SUPPERS AND BREAKFASTS CONTRASTED. 61

fasting will atone for excess ; but this, instead of mending thematter, generally makes it worse. When the stomach and intes-tines are over distended with food, they lose their proper tone, andby long fasting, they become weak, and inflated with wind. Thuseither gluttony or fasting destroys the powers of digestion.

Long fasting is extremely hurtful to young people ; it not onlyvitiates their humours, but prevents their growth. Nor is it lessinjurious to the aged. Most persons in the decline of life, are af-flicted with wind : this complaint is not only increased, but evenrendered dangerous, and often fatal, by long fasting. Old people,when their stomachs are empty, are frequently seized with giddi-ness, head-achs, and faintness. These complaints may generallybe removed by apiece of bread and a glass of wine, or taking anyother solid food ; which plainly points out the method of prevent-ing them.

It is more than probable, that many of the sudden deaths, whichhappen in the advanced periods of life, are occasioned by fastingtoo long, as it exhausts the spirits, and fills the bowels with wind:we would, therefore, advise people, in the decline of life, never toallow their stomachs to be too long empty. Many people takenothing but a few cups of tea and a little bread, from nine o'clockat night till two or three the next afternoon. Such may be saidto fa<t almost three fourths of their time. This can hardly fail toruin the appetite, vitiate the humours, and fill the bowels withwind ; all which might be prevented by a solid breakfast.

SUPPERS AND BREAKFASTS CONTRASTED, &C.

It is a very common practice to eat a light breakfast and a heavysupper. This custom ought to be reversed. When people suplate, their supper should be very light ; but the breakfast ought al-ways to be solid. If any one eats alight supper, goes soon to bed,and rises betimes in the morning, he will be sure to find an appe-tite for his breakfast, and he may freely indulge it.

The strong and healthy do not indeed suffer so much from fast-ing as the weak and delicate ; but they run great hazard from itsopposite, viz. repletion. Many diseases, especially fevers, are theeffect of plethora, or too great fulness of the vessels. Strong peo-ple, in high health, have generally a great quantity of blood andother humours. When these are suddenly increased hy an over-charge of rich and nourishing diet, the vessels become too muchdistended, and obstructions and inflammations ensue. Hence somany people are seized with inflammatory and eruptive fevers, ap-oplexies, &c. after a feast or debauch.

f All great and sudden changes in diet are dangerous. What thestomach has been long accustomed to digest, though less whole-some, will better agree with.it than food of a more salutary natureto which it has not been used. When, therefore, a change becomesnecessary, it ought always to be made gradually ; a sudden tran-sition from a poor and low to a rich and luxurious diet, or the con-trary, might so disturb the functions of the body as to endangerhealth, or even to occasion death itself.

When we recommend regularity in diet, we would not be under-