46
THE SEDENTARY.
diet, air, clothing, and above all things to the cleanliness of sea*faring people, they would be the most healthy set of men in theworld; but when these are neglected, the very reverse will happen.
The best medical antidote that we can recommend to sailors orsoldiers on foreign coasts, especially where dampness prevails, isthe Peruvian bark. This will often prevent fevers, and other fataldiseases. About a drachm of it may be chewed every day ; or ifthis should prove disagreeable,
Take Peruvian bark 1 ounce.Orange-peel 1-2 ounce.Snake-root 2 ounces.To be added, coarsely powdered, to an English quart of brandy,and infused for fourteen days : half a wine-glassful of which is tobe taken two or three times a-day, when the stomach is empty.
This has been found to be an excellent antidote against fluxes,putrid, intermitting, and other fe/ers, in unhealthy climates. Itis not material in what form this medicine is taken. It mayeither be infused in water, wine, or'spirits, as recommendedabove, or made into an electuary with syrup of lemons, oranges,or the like.
THE SEDENTARY.
Though nothing can be more contrary to the nature of manthan a sedentary life, yet this class comprehends Viy far thegreater part of the species. Almost the whole femaie world, andin manufacturing countries, the major part of the males, may bereckoned sedentary.*
Agriculture, the first and most healthful of all employments, isnow followed by few who are able to carry on any other business.
Though sedentary employments are necessary, yet there seemsto be no reason why any person should be confined for life to thesealone. Were such employments intermixed with the more activeand laborious, they would never do hurt. It is constant confine-ment that ruins the health. A man may not be hurt by sittingfive or six hours a-day ; but if he be obliged to sit ten or twelve,he will soon become diseased.
But it is not want of exercise alone which hurts sedentarypeople ; they likewise suffer from the confined air they breathe.It is very common to see ten or a dozen tailors,t or stay-makers,for example, crowded into one small apartment, where there ishardly room for one person to breathe freely. In this situationthey generally continue for many hours at a time, often with the
* The appellation of sedentary has generally been given only to the studious ; wecan see no reason, however, for restricting it to them alone. Many artificers maywith as much propriety, be denominated sedentary as the studious, with this particulardisadvantage, that they are often obliged to sit in very awkward postures, which thestudious need not do, unless they please.
t A person of observation, in that line of life, told me, that most tailors die of con-sumptions ; which he attributed chiefly to the unfavourable postures in which thevsit, and the unwholesomeness of those places where their business is carried on. Ifmore attention were not paid to profit than to the preservation of human lives thisevil might be easily remedied; but while masters only mind their own interest, noth-ing will be done for the safety of their servants.