Coftivenefs.

ted into the lower Belly, which thereby contribute to the same effect.

A

3. Because, when ever Men have leisure to eat, they have leisure enough also to make so much court to Madam Cloacina, as would be necessary to our present purpose; but else, in the variety of Humane Affairs and Accidents, it was impossible to affix it to any hour certain, whereby the Custom would be interrupted. Whereas Men in health,feldom failing to eat once a Day, tho' the Hour changed, the Custom might still be preserved.

§. 26. Upon these Grounds, the Experiment began to be tried, and I have known none, who have been steady in the prosecution of it, and taken care to go constantly to the necessary House, after their first Eating, when ever that happen'd, whether they found themselves called on or no, and there endeavoured to put Nature upon her Duty, but in a few Months obtained the desired success, and brought Nature to so regular an habit, that they seldom ever failed of a Stool, after their first Eating, unless it were by their own neglect. For, whether they have any Motion

I

I

Motion or no, if they go to the Place, coflive and do their part, they are sure to have ness. Nature very obedient.

§. 27. I would therefore advise, that this Course should be taken with a Child every day, presently after he has eaten his Break-fast. Let him be set upon the Stool, as if disburthening were as much in his power, as filling his Belly; and let not him, or his Maid know any thing to the Contrary, but that it is so; and if he be forced to endeavour, by being hindred from his play, or Eating again, till he has been effectually at Stool, or at least done his utmost, I doubt not,but in a little while it will become natural to him. For there is reason to suspect, that Children being usually intent on their Play and very heedless of any thing else, often let pass those Motions of Nature, when she calls them but gently, and so they neglecting the seasonable Offers, do by degrees bring themselves into an Habitual Costiveness. That by his Method Costiveness may be prevented, I do more than guess, having known, by the Constant Practice of it for some time, a Child brought to have a Stool

regu

Cofive

ness.

Phyfick.

regularly after his Break-fast every Morning.

§. 28. How far any grown People will think fit to make tryal of it, I know not, tho' I cannot but say, that considering the many Evils that come from that Defect, of a requisite easing of Nature, I scarce know any thing more conducing to the Preservation of Health than this is. Once in Four and Twenty hours, I think, is enough, and no body, I guess, will think it too much; and by this means, it is to be obtained without Physick, which commonly proves very ineffectual, in the cure of a settled and habitual Costiveness.

§. 29. This is all I have to trouble you with concerning his Management, in the ordinary Course of his Health and perhaps it will be expected from me, that I should give some Directions of Physick to prevent Diseases. For which I have only this one very sacredly to be observed: Never to give Children any Physick for prevention. The observation of what I have already advised, will, I suppose, do that better than Apothecarie's Drugs and Medicines. Have a great care of tampering that

way,

way, least, instead of preventing, you Phyfick. draw on Diseases. Nor even upon every little Indisposition is Physick to be given, or the Physician to be called to Children, especially if he be a Busy-man, that will presently fill their Windows with Gally-pots, and their Stomachs with Drugs. It is safer to leave them wholly to Nature, than to put them into the hands of one, forward to tamper, or that thinks Children are to be cured in ordinary Distempers, by any thing but Diet, or by a Method very little distant from it. It seeming suitable both to my Reason and Experience, that the tender Constitutions of Children, should have as little done to them, as is possible, and as the absolute necessity of the Case requires. A little cold, still'd red Popywater, which is the true Surfeit-water, with Ease, and Abstinence from Flesh, often puts an end to several Distempers in the beginning, which by too forward Applications, might have been made lusty Diseases. When such a gentle Treatment will not prevent the growing Mischief, but that it will turn into a form'd Disease, it will be time

to

Fhyfick.

Mind.

to seek the Advice of some sober and discreet Physician. In this part, I hope, I shall find an easy belief, and no body can have a pretence to doubt the Advice of one, who has spent some time in the Study of Physick, when he coun fels you not to be too forward in making use of Physick and Physicians.

§. 30. And thus I have done with what concerns the Body and Health, which reduces it self to these few and easily observable Rules. Plenty of open Air, Exercise and Sleep; Plain Diet, no Wine or Strong Drink, and very little or no Physick; not too Warm and straight Clothing, especially the Head and Feet kept cold, and the Feet often used to cold Water, and exposed

to wet.

§. 31. Due care being had to keep the Body in Strength and Vigor, so that it may be able to obey and execute the Orders of the Mind. The next and principal Business is, to set the Mind right, that on all Occasions it may be disposed, to do nothing, but what may be suitable to the Dignity and Excellency of a rational Creature.

§. 32. If