The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-10-01

Tn PULL PROM THB LATEST LoNDON EDIrIoNsl
Ofall the parasites that affect humanity do
mot know of, nor can l imagine, any more dis.
tressing than that Of Obesity. and having iust
emerged from very long probation in this anlc-
tlon, am desirous of circulating my humble
knowledge and experience for the benefit Of my
fellow with an earnest hope IL may lead to
The same comfort and happiness l nov feel under
the extraordinary change-which might almost
be termed miraculous had 1t not been accom-.
lished by the most simple common.sense means.
OBESITY NOT APPRECIATED.
Obesity seems to me very little understood or
properly appreciated by the faculty AMI Ia, pub
lie generally, or the former would long ere this
have hit upon the cause for so lamentablc dis
ease, and applied effective remedies, waist the
latter would have spared their ipjudlcious in lnl-
gence in remarks and sneers frequently painful
in society and which, even on the strongest
mind, bave an unhappy tendency; but L sim
cerely trust this humble effort at expo 3iton may
lead to a more perfect ventilation Of the subject
and a better feeling for the afflicted
It would afford me infinite pleasure and salts.
faction 10 name the author Of my redemption
from this calamity, as he Is the only one that /
have been able to find land my search has not
been sparing) who seems thoroughly up in the
question but such publicity might be construed
improperly, and have, therefore, only to offer
my personal experience as the stepping stone
to public investigation, and TO proceed with my
narrative of facts, earnestly hoping the reader
will patiently peruse and thoughtfuy consider
il, with forbearancc for any fault of style or die
tion, and for any seeming presumption in pub
fishing IL.
TIE AUTHOR RESOLVES TO ASSIST THE AFFLICTED.
have felt some difficulty in deciding on the
proper and best course of action. Az one time |
thought the editor OF the Lancet would kindly
publish letter from me on the subject but
further reflection led me to doubt whether au in
significant individual would be noticed with )nt
some special Introduction. In the April number
of the C0TnhiA Magazine l read with much in
terest an article on the subject-dofning tolera-
bly, we'll the effects, but offering no tangible
remedy, or even positive solution Of the problem,
"What is the cause Of obesity !" was pleased
with the articles as whole, but objected to some
portions, and bad prepared letter to the editor OF
that magazine offering my experience on the sub
jeCt, but again IL struck me that an unknown
Individual like myself would have but little pros
pect of notice; SO / finally resolved TO publish
and circulate this pamphlet, with no other rea-
SOD, motive or expectation than an earnest desire
TO help those who happen to be afflicted as | was,
t0r that corpulence is remediable am we'll con-
Finced, and shall be delighted if can induce
:. others to think so. The object have in view
r. Hk,eb me 70 enter into minute particulars, as
as general observations, and to revert 10 by
3. {fonc years in order to show that have spared
& no pains nor expense to accomplish the great end
of stopping and curing obesity.
PERSONAL DESCRIPTION.
am now nearly sixty-six years of age about
Eve feet five inches in stature and in August last
1852 weighed tive hundred and two pounds,
which think It right TO name, because the article
b. the CornkiR Maga=ine presumes that certain,
uature and age should bear, ordinarily, certain
Weight, and am quite of that opinion. l now
weigh one hundred and sixty seven pounds, show
ing diminution Of something like one pound per
week since August; and having now very nearly
attained the happy medium, have perfect cont-
deDCe that a few more weeks viii fully accom-
plish the object for which have labOred for the
last thirty ears in vain, until it pleased Almighty
Providence to direct me into the right and proper
ohannel-the tram way SO to speak-of happy,
Comfortable existence.
Pew men have led more active life-bodily
or mentally-frOm constitutional anxiety for
regularity, precision and order, during fifty
years business career, from which have now
retired, so that my corpul~nce and subsequent
obesity was not through neglect Of necessary
body activity, nor from excessive eating drink
irgTbr self-indulgence of any kind, except that |
psrOOk of the simple ailments of bread, milk,
butter. beer sugar, and potatoes more freely than
my aged nature required, and hence, rs believe,
the generation Of the parasite, detrimental 10
comfort if not really to health.
EXPERIENCES OF THE AUTHOR.
viii not presume to descant on the bodily
structural tissues, so fully canyassed in the Corn
hW N1gorine, nor how they are supported and
Teuoyated, having no mind or power to enter into
these questions, which properly belong to the
wise heads of the faculty. None OF my family on
the side Of either parent had any tendency TO
cofpulence, and from my earliest years 1 had
an inexpressible dread of such a calamity,
So when i was between thirty and forty years
of age, finding, tendency TO it creeping upon
me, consulted an eminent surgeon, now long
deceased-a kind personal friend-who re-
commended increased bodily eXertion before
my ordinary daily labors began, and thought
row ing an excellent plan. had the command of
agrod, heavy, safe boat, lived near the river, aud
adopted IL for couple of hours in the early morn
ing 1t is true gained muscular vigor, but with
it prodigious appetite, which was compelled
10 indulge, and consequently increased IN weight,
until my kind old friend advised me TO fJrsake
the exercise.
He soon afterwards died, and as the tendency
to corpulence remained, consulted other high
orthodox authorities (nerer any inferior adUiseT),
but all in vain. have tried sea air and bathing
in various localities, with much walking exercise
taken gallons of physic and liquor pOtassp, ad-
viledly and abundandy; riding on horseback
the waters and climate of Leamiugton many
times, as well as those OF Cheltenham and Harrow
gate frequently have lived upon sixpence day,
so 20 speak, aud earned it, If dily labor may be
so construed and have spared no trouble nor
expense in consultations with the best authorities
in she land, giving each and all fair time for
experiment without any permanent remedy, ms
the evil still gradually increased
/ am under obligations to most Of those
adyisers for The pains aud interest they took in
m case but only 20 one for an eiiectual remedy.
CONFLUENCE INCREASES WITH AGE.
when q coTpulent man cats, driaks, and sleeps
wtii has no pain 10 complain OF. and no partcu-
lar o'g 'gauic disease, the Judgment Of able men
setrus rayzed-for l have been generally
informed thar corpuence is one OF the nltural
results Of increasing ears, indeed, une Of the
abie.t authorities Hs ply slciAu IN she land told
mt be had csIu,d one pound in weight every
yer since ne attained maun8oI, and was not
sur; sod at my CONDITION. 0ut advised more
bodily eNerc se-va yor-baths agd slampJOug, In
addition 10 tEc medicine given. let the evil still
increased, and like the parasite Of barnacles on
shin, If il did not destroy the structure, 10 OBJ
structed its fair, comfortable progress in the path
OF life.
ANNOYANCE oF PUBLIC NOTICE.
| have been in Dock perhaps, twenty times in
as many years, for the reduction Of this disease,
and with little good effect-none lasting. Any
one so afflicted is often subject TO public remark,
and though in conscience he may care little about
It. am confident no man labOring under OBESITY
can be quite insensible 70 the sneers and remarks
Of the cruel and injudicious in public assemblies,
public vehicles the ordinary street tratflc; nor
10 the annoyance of finding no adequate space IN
apublic assembly If he should seek amusement
OF need refreshment, and therefore he naturally
Keeps away as much as possible from places
NneIe be Is likely 10 be made the object OF the
S saunn & ana remarks OF others. am as regard ess
y, ~ PuphS ai remark as most men, but l have felt
ss,ae esses and therefore avoided such cir