Part 2

It is allowed, we know so little of nothing, as of ourselves: it has been said often of the mind; but it is not less true of the body. Fancying we have certain diseases will sometimes bring them upon us: and there is as great danger in forcing ourselves to believe, against our feeling, that we are well; when we have some disorder.

To avoid both, let the elderly man read here, with a free mind. Let him not suppose, because God has blessed him with long health, he is above the reach of sickness; nor neglect the care which may conquer, in its beginning, a disease that would in the end conquer him. Let him be as ready to acknowledge real disorders; as careful to avoid imaginary.

Health consists in a good digestion of the food; and free circulation of the blood. The appetite, and the condition of the stomach after eating, will shew the first; and the latter may be known best by the pulse.

That old person’s digestion is always good, who has a sharp but not voracious appetite; and who feels no pain, nor sickness after food. To preserve this, let him be content with somewhat less than he could eat at every meal: to keep the stomach in order, do not overload it.

The best time to feel the pulse is in a morning: a little after getting up; and before breakfast. It should be a rule never to omit this examination. A constant and regular attention to the pulse will shew its slightest variations; and when any such happen, let care be taken of the health.

There are methods of counting the strokes by a watch; but ’tis idle and mechanical: a repeated attention in the plain way is better.

A frequent examination will inform us what is the condition of our pulse in health; and all deviations from this shew or threaten sickness.

While an old man feels his pulse regular, finds his digestion good, and with a mind at ease can take his usual exercise freely, he may be certain he is well. We shall tell him how to keep so: and when a fault is seen in time, ’tis easily remedy’d.

If the pulse beat too quick and high, the diet must be lower; if too slow, and weak, the food must be somewhat richer. This short direction will prevent half the diseases of mankind.

CHAP. II.

The means to preserve a healthful state in old age.

The diseases of aged persons differ, according to their state of body, and natural constitution: the corpulent, are in danger of asthmas; the lean, of stranguries: both should be guarded against with extreme care; but most the first, because many sudden deaths have happened from it, that might have been prevented easily by a timely care.

That care, and all the necessary help, will be shewn in a separate chapter on this disease. With respect to suppressions of urine, beside all that has been written of Burdock root, I may add here, that if as much had been known of its virtues but a little while ago, as is now notorious, we might some years longer have enjoyed that excellent man Peter Collinson. Mr. Josiah Soames, near dying the same way, was saved by it.

Exercise has thro’ the younger part of life been very instrumental in preserving health: when we grow old we cannot use so much; and we must therefore be more careful in our food. That will go off well with motion, which will overload when quiet: that will nourish while we walk abroad; which, when we stay at home, breeds fevers.

We must not make a change of diet violently; for all sudden alterations are dangerous. Our strength for exercise will leave us by degrees; and we must reduce our nourishment accordingly.

Old men are least healthy in winter: therefore they should then be most careful. They are colder than the young; and therefore cold more affects them. They will perceive the cold has hurt them, when they find the pulse weaker and slower than usual: and they must recover the new damage, by more warmth of cloathing; and a somewhat richer diet.

If perspiration has been stop’d by the cold, and no other ill effect follow, that will be seen by the urine being paler, and more in quantity than usual. In this case let flannel be put on carefully: this will soon restore the perspiration; and the urine will return to its due colour, and quantity. And after that let the flannel be carefully left off again.

Health consists in the evacuations having all their proper course and quantity: and flannel will diminish one as much as it encreases another.

No disorder is more troublesome to old men than costiveness: and the use of flannel unadvisedly will sometimes occasion this.

A careful attention to health is the only way to preserve it: and many things are excellent when properly used; which may otherwise be destructive.

If the appetite fail; or wind oppress the stomach after meals; then take more air, and exercise; and read or study less. Much study always hurts digestion.

The different seasons affect persons in years very greatly, and they should always be prepared for the changes. The old man is always best in summer, and grows more spirited and free from his complaints as that period advances toward autumn: winter we have said hurts age, for age is cold and dry; and for that very reason youth feel summer most hurtfully, and are best in winter.

CHAP. III.

Of the fittest diet for persons in years.

Light diet is most proper for aged persons.

Beef and pork should be avoided: for the stomach will rarely be able to digest these, when it is not assisted by good exercise.

Lamb, veal, pig, chickens, rabbets, and fish, are excellent; and out of these, if there were no others, a tolerable management may produce sufficient variety.

No aged person should eat more than one considerable meal of solid food in the day. The stomach will manage a dinner when breakfast and supper have been light: otherwise the load of one meal not being gone off before another is brought in, neither will be digested.