REMARKS.

37

this island, drench their stomachs, and ruin their constitutions.He adds, that a simple infusion of this drug, drank boiling hot, asthe poor generally drink it, is certainly a poison, which, though itbe sometimes slow in its operation, never fails to produce fataleffects, even in the strongest constitution, where the free use of itis continued for a considerable length of time.

The German on his polenta, the American on his mush, and theNorth Britain on his hasty-pudding, can make a hearty breakfastfor a tenth part of what a tea-breakfast would cost, while it isinfinitely more wholesome. It has likewise the advantage that nobread is necessary. '

I have been often told, when recommending soups to the poor,that they had not time to make them, and that they could notafford fuel on account of its price, as it is dear in great towns.They can, however, find fuel twice a-day to boil a tea-kettle, andtime to make the tea, which is a more tedious operation, by far,than making a mess of hasty-pudding. For a great part of theyear even the poorest person must have a little fire ; and it wouldrequire no more to make a comfortable mess of soup, which isalways best when made with a slow fire.

The mode of living that I would recommend to the lower ordersof the people, with a view to save expense and improve theirhealth, is to substitute occasionally other farinaceous substancesin the place of bread, as potatoes, &.c. to give up in a great meas-ure the use of roasted, baked, and broiled meats, and to supplytheir place with hroths, soups, stews, and such like, made with alittle meat and plenty of vegetables ; to give it to children, and togrown people who will eat it for breakfast, milk-porridge, or hasty-pudding with milk, small-beer, or molasses. This will be found amore wholesome breakfast than tea, while it is much cheaper andrequires no bread.*

II

REMARKS.

Although the place of bread may be occasionally suppliedby farinaceous roots and other vegetables, yet we would by nomeans wish to discourage the culture of grain. The culture ofgrain is the culture of men. While the husbandman is raising

* The celebrated Dr. Huffland, in his Art of prolonging Life, says the moderate useof soups is certainly not hurtful ; and it is singular that people should imagine lt tend "too much to relax the stomach. Does not all our drink, even though cold, become in afew minutes a kind of warm soup in the stomach : and does not the stomach retain thesame temperature during the whole day ? Be careful only not to use it ho ; in toogreat quantity at one time, or two watery. It is attended even with great advantagesIt supplies the place of drink, particularly to men of letters, women, and all those whodo not drink, or drink very littie except at table, and who, when they give over souoreceive into their blood too little moisture. And it is here to be remarked that fl a ,used in the form of soups unite much better and sooner with our juices than whendrunk cold and raw. On this account soup is a great preventative of dryness and rigid-itv in the body, and, therefore, the best nourishment for old people, and those who.areof an arid temperament. It even supplies the place of -a medicine Mter c'tdingcold, in nervous head-aches, colics, and different kinds of cramp in the stomach, «armeoup is of excellent service. It may serve as a proof of the utility or atleas.harm

were great friends to it.