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ABSTINENCE IN THE BRUTE CREATION.

AMONG the brute creation may be witnessed many extraordinary instances of long abstinence. The serpent kind in particular bear abstinence to a wonderful degree. Rattle-snakes have been known to subsist for many months without food, yet still retained all their vigour and fierceness. Dr. Shaw speaks of a couple of cerastes (a sort of Egyptian serpents) which had been kept five years in a bottle close corked, without any sort of food, unless a small quantity of sand, wherein they coiled themselves up in the bottom of the vessel, may be reckoned such: yet when he saw them they had newly cast their skins, and were as brisk and lively as if just taken. But it is even natural for divers species to pass four, five, or six months every year, without either eating or drinking. Accordingly, the tortoise, bear, dormouse, serpent, &c. are observed regularly to retire, at those seasons, to their respective cells, and hide themselves, some in the caverns of rocks or ruins ; others dig holes under ground; others get into woods, and lay themselves up in the clefts of trees; others bury themselves under water, &c. And these animals are found as fat and fleshy after some months abstinence as before. Sir G. Ent weighed his tortoise several years successively, at its going to earth in October,

and coming out again in March, and found that, of four pounds four ounces, it only used to lose about one

ounce.

Indeed, we have instances of men passing several months as strictly abstemial as other creatures. In particular, the records of the Tower mention a Scotsman imprisoned for felony, and strictly watched in that fortress for six weeks: in all which time he took not the least sustenance: for which he had his pardon.

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Numberless instances of extraordinary abstinence, particularly from morbid causes, are to be found in the different periodical Memoirs, Transactions, &c. It is to be added, that, in most instances of extraordinary human abstinence related by naturalists, there were said to have been apparent marks of a texture of blood and humours, much like that of the animals above mentioned, though it is no improbable opinion, that the air itself may furnish something for nutrition. is certain that there are substances of all kinds, animal, vegetable, &c. floating in the atmosphere, which must continually be taken in by respiration. And that an animal body may be nourished thereby, is evident in instances of vipers, which, if taken when first brought forth, and kept from every thing but air, will yet grow very considerably in a few days. So the eggs of lizards are observed to increase in bulk after they are produced, though there be nothing to furnish the increment but air alone; in like manner as the eggs or spawn of fishes grow, and are nourished with the water. And hence, some say it is, that cocks, turnspit

dogs, &c. though they eat but little, are nevertheless always fat, and in good condition.

The following extraordinary instance of fasting is related by Dennis Dodart (Physician to Louis XIV.), of the manner in which he lived in Lent:-" On the first day of Lent, 1677 (age forty-three), he weighed 116 lb. 1oz. During the whole of Lent he continued to live as was the practice of the church in the twelfth century, i. e. he neither ate nor drank till 6 or 7 o'clock, p. m. His diet the chief part of the time was vegetable; towards the end bread and water only. On Easter eve he weighed 107 lb. 12 oz., having lost, in forty-six days, 8 lb. 5 oz., equal to one-fourteenth of his first weight, On resuming his ordinary course of life, in four days he recovered 4 lb.; whence the writer assumes eight or nine days as time sufficient to repair the loss of fortysix days of abstinence. He had made some experiments also, the result of which, in a robust person in good health, was, that 16 oz. of blood would be recovered in less than five days.

Of the effects of abstinence, generally observed, when modified according to present circumstances, they are no less those of preserving health than of curing disease. A small but comprehensive work was published some few years back, by Frederick Forstman, of Bonn,* in Switzerland, which contains some general observations on the good effects of an abstemious diet;

De Jejunio Salatari. Bonn, 1822.

and amongst these there is a short sketch of the muchtalked of Venetian senator, Cornaro's life, who, in his 100th year, published his well-known book, so highly praised by Mr. Abernethy," Della vita Sobria.” The first part of that singular man's life resembled, as is well known, that of the modern debauchee, whilst, by the latter, we are reminded of that of the nations, who, contented with a spare diet, live agreeably to the simplicity of the earliest times. Thus, for the greater part of the year, the Hungarians eat no animal food, and at all times very temperately; and consequently are strong and healthy, and live to a great age. By temperance, the Arabian, in his burning desert, is possessed of great strength; and by imitating this plan, Niebuhr was the only one of six European travellers in that country who escaped death-a fact which is of

considerable interest.

The Hindoo also lives sparingly on rice, vegetables, and fruit; and, without doubt, it is to this simple diet that we must attribute the good health which he usually enjoys.

It is said that the aborigines of the West India Islands, at the time of their discovery by Columbus, being themselves naturally an abstemious and healthy people, were astonished at the quantity of food that a single Spaniard was in the habit of devouring.

The first duty of society with Pythagoras was abstinence; for he judged wisely that the mind is capable of far more nobler flights when it is completely emancipated from the tyranny of the palate. And, in con

formity with this sentiment, Homer thus speaks of the

gods

Nor food they eat, nor drink the darken'd wine :
Thus they are bloodless, and called immortal.

Among the disorders which luxury has introduced into more civilized states, not the least numerous are those originating in gluttony; than which nothing, be it either in eating or drinking, more deteriorates the frame of man, or debases the faculties of the mind. But, now-a-days, gluttony is not considered disgraceful; for it is a part of modern elegance to have a table sumptuously adorned; and the man who lives temperately in all things is viewed with wonder. Even physicians are not always enemies to good eating; and Dr. Francis Home, in his " Principia Medicine," says " Prodest bis vel ter die, potius quam semel, cibumi capere; et semper quam plurimum, dummodo hunc concoquat ventriculus." Most diseases, however, arise from this source; and Seneca has said, "Visne numerare morbos, coquos numera." This observation, indeed, that too much food produces disease, is as old as Hippocrates; and, also, that its cure is abstinence. Yet this is often neglected by physicians, who seldom have the courage or the candour to say to their patients what Sir Charles Scarborough said to the Duchess of Portsmouth," Eat less, use exercise, take physic, or be sick." But the highest degree of abstinence, enedia, or the abstaining from food entirely, in ordinary cases, is attended with very bad effects, and sometimes occasions death.

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