Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1837-04-19

by my physician, to the use of a little
brandy daily; which gave me, as I
thought, some relief.
About this time, I returned to Boston.
and to eating and drinking whatever nv
appetite crayed and laboring under all
my accommodating pains found that my
nervous system was getting into highly
irritable condition; and | soon became
troubled with spasmodic affections and
m particular spasmodic cough, which at
times almost ended in suffocation.
L had now arrived at the age of thirty
i've; and with the occasional use Of brandy,
was able TO Supply and quiet, some Of
my spasmodic affections, for the time be-
ing, and having as much business as |
could attend to- and being out in the open
AIR more than usual, | continued along,
until / was about forty years of age, in
spite ofmy impure diet and habits Of life:
at this time [ began to feel sensible fall
ing OH IN my bodily strength and energy
OF mind my old complaints were evident
~ gaming upon me, such ss rheumatic
pains, headache, dizziness, teeth-ache, and
loss OF teeth, dispepsy, canker in the
mouth sPasmodlc cough; and other spas
modlc affections, nervous irritabiIity, ex
treme costlveness, and fatulency, and then
dIarrh1a would follow. attended with great
pam, low spirits, peevish, timid, and mel
anchoIy, bordering on insanity
now began seriously TO apply for medi-
cal aid, hut could get no relief permanent
~, and feeling satisfied that nv physician,
whom had employed for several wears,
did not understand my complaints, en-
ployed another equally skiIfll, but he
gave me little or no relief; I then tried
third and fourth and they gave me to
understand that | should find little or no
relief IN the use Of medicine, and all this
Time not one of my physicians had made
any particular enquiry about my diet
In this way continued until the age of
torty-hve, dragging out most miserable
existence for the last ten years.
1t now occurred to me, that sometime
ate' or drank, was the cause of nv mis-
cradle health; and as there was much
talk at the time, on the injurious effects
from the use of ardent spirits, concluded
to leave off the use of them, and found
partial relief from pain in some particu-
lars but after while [ returned to the
use OF brandy again, to Supply and quiet
my sPasmodic affections; but it rather
served 10 aggravate, than to relieve me;
l then abandoned the use of it altogether'
except rs medicine, when nothing else
would relieve me-; continued to think
something was wrong in my diet, and by
carefully watching my feelings after eat
ing, was soon convinced that mince or
meat pies gave me much uneasiness in the
stomach; the use Of these, and other rich
kinds OF pastry and cakes, I abandoned.
next discovered that the use of tea pro-
duced fatulency, and irritated the alimen-
tary canal, and the nervous system gener-
ally; and twice after using tea pretty
freely, was taken with great pain in the
bowels and elsewhere. Surprising was
aitac ked with the cholera, sent for a phv-
stefan in great agony then abandoned
the use OF tea, and took milk and water
as substitute, and received some relief
IN dong it; but some of my complaints
were growing worse, nv feet became
cold and was with difficulty that could
keep them from a cold damp sweat even
IN The warmest weather in mid summer
MY nerves were easily irritated, so that
what once were trifes for me TO bear.
would now bring on spasmodic affections
l then lost all hope of recovering nv
health IN Boston; and began closing IN
my business and settling nv estate, sun
posing had but a year or two lonoer 70
IlVe; but before l had completed this
business, Mr.. Graham, in the providence
OF God, came to lecture in Boston, on the
SUBJECT OF diet and regimen-and meeting
with friend, who had attended some IF
ms lectures, [ was prevailed on to give
him a hearing. soon became interested
IN the principles he taught; and finally
adopted them in diet and regimen; and in
tour months from the commencement oft,
the Improvement in my health was as
tonlshlng! and suppose | perceived it
the more because the change which he I
recommended to be brought about in one
year had effected in one short month
IL Is true, l lost number of pounds in
weight, IN the course of four months. but
my diseases and pains left me much faster
than my hesh, SO that | declared in the
presence Of some of my friends, who were
endeaVorIng to brighten me back again 10
my former diet, that / was ready to have
my weIgnt reduced down to one hundred
pounds If my disease and pains contipu-
ed to leave me in the same proportion.
My appetite for food returned, soon af-
er my change of diet, and nv strength
actually Increased, while / was losing .
iesh The joints of my limbs became
lmber and stronger, could walk with {
great ease, and without firing as before
md when l weighed less than / recollect
u having weighed for twenty years past
md AFTER having performed nv usual la.