The Art of Invigorating and Prolonging Life Part 15

"By experiment, I determined the quant.i.ty of _Saliva_ secreted in half an hour, to be _whilst the parts were at rest_, four drachms,--whilst _eating_, five ounces four drachms."--STARK _on Diet_, p. 99.

MASTICATION is the source of all good Digestion;--_with its a.s.sistance_, almost any thing may be put into any stomach with impunity:--_without it_, Digestion is always difficult, and often impossible: and be it always remembered, it is not merely what we eat, but what we digest well, that nourishes us.

The sagacious _Gourmand_ is ever mindful of his motto--

"Masticate, Denticate, Chump, Grind, and Swallow."

The four first acts, he knows he must perform properly,--before he dare attempt the fifth.

Those who cannot enjoy a savoury morsel on account of their Teeth, or rather on account of the want of them, we refer to the note at the foot of p. 260, and also have the pleasure to inform them, that PATENT MASTICATORS are made by PALMER, _Cutler, in St. James's Street_.

To those who may inadvertently exercise their Masticative faculties on unworthy materials--or longer on worthy ones than nature finds convenient, we recommend "Peristaltic Persuaders." See page 235.

When either the _Teeth_ or _Stomach_ are extremely feeble, especial care must be taken _to keep Meat till it is tender_--before it is cooked--and call in the aid of the _Pestle_ and _Mortar_.--And see Nos.

10,--18,--87,--89,--175,--178; from 185 to 250,--502--542--and especially 503. Or dress in the usual way whatever is best liked--mince it--put it into a Mortar--and pound it with a little Broth or melted b.u.t.ter,--Vegetable,--Herb,--Spice,--Zest, No. 255, &c.--according to the taste, &c. of the Eater.--The business of the Stomach is thus very materially facilitated.

"Mincing or Pounding Meat--saveth the grinding of the Teeth; and therefore (no doubt) is more nouris.h.i.+ng, especially in Age,--or to them that have weak teeth; but b.u.t.ter is not proper for weak bodies,--and therefore, moisten it in pounding with a little Claret Wine, and a very little Cinnamon or Nutmeg."--LORD BACON'S _Natural History_, Century 1.--54.

This is important Advice for those who are afflicted with "_Tic Douloureux_,"--the paroxysm of which is generally provoked by the exercise of Eating,--and the Editor has known that dreadful disorder cured by the Patient frequently taking food thus prepared in small portions, instead of a regular meal.

The TEETH should be cleaned after every meal with a "TOOTH PRESERVER,"

(_i. e._ a very soft brush,) and then rinsed with _tepid_ water--_never neglect this at night_;--nothing destroys the Teeth so fast as suffering food to stick between them--those who observe this rule, will seldom have any occasion for _Dentifrices_--_Essences of Ivory_--_Indurating Liquid Enamels_, _&c._

But it is the rage just now with some Dentists, to recommend Brushes so hard, that they fetch Blood like a Lancet wherever they touch; and instead of "_Teeth Preservers_," these should rather be termed "_Gum Bleeders_."

Not even a Philosopher can endure the TOOTHACH patiently--what an overcoming agony then it must be to a _Grand Gourmand_!--depriving him of the means of enjoying an amus.e.m.e.nt which to him is the grand solace for all sublunary cares.--To alleviate, and indeed generally to cure this intolerable pain--we recommend

_Toothache and Anti-rheumatic Embrocation_, (No. 567.)

Sal Volatile--three parts.

Laudanum--one part.

Mix and rub the part in pain therewith frequently. If the Tooth which aches is hollow, drop some of this on a bit of cotton, and put it into the Tooth,--if the pain does not abate within an hour--take out the cotton, and put another piece in--changing it every hour four or five times, till the pain ceases.

In a general Face-ach, or sore Throat--moisten a piece of flannel with it and put it to the part affected,--rub any part afflicted with Rheumatism night and morning, and in the middle of the day. I have frequently cured old and inveterate Rheumatic affections with this Liniment.