SUDDEN TRANSITIONS, &c.

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some regard to the health of their servants, as well as to theirown.

Nothing is more common than for people, merely to avoid sometrifling inconveniency, to hazard their lives by inhabiting a housealmost as soon as the masons, plasterers, &c. have done with it ;such Louses are not only dangerous from their dampness, but like-wise from the smell of lime, paint, &c. The asthmas, consump-tions, and other diseases of the lungs, so incident to people whowork among these articles, are sufficient proofs of their being un-wholesome.

Booms are often rendered damp by an unseasonable piece ofcleanliness ; I mean the pernicious custom of washing them imme-diately before company is put into them. Most people catch coldif they sit but a very short time in a room that has been latelywashed ; the delicate ought carefully to avoid such a situation, andeven the robust are not always proof against its influence.*

SUDDEN TRANSITIONS FEOM HEAT TO COLD.

The perspiration is commonly obstructed by sudden transi-tions from heat to cold. Colds are seldom caught, unless whenpeople have been too much heated. Heat rarifies the blood, quick-ens the circulation, and increases the perspiration; but when theseare suddenly checked, the consequences must be bad. It is, in-deed, impossible for labourers not to be too hot upon some occa-sions ; but it is generally in their power to let themselves coolgradually, to put on their clothes when they leave off work, tomake choice of a dry place to rest themselves in, and to avoid sleep-ing in the open fields. These easy rules, if observed, would oftenprevent fevers and other fatal disorders.

It is very common for people, when hot, *o drink freely of coldwater, or small liquors. This conduct is extremely dangerous.Thirst, indeed, is hard to bear, and the inclination to gratify thatappetite frequently gets the better of reason, and makes us do whatour judgment disapproves. Every peasant, however, knows, if hishorse be permitted to drink his belly-full of cold water after vio-lent exercise, and be immediately put into the stable, or sufferedto remain at rest, that it will kill him. This they take the utmostcare to prevent. It were well if they were equally attentive to theirown safety.

Thirst may be quenched many ways without swallmcing large quan-tities of cold liquor. The fields afford variety of acid fruits andplants, the very chewing of which would abate thirst. Water keptin the mouth for some time, and spit out again, if frequently re-peated, will have the same effect. If a bit of bread be eaten alongwith a few mouthfuls of water, it will both quench thirst more ef-fectually, and make the danger less. "When a person is extremelyhot, a mouthful of brand/, or other spirits, if it can be obtained,ought to be preferred to any thing else. But if any one has been

* People imagine if a qood fire is rrnde in a room after it has been washed, thatthere is no danger from sitting in it; but they must give me leave to say tint this in-creases the danger. The evaporation excited by the fire generates cold, and render»the damp more active.

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