The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-09-30
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POPULAR ERRORS IE MEDIciNE.-By an Ed
inburg Physician. MANY people put great faith
in the wholesomeness Of eating only one dish
at dinner They suppose that the mixture Of
substances prevent easy digestion. They would
not eat fish and flesh fowl and beef, animal food
and vegetables. This seems a plausible no
ton, but daily practice shows its absurdlty
What dinner sits easier on the stomach than a
slice of roasted or boiled mutton and carrots or
turnips, and the indispensable potato? What
man ever felt the worse for cut of cod or
turbot followed by a beefsteak or slice of roast
beef and pudding. In short, variety Of whole
some food does not seem incompatible at meals,
if one do not eat too much-here the error lies.
1t is common practice with bathers, after
having walked on hot day to the sea side, to
sit down on the cold damp rocks till they cool,
before going in the water. This is quite erro-
neous. Never 60 into the water over-fatlgued,
or after profuse and long continued perspra-
ton, but always prefer .punging in while
the first drops of perspiration are on your
brow There is no fear of sudden trans
ition 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 the exhaustion of the body, and while
the animal powers are not sufficient to produce
a reaction or recovery Of the animal heat.
There is a 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 il vii and often does, kill three
out of every five. Infants always thrive the
best with moderate warmth, and a milk warm
bath. The same rule applies to the clothing Of
infants and children. No child should have so
light clothing as to make it feel the effects Of
cold; warm materials, loose made clothing,
and exercise, are indispensable for the health of
the little ones. But above all things therheads
should be kept cool and generally uncovered.
Many people so laud early rising as would
lead one to suppose that sleep was one of those
lazy, sluggish and bad practices, that the sooner
the custom was abolished the better. Sleep is
as necessary to man as food, as some do with
one third the food that others absolutely require
7 or s hours. Some men cannot by any pos
sbity sleep more than four or five hours in "a /;
and therefore. true to the inherent selhshness
of human nature they abuse all who sleep lon
ger. No one should be tainted for sleeping
eight hours if he can.
MANY people do not eat salt with their food,
and the fair sex have notion that this substance
darkens the complexion. Salt seems essential
10 the health Of every human being, more espe-
cially in moist climates. Without salt the body
becomes infested with intestinal worms. The
case of lady is mentioned in medical jour
nal who had a natural antipathy to salt and ne
yer used it with her food; the consequence
was, she became dreadfully infested with these
animals. punishment once existed IN Hol-
| land by which criminals were denied the use OF
salt; the same consequences followed with
these wretched beings. We rather think pre-
| judice exists with some of giving little or no
salt to children. No practice can be more cruel
| and absurd.