Part 8

“Too greedily th’ exhausted Veins absorb The recent Chyle.”

By observing Boerhaave’s method of curing a Plethora, viz. using a thin, light diet after bleeding, and gradually prolonging the time between each evacuation, I have reduc’d my bleedings to one every autumn; and (thank Heaven) have in a great measure conquer’d that Monster of the night, which so often threaten’d me with immediate destruction.

Experience also assures us, that large evacuations may be made by strong purges; such as Jalap, Scammon. &c. which greatly dissolve, and diminish the quantity of the Blood.

Hence, we see the reason why Paulus Egeneta justly prescrib’d Scammony in this Disease. But in this kind of evacuations, Boerhaave’s salutary rule should be also observ’d; viz. “Omissione sensim introducta.”

’Tis needless here to take notice of all the ill-adapted farrago of Medicines prescrib’d by many of the old Physicians, who did not know the cause of this Disorder.

I cannot understand why Piony was reckon’d, by them, such a famous specific for the Night-mare, which, taken internally, is only a gentle attenuant: and ’tis very surprising, that Doctor Willis should be so superstitious as to recommend balls made of Piony and Corral to be tied about the Neck, by way of a sacred nostrum against this Disease.

Temperate living is certainly the most effectual method of preventing this and many other Disorders. Vegetable and flesh meat of easy digestion; thin, subacid, diluent liquors, taken in moderate quantities; light or no suppers; brisk exercise of all kinds; high pillows, and sleeping on the Side, are the most sovereign Prophylactics, or preventives.

If People subject to the Night-mare be so fond of heavy flesh-suppers, that they can neither rest with them nor without them, they should sup early, and sit up or exercise two or three hours afterwards; and when they go to bed, they should lie on the right Side, that the food may have the advantage of its own gravity in passing out of the Stomach into the Guts. In that position the Heart will fall on the Mediastinum, which, being a flexible Membrane, will be an easier support to the Heart than if it play’d against the hard Ribs, which is always the consequence of lying on the left Side.

When the fair Sex is oppress’d with this Disorder, and the precedent cause is an obstruction of the Catamenia, the defect of that natural discharge may be supply’d by a moderate bleeding; and proper remedies should be us’d to clear the obstructed tubes, and open the flood-gates to promote the ebb of the next full tide. But if the cause be common to both sexes, the same methods may be follow’d, proper allowance being made for the delicacy of the female constitution.

Excessive drinking at night, as well as excessive eating, should be avoided; but of the two evils, the former is the lesser, as our British Celsus observes:

“Tutior autem est in potione, quam in esca, intemperantia.”

As intoxication subjects People to most dreadful fits of this Disorder, as well as to many other accidents, it should, by all means, be shun’d. Lucretius has so well painted its bad effects, that, I presume, my polite reader will think his description of it neither tedious nor foreign.

Denique cur, Hominem cum vini vis penetravit Acris et in Venas discessit deditus ardor, Consequitur gravitas membrorum? Præpidiuntur Crura vacillanti? tardescit Lingua? madet mens? Nant Oculi? clamor singultus, jurgia gliscunt? Et jam cætera de genere hoc quæcunq; sequuntur?

Lib. 3.

Besides, when wine’s quick force has pierc’d the Brain, And the brisk heat’s diffus’d thro’ every Vein, Why do the members all grow dull and weak? The Tongue not with its usual swiftness speak? The Eye-balls swim? the Legs not firm and straight, But bend beneath the Body’s natural weight: Unmanly quarrels, noise, and sobs deface The powers of Reason, and usurp their place.

CREECH.

As Nature is the subject of Physic and Poetry, we find, that the sons of Homer and Esculapius generally agree in giving salutary instructions to Mankind; but as the former convey their admonitions in the most agreeable manner, I shall conclude this Essay with two quotations from them.

The first Physicians by debauch were made, Excess began, and sloth sustains the trade: By chace our long-liv’d Fathers earn’d their food, Toil strung their Nerves and purify’d their Blood, &c.

DRYDEN.

Quæ virtus et quanta, boni, sit vivere parvo, (Nec meus hic sermo est, sed quem præcepit Ofellus, Rusticus, abnormis sapiens, crassaque Minerva) Discite, non inter lances, mensasque nitentes; Cum stupet insanis acies fulgoribus, & cum Adclinis falsis animus meliora recusat.

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Accipe nunc, victus tenuis quæ, quantaque secum Adferat, imprimis valeas bene: nam variæ res Ut noceant Homini, credas, memor illius escæ Quæ simplex olim tibi sederit, at simul assis Miscueris elixa, simul conchylia turdis; Dulcia se in Bilem vertent, Stomachoque tumultum Lenta ferat pituita. Vides, ut pallidus omnis Cæna desurgat dubia? quin corpus onustum Hesternis vitiis, animumque prægravat una Atque adfigit humo divinæ particulam auræ. Alter, ubi dicto citius curata sopori Membra dedit, vegetus præscripta ad munia surgit.

HORAT. Sat.

What, and how great the virtue and the art To live on little with a chearful Heart! (A doctrine sage, but truly none of mine) Let’s talk, my friends, but talk before we dine; Not when the gilt buffet’s reflected pride Turns you from sound Philosophy aside, Not when from plate to plate the Eye-balls roll, And the Brain dances to the mantling bowl,

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Now hear what blessings temperance can bring; (Thus said my friend, and what he said I sing) First health: the Stomach cramm’d with ev’ry dish, A tomb of boil’d and roast, and flesh and fish, When Bile and Wind, and Phlegm and Acid jar, And all the Man is one intestine war, Remembers oft the School-boy’s simple fare, The temperate sleeps, and spirits light as air. How pale each worshipful and rev’rend guest Rise from a clergy or a city feast! What life in all that ample Body? say: What heav’nly particle inspires the clay? The soul subsides and wickedly inclines To seem but mortal, ev’n in sound Divines. On morning wings, how active springs the Mind That leaves the load of yesterday behind?

POPE.

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