If treatises on Health could preserve that blessing, no one
need be ill unless through his own fault. here are two more books to teach u3 how to live long and well,—Dr. lIonciox's Lectures on the Means of Promoting and Preserving Health ; and the Popular Guide to Health, by J. BURNS, V. D. M. The first of these publications contains the substance of four lectures which Dr. Mono Kist formerly delivered to the members of the Mechanics Institution in Spitalfields. The lectures embrace the subjects of air, light, cleanliness, and clothing, food both solid and fluid, bodily and mental exercise, and the effects of education. They are of course popular and elementary, and confined to the illustra- tion of such broad and general principles as could be clearly understood by the audience to which they were addressed. Nothing scientific was aimed at, nothing new is presented ; but as the statements are illustrated by anecdotes, the little book is not without interest, and will be useful to that class for whose instruc- tion it was originally written.
The Popular Guide to Health is a compilation of greater pre- tensions. In the compass of some two hundred pages, it professes to make Every Man his Own Physician ; giving him ample directions for securing health and longevity, instructing him touching the causes, symptoms, and mode of cure for the principal diseases of the human body, and finally presenting him with a selection of valuable receipts, a view of the properties, doses, and effects of the principal medicines, with specific antidotes for the various forms of poison. The general treatise on health is mostly compiled from old authors; and, though now and then smacking strongly of the occult art, can do little harm, and is quaint, curious, and amusing. The other parts too much resemble compendious quackery, to find favour in our eyes. Physicians never attempt to cure themselves, and we would advise no one to assume the doctor from half a page or a page of general directions. When you know not what to do, do nothing; for Nature is better than Ignorance. If any reader thinks not, he may try his hand, after Mr. B URNS, upon two common cases.
BALDNESS.
Rub the part frequently with an onion till it looks red. The use of bear's grease is also recommended, as particularly serviceable in this case, being more subtile and penetrating than any other animal fat hitherto known.
APPETITE, BAD.
Causes, &c.—Want of appetite, without loathing of food ; from fluid oppres- sing the stomach ; from want of tone in the stomach.
Treattnent.—If the stomach:be foul, give agentle emetic of ipecacuauha ; and, if necessary, some mild cathartic. If it be caused by relaxation, bitters, chalybeates, bark, &c. with or without vitriolic acid; if acidity and wind abound, add calcined magnesia to the bitters. Senna, rhubarb, tartrate of potass, &c.
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