The Hickman courier., 1873-06-28
How Much Shall we Eat?
BY DO oLEwIs.

Sir James Clark thought that one of
the most fruitful sources OF consump-
ton was excessive eating.
An eminent American author afirms
that "where all the arts of cookery are
brought into requision to tempt the APP
petite, it not unfrequentiy produces
consumption. And again, "supera-
bundant and exciting food produces a
morbid condition of the body and de-
rangement of its functions, rapidly
wasting its vitality. Children over-fed
are never healthy. Their excessive full
ness and redness of face, though often
exhibited by fond parents with pride,
indicate an unhealthy condition.
DIR. Hunt declares Our own na-
tion is proverbial for gormandizing,
which is already beginning to deterior-
ate the energies of the American
people.
DIR. Muzzey says Much feeling is
likely to be followed by disease"
Lola Montez declares The ordi-
nary fare of fashionable lady is suf-
fcient to destroy the brightest and
smoothest skin.
DIR. Philips and DR.. Paris recommend
that the dyspeptic should carefully
attend to the first feeling of safety.
Prof. Hitchcock advises that we
should eat only one dish, or, as he ex-
plains it afterwards, Zone course.
The celebrated DR. johnson offers the
following on this point Whenever
meal is followed by an inaptitude for
mental or corporeal exertions, we have
transe,ressed the rules of health. and
are laying the foundation for diseases.
The famous DIR. Cheyne says: "If
any man has eaten or drunken so much
as renders him unfit for the duties and
studies of his profession, he has over
eaten.
Many expedients have been resorted
to to assist in securing moderation
but when the food is good and the so
cial atmosphere pleasant, nine people in
ten go too far.
have a rule which has proved valu-
able. I have recommended il to many
others, to whom it has likewise proved
of great value. 1t is this:
g Before you take the first mouthful,
palce upon your plate all you are to eat,
AID eat but twice day.
This, for the Sspst obvious reasons, is
greatly superior TO any of the rules
have named, and, may add, to all that
have been given. This rule accom-
plishes all that the practice of weighing
does, without embarrassment and an
noyance which weighing involves. 1t is
better than the rule of DR.. johnson and
others, viz, watching while you are eat
ing for the first indication of safety:
for it is almost impossible for dyspep-
tic, with his morbid appetite, to watch,
or halt when he does discover that the
food fails to give the. intense gratifca-
ton of the moment. This is, indeed,
the great difficulty, to use calm iudg-
ment and moral firmness in the midst
of the absorbing pleasures OF a delicious
meal. 1 am free to confess that I have
rarely done it myself, and think 1 may,
without harsh judgment, say do not
know of half a dozen persons who can.
Besides, with this rule, you always
avoid the desert and the condiments,
which, in the shape Of extra salt, mus
tard, pepper, etc, are almost sure to
~dpd their way to your plate during the
-nSal&S What an immense gain it would
prove TO us all, if the desert could be
abolished Ninety-nine people in a
Eelred get enough, and most OF them
too much, befofe reaching it.