4»

ON SEDENTARY, STUDIOUS,

it is called, is seldom felt from vegetables, except from tough far-inaceous paste, or the most viscid substances ; while heavinessfrom animal food is more frequently noticed, especially whentaken in any great quantity. 3d, With regard to mixture, there isno instance of difficult mixture in vegetables, exeept in vegetableoils ; while animal food, especially the fatter meats, both fromviscidity and oiliness, are in this respect refractory. 4th, Whenthe putrescency of animal food has proceeded so far, it producesan active stimulus, causing diarrhoea, and dysentery. Theseeffects are, however, but of rare occurrence ; whereas from vegeta-ble food and its acid, which, united with bile, proves a prettystrong stimulus, they more frequently occur ; fortunately, however,they are of less consequence, if the degree of refrigeration be notvery great. 5th, Wherever neither putrefaction nor acidity hasgone to any great length, animal food keeps the belly more regu-lar, &c. 6th, Vegetable food gives a greater proportion of succu-lent matter, and, when exsiccated by the stomach and intestines,is more apt to stagnate and produce slow belly and costiveness,than stimulating animal food, which, before it reaches the largeintestines, where stoppage is made, it has obtained a putrefactivetendency, and gives a proper stimulus ; thus, those who are cos-tive from the use of vegetables, when they return to animal food,are considerably ameliorated in their natural bodily health. See" Natural and Medical Dieteticon, or Practical Hules for eatingand drinking, Sfc." By •?• S. Forsyth, $?c., p. G3 — C7.

Independent of the preceding observations, it is generally prettywell known, that animal food is far more nutritive than vegetable,although they both produce a blood of the same kind but differentin quality. The former affords a more dense stimulating elasticblood than the latter, which stretches and causes a greater degreeof resistance in the solids, as well as excites them to strongeraction.*

CHAP. II.

REMARKS ON SEDENTARY, STUDIOUS, AND LABO-RIOUS OCCUPATIONS, &c.

That men are exposed to particular diseases from the occupa-tions which they follow, is a fact well known ; but to remedy thisevil is a matter of some difficulty. Most people are under thenecessity of following those employments to which they have beenbred, whether they be favourable to health or not.

Chemists, founders, forgers, glass-blowers, and several otherartists, are hurt by the deleterious air they are obliged to breathe ;which is not only loaded with the noxious exhalations arising frommetals and minerals, but is so charged with phlogiston* as to be

• The inflammable principle. — A name given by StahJ to a principle which he ima-gined was pure fire, or the matter of fire fixed in combustible bodies, in order todistinguish it from fire in action, or in a state of liberty .