our, a
little essence of anchovy, and a glass of sherry. Give it a boil, serve
in a boat, and the fish in the paper cases.

REGIMEN. It may be difficult accurately to ascertain the predominant
qualities of particular constitutions, or of the food that is best
adapted in particular instances; yet it is certain, that health is
dependent on regimen and diet, more than on any other cause. There are
things so decidedly injurious, and so well known to be so, as to require
no admonition; the instincts of nature will teach us to refrain; and
generally speaking, the best rule for our practice is to observe by
experience, what it is that hurts or does us good, and what our stomachs
are best able to digest. We must at the same time keep our judgment
unbiassed, and not suffer it to become a pander to the appetite; or the
stomach and the health will be betrayed to the mere indulgence of
sensuality. The gratification of our taste in the abundant supplies of
nature, converted by art to the purposes of wholesome food, is perfectly
compatible with the necessary maintenance of health; it is only the
indiscriminate or inordinate indulgence of our appetites, regardless of
the consequences, that is the proper object of censure. Many of the
diseases to which we are subject might be traced to this source; yet we
are generally so little aware of it, that we impute them to the state of
the weather, to infection, or any other imaginary cause, rather than the
true one. The weather has very little serious effect upon a person in
health, unless exposed to it in some unusual manner that suddenly checks
perspiration, or some of the ordinary evacuations. Infection, though of
formidable import, is almost divested of its power over those whose
temperance in food and diet keeps the blood and juices pure. The closest
attendance upon an infected person has often been found perfectly
consistent with personal safety under such circumstances. Even diseases,
said to be hereditary, may with great probability be assigned to errors
in domestic life, of which the children partake, and fall into the same
disorders as their parents, and remote progenitors. But even if this be
not exactly so, an originally indifferent constitution may certainly be
much amended by proper management. Amongst a variety of causes producing
ill health, there can be no doubt but bad air, want of cleanliness, want
of exercise, excessive fatigue, and mental uneasiness, must have an
unfavou