before
going into the water. This is quite erroneous.
Never go into the water if over-fatigued, and
after the profase and long-continued perspira-
ton, but always prefer plunging in while warm,
strong and vigorous, and even with the nrst
drops of perspiration on your brow. There is
no fear of sudden transitions from heat to cold
being fatal. Many nations run from the hot
bath, and plunge naked into the snow. What
is to be feared is sudden cold after exhaustion
Of the body and while the animal powers are
not sufficient to produce reaction or recoVe-
ry of the animal heat.
There is favorite fancy Of rendering infants
and farther advanced children hardy and strong
by plunging them into cold water. This Will
certainly not prevent strong infants from grow
ing stronger but it will and often does Kill three
children out of every five. Infants always thrive
best with moderate warmth and milk-warm
bath. The same rule applies to the clothing OF
infants and children. No child should have SO
slight clothing as to make 1t feel the eIIects OF
cold--warm materials, loose and wlde-made
clothing, and exercise, are all indispensable Tor
the health of little ones. But, above all things,
their heads should be kept cool, and generally
uncovered.
Many people so laud early rising as would
lead on e to suppose that sleep was one OF those
lazy, sluggish, and bad practices, that the soon
er the custom was abolished the better. sleep
is as necessary to man as food, and as some do
require, so five hours sleep is amply sufficient
for one, while another requires seven or eight
hours Some men cannot by any possiolhty
sleep more than four or five hours in the TWEEN
ty-four; and, therefore true to the inherent sell
ishness of human nature, they abuse all VINO
sleep longer. No man should be taunteo Ior
sleeping eight hours if he can.
Many people do not eat salt with their 1000,
and the fair sex have notion that this substance
darkens the complexion. Salt seems essen.lai
for the health of every human being, more es-
pecially in moist climates such as ours. WIN
out salt the body becomes infected with lnteSt-
nal worms. The case of a lady is mentioned IN
medical journal, who had a natural anupatny
to salt, and never used it with her food; the
consequence was, she became dredfully inject
ed with these animals. A punishment once ex-
listed in Holland, by which criminals were De
MED the use of salt; the same consequence ioi-
lowed with these wretched beings. we rather
think prejudice exstes with some, OF giving IT.
tie or no salt to children. No practice can be
more cruel or absurd.
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