is not so easily digested as fresh provisions, and has a tendency
to produce putrid diseases, especially the scurvy. If vegetables and
milk were more used, there would be less scurvy, and fewer inflammatory
fevers. Our food ought neither to be too moist, nor too dry. Liquid food
relaxes and renders the body feeble: hence those who live much on tea,
and other watery diet, generally become weak, and unable to digest solid
food. They are also liable to hysterics, with a train of other nervous
affections. But if the food be too dry, it disposes the body to
inflammatory disorders, and is equally to be avoided. Families would do
well to prepare their own diet and drink, as much as possible, in order
to render it good and wholesome. Bread in particular is so necessary a
part of daily food, that too much care cannot be taken to see that it be
made of sound grain duly prepared, and kept from all unwholesome
ingredients. Those who make bread for sale, seek rather to please the
eye than to promote health. The best bread is that which is neither too
coarse nor too fine, well fermented, and made of wheat flour, or wheat
and rye mixed together. Good fermented liquors, neither too weak nor too
strong, are to be preferred. If too weak, they require to be drunk soon,
and then they produce wind and flatulencies in the stomach. If kept too
long, they turn sour, and then become unwholesome. On the other hand,
strong liquor, by hurting the digestion, tends to weaken and relax: it
also keeps up a constant fever, which exhausts the spirits, inflames the
blood, and disposes the body to numberless diseases. Beer, cider, and
other family liquors, should be of such strength as to keep till they
are ripe, and then they should be used. Persons of a weak and relaxed
habit should avoid every thing hard of digestion: their diet requires to
be light and nourishing, and they should take sufficient exercise in the
open air. Those who abound with blood, should abstain from rich wines
and highly nourishing food, and live chiefly on vegetables. Corpulent
persons ought frequently to use radish, garlic, or such things as
promote perspiration. Their drink should be tea, coffee, or the like;
they ought also to take much exercise, and but little sleep. Those who
are of a thin habit, should follow the opposite course. Such as are
troubled with sour risings in the stomach, should live chiefly on animal
food; and those who are afflicted with hot risings and heartburn