174

The tear of regret will intrusively swell. AI fancy reverts to my father's plantation, And sighs for the bucket which hangs in the well. The old oaken bucket—the iron-bound bucket— The men covered bucket which hangs in the well.

HINTS FOR HEALTH.

Persons in health should never under any circumstances take medicine. The custom which prevails in some families of administering physic in the spring and fall to prevent the attacks ofdisease, is prepos- terous in the extreme The only sure safe- guards are temperance in eating and drink- ing, and carefully adapting the clothing to the changes of the atmosphere. Personsin the vicinity of contagious disorders, must carefully attend to these prescriptions, and by proper exercise, cheerful recreation, and strict regard to cleanliness, preserve the mind in a state of cheerfulness and ac- tivity. It is absolutely necessary for those visitin warm climates to abstain entirely fromt e use of spirituous liquors. The great cause ofthe mortality among our sea- men visiting the West India Ports, may be traced to the prevailing use of liquors, which heat the blood and induce fevers in those warm climates. One sick person only should occupy the same apartment.— The bed should be a matrass, in case offe- ver, in reference to feathers. The room should e well ventilated, the light exclu- ded, and it should be kept in a state of per- fect cleanliness. The introduction of vi- siters, in a sick chamber should always be avoided as the air becomes vitiated and un- fit for respiration, and their presence and conversation, are apt to disturb the patient. The room of the sick should always be kept quiet and free as possible from all noise and talking- Catechism of Health.

From Basil Hall’s Voyages and Travels.

From what I saw of Madeira during ma- ny visits at different seasons ofthe year, I had long been of opinion, that this delight- ful island formed one of the best, if not the very best places in which a consumptive patient might hope to find a cure--or ra- ther, to which a person having a consump- tive tendency might resort in hopes of pre- venting the fatal access of a disease which at certain stages, is but too well known to be beyond the reach either of climate or medical skill. I was not aware, however, till lately, how completely this idea of the superior advantages of Madeira was borne out by the opinion of the best qualified professional men, especially by Dr. James Clarke, whose very interesting work, on the influence of Climate in the Prevention and Cure oberonic Diseases, may be can- sulted with great advantage on this subject.

One poor passenger’s case was precisely one. of those, which, had this work been published twenty years sooner, would ne- ver have been referred to Madeira for at

THE BRITISH AMERICAN

cure. 0f comforts, indeed, she had no want ; forshe was received into the house of one of those splendid persons, the great English Madeira merchants, who, with_a sort of oriental hospitality and luxury, in character with their happy climate, used to fling their doors wide open to receive strangers coming to the island. In those days. there was great difficulty in procusmg good lodgings ; but] am told that accom- modations for families or for single persons, {may now be hired by those who have not {the advantage of such introductions, or 5 who are unwilling to encumber these most l hospitable of men with the anxious compan- liouship of invalids.

Most, if not all the merchants have two houses-—one, of course, in the city, where their business is transacted ; another lying beyond the noise and bustle of the Port. Many of these gentlemen reside occasion- ally at their country seats, the side of the mountain which takes its rise from the beach at the town of Funchal, and rises with asteep face to the height of many thousands offeet above the sea. The up- per parts of all are so lofty, that no vege- tati0n finds root upon them;—and although there be no coating of perpetual snow, I believe ice may be found, at all seasons, in the crevices which surround the well known Caldeira, cauldron or crater, near the sum- mit. Be this as it may, I am sure that by going up the hill or coming down it, a range of many degrees of the thermometer may he commanded. So that, if the taste of an infirm person, or the peculiarities of his complaint, require a heat of 60° or 70 ° , he may live as long as he pleased in a climate that is best suited to his reco- very. The medical gentlemen resident on the spot, reprobate in strongterms the inutili- ty, not to say cruelty, ofsending our pa- tients in the advanced stages of consump- tion. ‘Generally speaking,’ observes I)r. Renton of Madeira, as quoted by Dr. Clark, ‘ the poor patient himself has noth- ingto do with the arrangements ; and it is principally in obedience to medical adviCe that he undertakes a voyage productive of nothing but mischief and disappointment. So uniform is the result of this practice, that the annual importation of invalids from England is thought a fit subject for ridicule, amongst the hoatmen, on landing these unfortunates on their island. ‘ La vai mais hum Inglez a Laranjeira’—-‘ there goes another Englishman to the Orange tree,’ such being the name of the burying ground of the Protestants.

Dr. Clark gives a table, from which it appears, that of47 cases ofcontirmed con sumption, no fewer than 32 died within six months after their arrival at Madeira ; while out of 35 cases ofincipient consump- tion, or of those wherein there was mere- ly reason to dread this disease, 26 were

£022

cured, or, at all events they left the island much improved.

The same authority, Dr. Kenton, long a resident at the island in question, further remarks, that, ‘ when consumption has proceeded to any considerable extent, he should consider it the duty of a medical attendant not only not to advise the adop- tion ofsuch a measure, but most earnestly to dissuade from it those who, from hear- say evidence of the recovery of persons in circumstances similar to their own, may feel disposed to fly to it as a last resource.

CLOTHING.

The only kind of dress that can afford the protection required by the changes of temperature to which high northern cli- mates are liable, is woollen. Nor will it be of much avail that woollen be worn, un- less so much of it be worn, and it be so worn, as effectually to keep out the cold. Those who would receive the advantage which the wearing of woollen is capable of affording, must wear it next the skin; for it is in this situation only that its health- preserving power can be felt. The great advantages of woollen cloth are briefly these .--the readiness with which it allows the escape of the matter of perspiration through its texture ; its power of preserv- ing the sensation of warmth to the skin un- der all circumstances : the difficulty there is in making it thoroughly wet : the slow- ness with which it Conducts heat : the soft- ness, lightness and pliancy of its texture. Cotton Cloth, though it differs but little from linen, approaches nearer to the na- ture of woollen, and, on that account, must be esteemed as the next best substance of which clothing may be made. Silk is the next in point of excellence, but it is very inferior to cotton in every respect. Linen possesses the cantrary of most of the pro- perties enumerated as excellencies in wool- len. It retains the matter of perspiration in its texture,and speedily becomes imbued with it: it gives an unpleasant sensation of cold to the skin ; it is very readily satura- ted with moisture, and it conducts heat too rapidly. It is, indeed, the worst ofall the substances in use, being the least qualified to answer the purposes ofclothing.--Ency. J1me.

Bestow thy youth so that thou mayest have comfort to remember it, when it hath forsaken thee, and not sigh and grieve at the account thereof. While thou art young thou will think it will never have an end : hut behold, the longest day hath It!I evening, and that thou shalt enjoy it but once, that it never turns again; use It therefore as the spring time, which soon departeth, and wherein thou oughtest to plant and sow all provisions for a long and happy life—Sir Walter Raleigh to his 501'.