healthy state of stomach, in cases where medicines had been tried in vain.” In fact, settled plans of diet, either in health or disease, we hold to be mere chimera. It is rare that two persons are found under the same constitutional or casual circumstances, as regards either health or disease. On this subject, therefore, it will be found, if we take into consideration the nature as well as the methodus of feeding, custom considerably detracts from the injuries which are stated to arise from certain deviations in the quality of our aliment, and its intemperate or unseasonable use; it being well known that eatable things, which people have been long accustomed to, however pernicious they may be in themselves, become, from use, less offensive, and lose a portion of their noxious effects. Were this, indeed, not the case, it would be one of the greatest miseries to live according to the strict rules of physics; much more so, in compliance with the ridiculous injunctions of presumptive quackery. Nature, in fact, is herself changed by custom. Husbandmen and those habituated to laborious lives, eat with eager appetite, "fat and rusty bacon," coarse salt meats, black bread and cheese as insipid and hard as flint stone, and thrive under this, and even coarser fare, which the children of competence, or rather of indolence, would scornfully reject. "Custom," in fine, "is all in all," and matters that would be delicious to some, are delightful to others. This natural, nay exquisite sensation, is frequently experienced by travel lers in a very high degree, from the privations they are frequently obliged to undergo. The strange meats of foreign countries cause great alterations and diseases in the constitution, until custom and use mitigate and reconcile their effects, and makes all good again. In proof of this, we read the history of Mithridates, who, by frequent use, to the astonishment of Pliny, who records it, was able to endure poison; and Curtius relates the story of a young female sent to Alexander by King Porus, who had been fed on poison from her earliest infancy. A shepherd is also mentioned by Theophrastus, who could eat hellebore in substance; and it is well known that the Turks eat opium by drachms at a time. 66 "My appetite," says old honest Montaigne,* "is in several things of itself happily enough accommodated to the health of my stomach; whatever I take against my liking does me harm; but nothing hurts me that I eat with appetite and delight.” And Dr. W. Hunter+ says, "the stomach gives information when the supplies have been expended, and represents, with great exactness, the quantity and quality of whatever is wanted in the present state of the machine; and, in proportion as it meets with neglect, rises in its demand, and urges its petition with a louder voice." Essay on Experience, Book iii. Chap. 13. We have no less authority than that of Hippocrates, the father of physic, corroborated by that of Galen, his learned commentator, that we ought never, unless it be a very bad one, to change custom hastily: the same authority informs us, that it is advisable for all persons to adhere to that which they have been used to eat and drink, and as well as regards exercise and other things; for custom, like an insinuating schoolmistress, silently and gradually establishes her authority over us; and when we oppose her, she then immediately unmasks, and becomes a furious and ungovernable tyrant. Hence nature hates and resists all sudden changes; and she is brought to that state of conformity which may be desirable, by slow and gradual advances. This advice is, indeed, conformable with the opinion of men of all ages who have written on diet; indeed, there seems to be so little mystery in it, that, though all know it, it is but practised by few. "Take food in proportion," says John Hunter,* of immortal memory, "to the quantity of nourishment contained in it, of which the stomach appears from instinct to be capable of judging." Again, Armstrongt Prompted by instinct's never erring power, Each creature knows its proper aliment. Directed, bounded by this power within, Their cravings are well aimed: voluptuous man Is by superior faculties misled; Misled from pleasure, even in quest of joy. * On the Animal Economy, 4to. p. 221. † Art of Preserving Health. Also, Adair-"Whatever is most grateful to the palate, sits most easy on the stomach." Dr. Smith, also, in his "Guide in Sickness" (8vo. p. 59)-"Our stomach is in general a pretty good judge of what is best for it; thousands have perished from being inattentive to its calls, for one who has implicitly obeyed them." "Things disagreeable to palate," says Falconer,* "seldom digest well, or contribute to the nourishment of the body." "Longings, directed by the pure guidance of instinct, and not arising merely from opinion, may not only be satisfied with impunity, but generally be indulged in with advantage.”† "Nothing is more common than for an invalid to inquire of his physician, what dishes are proper for him and which are not so. His doctor might almost as reasonably be required to tell him which was mos agreeable to his palate, as which best agreed with his stomach.”+ + "As to the quality of food, although, whatever is easy of digestion, singly considered, deserves the preference, yet regard must be had to the palate and to the appetite; because it is frequently found, that what the stomach earnestly covets, though of difficult digestian, does, nevertheless, digest better than what is esteemed of easier digestion, if the stomach nauseates * On Diet, pp. 7 and 8. + Withers on the Abuse of Medicine, 8vo. p. 233. it: I am of opinion, the patient ought to eat only of one dish at a meal.”* "Every animal but man keeps to one dish. Herbs are the food of this species-fish of that—and flesh of a third."+ "Be content with one dish at a meal; in the choice of that consult your palate." + The stomach of an invalid occasionally requires a little humouring; but what may be termed simple diet, is to dine off the first course, which, for the most part, in what is termed in a homely way, consists of a joint and the necessary vegetables. These people are by far the most healthy, as well as the most hearty eaters.§ * Sydenham on Gout. + Arbuthnot. + Ibid. |