The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1856-12-09
TRAVELLING FOR PLEAsupr
VIEWED MEDICALLY

In the last number of the Boston Nh,
cal W orld we find some suggestive hint.
on this subject, the pith of which we win
endeavor to give in few lines.
The writer thinks that in our countr,
there is much travel, ostensibly for health
where in his opinion, the injury far surpas.
ses the gain. Inexorable Fashion saws
we must go from our home in dog DAYS
and in obedience to her mandate, there 10
a rush in all our cities and towns, from thu
metropolis down to the smallest VILLAGE 70
the place where this goddess" spectacle
presides. This is the season when tba
quiet and comfort of home are the mos.
healthful and necessary. But, instead of
this, we find people determinedto EXCHANGE
the large, airy, brick walled rooms of tho
town, and the cool mattress and fine linen.
for the heating cotton, greasy feathers and
dirty sheets of tavern, or pent-up viii
lage or watering place, hotel or BOARDING
house. But who, asks the Doctor cou,5
live through hot summer without VISITING
Nahant, Newport, Saratoga, or Niagara
He does not deny them an occasional trim
to such places, but protests against taking
the hottest season to make these visits,
with the expectation of thereby promoting
health. At the season usually taken, he
says, the organs of digestion are the least
able to discharge their function. They
sympathise with all the ether parts of the
body; and, like them, require rest and,
he asks, is this the time to leave the frugal,
wholesome fare at home, and rush to the
gathering places, where every board groans
with its life-killinS feasts, and where the
-uxurles provided and the exciting presence
and example of hundreds of mouths, eager
to reward the purse at the. expense of the
stomach, render it next to impossible to
obey the laws of health 2 where, besides
this poor pack-horse, this grooming organ,
is leased with mineral waters, wines bitters,
pills, tobacco juice and tobacco fumes, to
ease itself of its cumbrous burdens.
DIR. Smith maintains that there is nothing
more delusive than the generally received
impression that people are growing better,
because, as they suppose, they are gaining
flesh. Under the spasmodic action of this
paraphernalia of stimulants, there is ofter
an appearance of more flesh. But it is
diseased, not sound, healthy flesh. For
every pound of such, nature will be re-
venged.
Hence it is, the Doctor argues, that most
persons, soon after return from such fash
ionable gathering places, have an attack
of dyspepsia, biliOusness, sick headache,
pulmonary affection, or cutaneous eruption.
These abuses, occurring periodically, I'M
dermine the best constitution
Taking children to such places the writ
er denOunces as the very contamination Of
folly. More than half the so-called dis
eases of the season, and the deaths of chill
dren which occur in August and September,
arise, he says, from this fashionable dissi-
patton. No place is so good for children,
if you wish them to live, as quiet home.
But to take them to places of fashionable
resort. and stuff them with tempting viands,
buildings and pastries, is to cheat them out
of two of the best things in the world-a
good conscience and good stomach.