Midnight Studies ought to be avoided, as in the highest degree pernicious.
Bruises.–Bathe with Vinegar, and keep cloth wet with Vinegar constantly applied. If very violent, bleeding may sometimes be necessary. Poultice of Bread, Elder or Camomile Flowers, with equal parts of Vinegar and Water: renew two or three times a day. See page 20.
Burns or Scalds.–For two or three days anoint freely with Lime-water and Oil, mixed. Poultices of Bread and Milk, softened with fresh Butter, to abate the heat and inflammation. Diet, and keep the body open. See page 20.
Wounds.–No external application aids the cure in any other way than by keeping the parts soft, clean, and defending from the air. Nature alone effects the cure. See page 19.
Bleeding.–Between the heart and intended puncture apply a bandage, an inch or two off, to swell the vein and cause a free flow; which must be gradually loosened as the blood flows. In all topical affections, draw the blood as near as possible to the affected part. Have the bandage an inch or two wide and about a yard long, and a compress of one or two small pieces of linen, folded two inches square, to lay over the puncture when the bleeding is stopped. Care must be taken not to cut too deep, or over a tendon or artery. Though great advantage may be had by bleeding in the beginning of some inflammatory fevers, in apoplexy, and after severe injuries, &c., it should not be attempted by persons not skilled in anatomy.
GENERAL REMARKS
On the means of Securing Health.
In regard to receipts and “cure-alls,” however promising they may appear, it should always be borne in mind, that what for one person may have proved a positive cure in a particular disease, may prove positively injurious when tried by another for the same disease, or even when repeated for the same individual. The reason is obvious. So much depends upon the different habits, constitution, state of the humours, blood, degree of weakness or strength, &c., in different individuals, and at different periods in the same individual. The medicine which to-day would be proper, by a change in the disease, may to-morrow be the reverse;–and, in short, so many objections will occur to any reflecting mind against the indiscriminate use of remedies, that the greatest caution should be exercised, lest in tampering with disease you destroy health. There is so much adulteration in drugs, so many quack nostrums, pills and impositions, that in all cases of doubt and difficulty, the safer rule is to trust the advice of an intelligent physician.
To PRESERVE HEALTH,–to guard against disease, should be the object, on the score of economy, comfort, and safety; and this may be accomplished in all cases, unless under rare and very peculiar circumstances of exposure. A uniform state of health may be maintained until old age, by a careful observance of the rules already set forth.
These are briefly–1st. A plain, wholesome diet, bearing in mind that high-seasoned compounds, hot dough, under the name of cakes, &c., or dough and grease, under the name of pastry, will essentially ruin the best stomach; and that intemperance in food, drink, and dress, is the foundation and cause of nine-tenths of all the diseases and distress which afflict the human race.
2d. exercise, observing that while to the weakly too sudden, too violent, and long-continued exercise, may be injurious, it is otherwise of the greatest importance. Those who cannot take other and better, may secure much of the advantages of exercise by active friction of the body on retiring to bed and on rising, and by frequent exertion and change of the position.
3d. cleanliness. 4th. pure air. 5th. To guard against taking cold, which may in all cases be done by acquiring the habit of daily washing the person in cold water, especially the neck, breast, arms, feet, &c. This may be rendered easy by habit, and safe at all seasons, by commencing in warm weather, and rubbing with a rough cloth until a glow is excited. This will always be found, and under any exposure, a means of security from cold–that fruitful source of consumption and death.
6th. A due regard to the ease and comfort of clothing. See articles under these several heads, also, “training,” page 23.
Some of these points are so important, that we again say–
Observe to–1. Rise early and never sit up late. 2. Wash the body every
