, 1843-04-22
From the Lady's Book.
of America.

OF notably, must he struck with TIT
melancholy fact that nearly one fifth
of the whole number of deaths re
ported. are ascllbed to consumption
and other diseases Of the lungs. AL
this, we are told is a necessary con
sequence Of the vicissitudes of oul
climate, and many regard the evil a:
bevond regret, because beyond rem
edy. Now, a very little acquaint
ance with the general effects of eli
mate will empower us 10 see that we
lay too much stress on one circum.
stance, and utterly neglect to take in.
to the account some other things
which are equally worthy Of consid.
GRAFTON. lnsalubrity, proceeding
from an impure atmosphere, or one
frequently varying in its temperature.
is seldom found to exercise a delete
rious effec, on those who have alpays
been subjected TO its influence. Its
injurious tendency is usually confn.
ed TO persons who have emigrated
from more healthy locations. Some
parts Of Louisiana, which are proverbi-
ally unhealthy, will exemplify this
truth. They who are born and bred
in those rigions are comparatively
but little affected by the miasma
which infects the atmosphere, while
those who remove thither from other
parts, seldom enjoy uninterrupted
health. and often become the victims
of their W temeritv.
If the climate of North America is
generally so very insalub-ious as
some persons pretend, we would find
emigrants from Europe especially H.
able to lis influence; but this appears
not to be the case.-Foreigners, we
think, are proportionabIy less SUBJ
jected TO pulmonary disease than ma
tive Americans. Let It's see if we
cannot exculpate the climate Of our
mother country from a portion, at
least, of the blame which some Of our
countrymen have bestowed upon it
rather liberailv.-Fo effect this vim
dlcation, we will endeavor TO show
that the fault, or Il part Of it, may pos.
Sibiy lie ia other directions.-Wc
conine our remarks to those causes
which we suppose TO be most cogent
in producing the extensive devasiia.
tons of pulmonary consumption.
This malady, most probably, may
be referred for IFS predisposing cause,
to the stomach. Il that organ be in
a perfectly healthy state, we incline
to think that consumption can rarely
or never occur.-This is the opinion
of many eminent physicians OF the
present day. Can it be denied that
we citizens of the U. States are ha.
bituaIly addicted to many things
which produce debility and conse.
quenl disease of the digestive organs?
Luxurious diet is, more or less, with
in the reach Of almost every class.
and this is one abundant source of
the mischief. A variety of dishes
s~olicits the appetite, and a man who
sits down TO a board thus covered.
may easily be Incorporate without
suspec,ing it. Here is laid a iounda-
ton for dyspepsia, and dyspepsia is
the vesiibule of consumption. Then
Americans eat fast-uide Trollope
and the hotels passim. We have
heard an old lady remark that indus
trious people always eat fast. Be
that as it may,i it is better to be a lit
lie lazy in this particular. No time
will be lost by it, for you Will assur-
eddy live the longer.
Another thing to be considered is,
hat we Americans eat more animal
food than almost any other civilised
nation. A superabundance of ami
NAL food is not good for the stomach;
and when persons who indulge them
selves too freely in this article of di.
ct, are of sedentary habits, or do not
use a great deal of exercise, i'll con-
sequences may easily be foreseen.
With respect to exercise, very few
persons, exercise; very few persons,
except laborers use enough of it; and
constant bodily employment, in the
case OF laboring people, prevents
many Of the bad effects which might
otherwise arise from errors ia diet.
Hence itcomes that laborers seldom
have the dyspepsia, and very seldom
the consumption; Notwithstanding
they are more exposed to the changes
OF weather than others. People must
do one of three things, viz, use A good
deal of exercise, be very temperate
or be sick.
Again. let US consider that we A.
mericans are an anxious people. Our
minds are always on the stretch.
Such is the nature of those pursuits
in which we are mOsf d~ayontly an