Rensselaer Union, Volume 10, Number 35, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 May 1878 — Good Health, and How to Keep It. [ARTICLE]

Good Health, and How to Keep It.

There are few subjects, we imagine, around which cluster so many theories as the preservation of health. Let a person pass from one to another in a large company, making a few simple inquiries as to the best way to keep health, and not two in twenty will agree. Each one will give sage reasons for not accepting the theory last propounded One is positive that half “ the ills that flesh is heir to” are the results of improper food. There is much sound sense m that idea; but the trouble is to be sure what is improper food. Each may start from the right point, but the abrupt divergence, js amusing, as well as often bewildering. One asserts: “Too much meat is used. It inflames, and fills the blood with impurities. Pure milk, good stale bread and fresh vegetables should constitute the chief part of our food. If this idea,” they insist, “could only be accepted and acted upon, the next generation would be a strong, healthy race, pureblooded, pure-hearted, generous and noble; for the mental qualities are as largely influenced by the physical condition as the latter ia by the quality of the food that is used.”

Another will earnestly argue that a vegetable diet will make poor, watery blood, and insure an indolent, effeminate people, while fresh meat is absolutely essential to a vigorous constitution, to an earnest, energetic character; that a diet largely of salt meat dries the blood and makes those who use it lean, cadaverous, desponding and ‘dyspeptic. After thus taking the opinion of a score of people one is inclined to doubt if wisdom is found in the multitude of counselors. We believe that it is as impossible to make rules for health that will apply to all as it is to lind two constitutions exactly alike. “ One believeth that he may eat all things.” and he can: another, who is wea£, eftteth herbs, and should do so. .After reaching what is called the age of discretion, each must to a large extent judge for himself. Medical advice may be desirable, and sometimes indispensable, but physicians often find themselves in a dilemma, and all their skill, founded on what they think well-established theories, is at fault. They will tell a patient, “ Use no fresh bread, but use that which is at least twenty-four hour* old.” The advice is followed, but the result proves disastrous. The stomach rejects such food, because acid and sore. By stealth, as it were, the patient ventures on a piece of well-raised, well-baked, sweet fresh bread, and is comforted. At that one time, if no other, the stomach was not in a state in which stale bread was beneficial, and in defiance of all medical rules craved and secured that which was found to be

of great benefit. Much fresh meat with some constitutions induces fulness of the head and a feverish state of the system, because it makes blood too fast. It should, therefore, be discarded, and a little salt meat or fish, if the appetite craves it, with fresh fruit and vegetables, will be found probably to be just what the system requires. In truth, with health, as in many other things, each person must be a law unto himself. In acute or minor matters they cannot decide. It is true that what is “one man’s meat may fee anotner man’s poison,” and, a little poisoning now and then seems indispensable to teach us on? individual physical as well as mental idiosyncrasies. Experience thus gamed, if not carried to such excess as to prove too severe a schoolmaster, will be of more value through life than all the doctors in Christendom—with all respect be it spoken—beside saving many a long bill at the drugstore. As a general rule, it is not advisable ; tn use hot bread .too freely, though the

effects produced by its use may often depena more upon the character of the bread than upon Its temperature. • Neither salt meat or fish, nor fresh meat or fish, all the time, is advisable —though the salt food may be a trifle more economical. A judicious mingling of both is the better course. Good, healthy, well-cured pork,.well cooked and used discreetly, is not injurious for a strong, healthy person engaged in active or out-door pursuits. But we doubt if it is wise for students to use mfich, or for sedentary persons, or those at all inclined to humors or eruptive troubles. It is not safe to allow so large a liberty to young children. They arc not capable of forming correct judgment, of governing themselves at all. Parents must do that for them. After they are safely through the teething period it is not necessary to confine them to a milk diet; but they still need the parent's restraining hand'to withhold rich food, or sharp, hot condimepts. Plain, siraKle but nourishing food, ripe fruit and erries in their season, are, we think, indispensable for growing children. But their meals should be regular -no lunches between —and never just before retiring. Many a mother will give her very young children rich foodpastry, cake and sauces and condiments of the most indigestible or fiery kind—and tell you her children are healthy, and nothing hurts them. Perhaps the injury is not apparent at first, but it will not be long before headaches, indigestion of the most serious character, or dyspepsia, fixed for life, will be the harvest to be reaped from such injudicious and sinful indulgence. — Mrs. H W. Beecher, in Christian Union.