AND I'HE STUDIOUS,

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of a sedentary people flow. The 9crophula, consumption, hysterics,and nervous diseases, now so common, were very little known in thiscountry before sedentary artificers became so numerous; and theyare very little known still among such of our people as follow activeemployments without doors, though in great towns at least two thirdsof the inhabitants are afflicted with them.

It is very difficult to remedy those evils, because many who havebeen accustomed to a sedentary life, like ricketty children, lose allinclination for exercise; we shall, however, throw out a few hintswith respect to the most likely means for preserving the health of thisuseful set of people, which some of them, we hope, will be wise enoughto pay attention to.

It has been already observed, that sedentary artificers are oftenViurt by their bending posture. They ought therefore to stand or sitas erect as the nature of their employments will permit. They shouldlikewisechangetheirposture frequently, and should never sit too longat a time, but leave off work, and walk, ride, run, or do any thingthat will promote the vital motions.

Sedentary artificers are generally allowed too little time for exer-cise ; yet short as it is, they seldom employ it properly. A journey-man tailor or weaver, for example, instead of walking abroad forexercise and fresh air, at his hours of leasure, chuses often to spendthem in a public-house, or in playing at some sedentary game, bywhich he generally loses both his time and his money.

The awkward postures in which many sedentary artificers workseem rather to be the effect of custom than necessity. For example,a table might surely be contrived for ten or a dozen tailors to sitround with liberty for their legs either to hang down, or rest upon afoot-board, as they should chuse. A place might likewise be cut outfor each person, in such a manner that he might sit as conveniently fcrworking as in the present mode of sitting cross-legged.

All sedentary artificers ought to pay the most religious regard tocleanliness. Both their situation and occupations render this highlynecessary. Nothing would contribute more to preserve their health,than a strict attention to it: and such of them as neglect it, not onlyrun the hazard of losing health, but of becoming a nuisance to theirneighbourhood and friends.

Sedentary people ought to avoid food that is windy or hard of digestion, and should pay the strictest regard to sobriety. A person whoworks hard withoutdoors willsoon throw off a debauch ; butonewhosits has by no means an equal chance. Hence it often happens, thatsedentary people are seized with fevers after hard drinking. Whensuch persons feel their spirits low, instead of running to the tavernfor relief, they should ride or walk in the fields. This wouldremovethe complaint more effectually than strong liquor, and would neverhurt the constitution.

Instead of multiplying rules for preserving the health of the seden-trary, we shall recommend to them the following general plan, viz.Thai every person who follows a sedentary employment should culti-vate a piece of ground with his own hands. This he mightdig, plant