Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1882-07-08
EXERCISE BEFORE BREAKFAST.
An Old Health Axiom Asserted to
be FaIInciOus b. Dr. Lewis.


Last autumn a robsut gentleman of
| fifty years and two hundred pounds
brought his frail, dyspeptic wife for
some advice
| In the course of long conversation.
7 asked her whether she could exercise
before breakfast.
"No, and ii l got ont for a walk.
which my husband constantly urges, it
destroys my appetite, makes me faint,
produces headache, and spoils me for
all day"
| saw the husband was incredulous,
and a ked him if he could exercise be-
fore breakfast.
81 can walk five miles before break
fast, and when come in am as hungry
a. n wolf. T"
Aud then he added in a tone intended
to be kind and respectful II believe
my wife could do the same thing if she
could only make MP her mind to do it. y.
"But, my fr end, don't you know
that there is wide difference i'll the
capacity of people to do thisand that, a
difference growing out of age, of health,
strength, etc? Don't you know that
what agrees with the stomach, the
nerves, the muscles of one, disagrees
with the stomach, the nerves and the
muscles of another %
1t was plain enough, though he
nodded his head approvingly. that he
still thought if his wife only had his
pluck she could JOIN him in these morn
ing sweats.
Among what is known as the better
classes III America, not more than one
woman in ten can take an early morning
walk, before breafast, with profit. Aud
although / find that in my own case
the early morning is the best time for
work. both intellectual and physical, |
have been compelled to admit, after the
observations OF many years. that there
are many persons. and probably large
majority of women, who cannot avail
themselves of what to me and many
others is luxury.
During my student life in Paris, /
learned to respect the wisdom of the
French. in the management OF the first
meal. When they rise they take few
mouthfnls of bread and coffee, upon
which they go about their work, post
poning the real, substantial breakfast
until !en o'clock, or even later. / fell
into ia custom, and found that for the
early IN pat rounds it was capital
and I have ever since Thought it would
he an excellent system for our delic tie
American ladies. 1t would enable them
to 90 ont to ride or walk early in the
morning. and thus give them u chance
at the fresh air, at an hour when fashion
does not dem and an elaborate dress.
SO very susceptible is the system
early III the morning, before breakfast,
that wise sanitary commanders, sta
toned in bad climates. give their men
breakfast before exposing them to the
dew or other mischievous influence, Sir
George Ballingall, i'll speaking of the
regiment quartered at Newcastle, when
the typhus fever was raging, says ::
Nothing contributed so much to
arrest its ravages as giving the men an
early breakfast of warm coff f-e."
The same early breakfast before going
out has been adopted i'll new countries,
particularly in mslarious districts.
As during the night the stomach and
upper intestines become empty and
weak from the function of digestion
having been long completed, and as the
system has been drained by the rapid,
insensible perspiration during the night
which Sanetorious say Is twice as rapid
rs dnring the day, the system is unsup-
ported.
l have long slept with open windows,
at all seasons and in ali climates Away
from home, often find it difficult to
procure the necessary extra blankets.
| ticient. find no difficulty until about
daylight, when | am awakened by chill
liuess While at sea have observed
that If uncomfortable on account of the
heat during the first hour after retiring,
| have thrown off the bed-clothes,
about daylight 1 have been snre TO
awaken with sense of chilliness
When cholera is in the atmosphere,
it most frequently makes its attacks
about three or four o'clock in the morn
ing. During these two seasons Of the
cholera, 1S49 and 1851, l noticed that
nearly all the genuine, quickly fatal
cases began early in the morning. At
| that time the system is least defended
against the enemy.
| have never permitted myself to
visit patient with any form of malig-
nant or infectious disease, earlv in the
morning, without arming myself with a
warm breakfast.
Thousands of women spoil their ap.
petite flr breakfast, and unfit them
selves for the whole day, by working an
hour over the hot stove before eating
anything. If they wonld adopt the
French custom of taking few mouth.
fuls of bread and some warm drink on
getting out Of bed. 1t would prove q
grateful support. Instead of spelling
the appetite for breakfast it would in
crease it, and give them good start fol
the day. have known adeiicate woman
to drink cup of weak tea and eat {
small piece of bread and butter on ris
ing, with great advantage.
A clerical friend assures me that early
morning study without food nearly
ruined his stomach. -DR. Do LEWIS.
THOSE CIGARETTES. "A street nrchir
was captured the other day, in New
York City, with basket half full of olt
cigar stumps, which he had picked on
of the cutters. TO police court jus
tice he said nat he sold them for tel
cents pound to maker of cigarettes
and that good many boys and girl
were engaged in this industry. Ye
even this explanation, and knowledg
of how ba1 some cigars ara r-ill my