American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1874-09-26
How to Preserve Health.

In a chapter devoted to Letter Writing
in HITS Manual is given the following
pertinent suggestions on health, in let
ter under the head of Letters of Ad-
vice."
Yours of the I'd inst is before me. 1
am pleased with the prospect that you
report in your business, but regret that
you should feel discouraged about your
health. You ask me what you had better
do; l will answer:
The first great secret of good health is
good habits; and the next is regularity of
habits. They are briefly summed up in
the following rules:
1. Sleep-Give yourself the necessary
amount of sleep. Some men require five
hours of the twenty-four; others need
eight. Avoid feather beds Sleep in a
garment not worn during the day. Sleep
with person stronger and healthier than
yourself or no one; and have plenty of
fresh air in your room.
2. Dress warmly, with wooden under
shirts and drawers. Remove muller,
OvercOat, overshOes, etc, when remain
ing any considerable length of time in a
warm room. Keep your feet warm and
dry. Wash them in warm water two or
three times week Wear warm stock
ings large boots, and overshoes, when in
the snow or wet. Wear light covering
on the head, keeping it always cool.
3. Cleanliness-Have always pint or
quart of water in the sleeping room. In
the morning, after washing and wiping
hands and face, then wet with the hands
every part of the body. Cold water will
not be disagreeable when applying it
with the bare hands. Wipe immediate
ly; follow by brisk rubbing over the
body. The whole operation need not
take over five minutes. The result of
this wash is, the blood is brought to the
surface of the skin and made to circu-
late evenly through the body. You have
opened the pores of the skin, allowing
impurities in the body to pass of, and
have given yourself in the operation a
good vigorous morning exercise. Pursue
this habit regularly and you will seldom
take cold.
utes spent in the open air, after dressing,
initiating the lungs by inhaling as full a
breath as possible, and pounding the
breast during the imitation, will greatly
enlarge the chest, strengthen the lung
power and very etfectually ward off con-
sumption.
5. Diet-f inclined to be dyspeptic
avoid mince pie, sausage and other high
ly-seasoned food. Beware of eating too
freely of soups; better to eat food dry
enough to employ the natural saliva of
the mouth in moistening it. If inclined
to over eat partake freely of rice, cracked
wheat and other articles that are easily
digested.
Eat freely of ripe fruit, and avoid ex-
cessive use of meat. Eat at regular
hours, and lightly near the hour of going
to bed. Eat slowly. Thoroughly masti-
cate the food. Do not wash it down
with continual drink while eating. Tell
your funniest stories while at the table,
and for an hour afterward. Do not en-
gage in severe mental labor directly
after hearty eating.
q. EXercise-Excrcise,n not too violent
but sufficient to produce a gentle per
SEPARATION, should be had each day in the
open air
Z. Condition of Mind-The condition
of the mind has much to do with health
Be hopeful and joyous. To be so, avoid
business entanglements that may cause
perplexity and anxiety Keep out of
debt. Live within your income Attend
church. Walk, ride, mix in jovial COM
pany. Do as nearly right as you know
how. Thus conscience will always be ut
ease. If occasionally disappointed, re-
member there is no rose without a thorn,
and that the darkest clouds have a silver
lining; that sunshine follows storm, and
beautiful spring follows the dreary
winter. Do your duty, and leave the
rest To God, who doeth all things well.