such things, are certainly in our power; and from these the mind generally takes it cast.

The variety of scenes which present themselves to our senses, were certainly designed to prevent our attention from being too long fixed upon any single object. Nature abounds with variety: and the mind, unless fixed down by habit, delights in contemplating new objects. Examine them for some time. When the mind begins to recoil, shift the scene. By these means a constant succession of new ideas may be kept up, till what are disagreeable disappear. Thus travelling, occasional excursions into the country, the study of any art or science, reading or writing on such subjects as deeply engage the attention, will expel grief sooner than the most sprightly amusements.

It has already been remembered that the body cannot enjoy health, unless it be exercised; neither can the mind: indolence nourishes grief. When the mind has nothing else to think of but calamities, it is no wonder that it dwells upon them. Few people are hurt by grief, if they pursue business with attention. And, therefore, when misfortunes happen, instead of abstracting ourselves from the world, or from business, we ought to engage in it with more than ordinary attention; to discharge with double diligence the functions of our station, and to mingle with friends of a social and cheerful disposition. Innocent amusements are by no means to be neglected. These, by leading the mind minutely to the contemplation of agreeable objects, help to dispel the gloom which misfortunes

shed over it. They make time seem less tedious, and have many other happy effects. But is to be lamented that some persons, when overwhelmed with grief, betake themselves to the bottle. This is making the cure worse than the disease; and seldom fails to end in the ruin of fortune, character, and constitution.

SECTION V.

DIRECTIONS TO EAT AND DRINK UPON THE MUCH DESIRED PRINCIPLES OF EASY DIGESTION.

If it were possible to trace the course of every human action in the mind of the best man that ever lived, from its first budding during its progression to futurity, what a mortifying scene would be unveiled! what checks and delays, what tranquillity and tumult, what frequent extinction and renovation, what rapid flights and sudden downfalls, what caprices and whims, what tastes and dislikes, would compose the operations of our actions-frequently so diametrically opposite.

Nature, it would appear, has formed every animal except man-omnivorous man, to live and enjoy health upon a precarious and scanty supply of food; but in civilized society, man, having food always at his command, and finding his palate peculiarly stimulated by its use, as well as a temporary hilarity and energy both of body and mind, resulting from the excitements it occasions in his stomach, sensations he can at pleasure produce, frequently eats and drinks an enormous quantity more than is necessary; and crams his stomach with every description of the most heterogenous aliment

which absolutely putrifies before it digests. Thus the blood vessels are filled to oppression, and diseases in them, as well as in the heart induced. If his digestion be imperfect, he fills his stomach with unassimilated substances from which it is impossible for nutriment to be separated, and which consequently must be injurious. To remedy this, in proportion as the digestive apparatus is weak, the ordinary quantity of food should be lessened in the same ratio; taking care at the same time, that what is then consumed be as light, nutritive, and easy of digestion as possible. Thus, by adopting an abstemious though nutritive plan of diet, with regard to the bulk and quantity of the aliment, even to a degree that a sensation of want may be produced in the system, we adopt the most likely means of creating an appetite, and increasing the powers of digestion. In fine, food taken in a weak state of the stomach, ought to be adapted in quantity and quality to the power of this organ, and never to be crammed or distended with superfluous substances.

Nature has also very wisely provided, that along with the pure nutritious part of the food, there should also be contained a certain admixture of unassimilable matter, in order to give it more bulk, and thereby to convey more true energy to the stomach. The most invigorating articles of food, therefore, are such as are introduced into the stomach in a solid form; and not only devoid of fluidity, but possessing a certain degree of hardness and tenacity, so as to excite the

powers of the containing viscus to stronger action. It is consequently found, in the human species, that plain solid food, combined with a certain proportion of unassimilable matter, is infinitely more efficient for the purpose of health and strength, than that which consists of pure alimentary matter, whether gelatinous, oily, or saccharine. And, as regards animals, it is a well ascertained fact, in horses, that their strength is much better sustained by hay than grass; for the stomach, being an organ of universal sympathy, does, by the exertions on which it is put in digesting hard food, confer vigour to the whole frame.

The time and manner of taking food is another subject on which there exists much discrepancy of opinion. As far, however, as our experience enables us to draw an inference, the time of taking food is less, we conceive, under the influence of rules, than any other question connected with the digestive economy.

Mr. Abernethy,* to whom in matters of this kind much deference is paid, observes, that "It is evidently the intention of nature, that we should put into the stomach a certain portion of food, the excitement of which, inducing a secretion of gastric fluid, † by its action becomes digested.

*See" My Book," p. 76.

The gastric juice, supposed to be the principal agent in digestion, is a fluid secreted by the capillary exhaling arteries, which open upon its internal surface. The gullet also affords a small quantity, especially in the inferior part.