OR OBESITY, CONSIDERED AS A DISEASE. BY WILLIAM WADD. From the Gentleman's Magazine. prise all that has been said in this country, on what Dr. Fothergill termed a most singular disease.'”. ΤΗ HE good opinion which we expres- is not a little singular, that a disease sed of this pleasant but scientific which had been thought characteristic Treatise when anonymous, is not lessen- of the inhabitants of this island, should ed by the respectable professional name have been so little attended to. Dr. under which it is now published. Thomas Short's discourse on Corpulency, "These remarks first appeared," Mr. published in 1727, with a small pamWadd observes, "with a confession that phlet by Dr. Flemyng, and some occathey had never been prepared for the sional remarks in a few systematic public eye. For that reason they were works, will, I believe, be found to compublished without a name. In this imperfect state they passed through two impressions; and as no pains were taken to conceal the Author, he soon became generally known. It was therefore his wish to render the work more systematic; but professional duties, and pub lications, have prevented his attempt ing more than to arrange such facts as have occurred in his practice or reading. They have gradually accumulated; and judging of the importance of the subject, by the reception with which such a trifle has been honoured, he is induced to submit them again to the corpulent good-humoured part of the community, in their present shape." Though Mr. Wadd has occasionally treated the subject with much pleasantry, it is nowhere mixed with levity. After noticing the principal articles that have been resorted to in the treatment of this disease, we are informed, that "the person who depends solely on the benefit to be derived from the use of any of them will find himself grievously disappointed. "How can a magic box of pills, Syrup, or vegetable juice, Which years of luxury produce ?" "Abstinence from animal food was considered a moral duty, by the learned Ritson, ten years ago; and we have very lately had an erudite exhortation, to return to Nature,' and vegetable diet, "The English nation," he tells us, by a gentleman whose whole family live "has at all times been as famous for according to the following bill of fare. beef, as her sons have wheen celebrated Our breakfast,' he observes, is comfor bravery. That they understood good posed of dried fruits, whether raisins, living, even in the earliest ages, we may figs, or plums, with toasted bread, or learn from Cæsar, who, speaking of the biscuits, and weak tea, always made of diet of the Britons, says, Lacte et carne distilled water, with a moderate portion vivunt.' Nor have the 'cibi crassi ac of milk in it. The children, who do not fæculentæ turbidæque potiones' of our seem to like the flavour of tea, use ancestors, been a subject of less admi- milk and water instead of it. When ration with all succeeding historians, butter is added to the toast, it is in very down to the days of the good Sir Lionel small quantity. The dinner consists of Ducket, who, anno 1573, restrained the potatoes, with some other vegetables, *great housekeeping in the City, that had according as they happen to be in scacaused such great consumption of veni- son; macaroni, a tart, or a pudding, son, as to give offence to the Queen and with as few eggs as possible: to this is Court.' It has been conjectured by sometimes added a dessert. Onions, some, that for one fat person in France especially those from Portugal, may be or Spain, there are a hundred in Eng- stewed with a little walnut pickle, and land. I shall leave others to determine some other vegetable ingredients, for the fairness of such a calculation..... It which no cook will be at a loss, so as to 623] Corpulence considered as a disease." [624 constitute an excellent sauce for all King himself mentioned it; forcibly deother vegetables. As to drinking, we monstrating that strength of mind, reare scarcely inclined, on this cooling re- nunciation of all excess, and dominion gimen, to drink at all; but when it so over his appetite, which have charachappens, we take distilled water, having terized George III. at every period of a still expressly for this purpose in our his life. Conversing with William Duke back kitchen. The article of drink re- of Cumberland, his uncle, not long bequires the utmost attention. Corpulent fore that Prince's death in 1764, his persons generally indulge to excess; if Majesty observed, that it was with conthis be allowed, every endeavour to re- cern he remarked the Duke's augmentduce them will be vain.-Newmarket ing corpulency. I lament it not less, affords abundant proofs, how much may Sir,' replied he; but it is constitutionbe done by exercise. Jockies some- al; and I am much mistaken if your times reduce themselves a stone and a Majesty will not become as large as myhalf in weight in a week. self, before you attain to my age. It "The Author of the Pursuits of Lite- arises from your not using sufficient exrature remarks, that Philosophy is a ercise,' answered the king. I use, nevvery pleasant thing, and has various ertheless,' said the Duke, constant uses; one (by no means the least im- and severe exercise of every kind.-But portant) is, that it makes us laugh, a well- there is another effort requisite, in order known recipe for making us fat. The to repress this tendency, which is muchRoyal Society of London, after neglect more difficult to practise, and without ing this laughter-making property of which, no exercise, however violent, will Philosophy for some years, seems, in one suffice. I mean, great renunciation and instance, inclined to revive it.-Lest it temperance. Nothing else can prevent should be suspected that I have mis- your Majesty from growing to my size." represented the important paper thus The King made no reply; but the alluded to, and its accompanying speci- Duke's words sunk deep, and produced men, I shall offer a slight analysis of a lasting impression on his mind. From the first. The latter has been analyzed that day he formed the resolution, as he by a chemist, not less celebrated for his assured Lord Mansfield, of checking accuracy than his modesty, of whom it his constitutional inclination to corruneed only be said that he is the very lency, by unremitting restraint upon his able successor of Davy at the Royal In- appetite-a determination which he stitution." carried into complete effect, in defiance For this analysis it may be sufficient of every temptation." to refer to the Tract before us; as we Many of the cases of "Preternatural have no intention to examine more closely Obesity," whica form the Appendix, into the oily substance "which, procur- are curious and entertaining, particularly ed under circumstances which precluded those furnished from theatrical history. all possibility of deception, was laid on the table of the Royal Society." Many scientific observations are added to the present edition, and several remarkable cases; among which is the following anecdote, related by Sir N. Wraxall, of our venerable Monarch. The last of these Cases is of a very serious nature, a fatal accumulation of fat about the heart. The subject was Dr. Higgins of the Navy; but for this we have no room. "Here," says the ingenious Author, "I shall close this motley collection, formed from much and varied reading. "He (George III.) seemed to have medical correspondence, and personal a tendency to become corpulent, if he observation. The statement of many had not suppressed it by systematic and of the cases is given in the language of unremitting temperance. On this sub- the parties. In some, no more is said ject I shall relate a fact, which was com- than is sufficient to identify the fact. municated to me by a friend, Sir John In others, where the public journals or Macpherson, who received it from the private authority warranted it, the hisgreat Earl of Mansfield, to whom the tory is more explicit." 525] Shakspeare. ON SHAKSPEARE. THE GLEANER, No. 1. From the European Magazine. “I shall think it a most plenteous crop, SHAKSPEARE-As You Like it, [626 ters of those whose voices he hears but at a distance below; and repeatedly. holding up this creature of his fancy to his gaze, pronounces it an exact resemblance of an original which he has never seen No-Shakspeare heard the opin WHATEVER praises may have ions of mankind from their own mouths; been lavished on our immortal saw the effect which particular causes dramatist, by the admirers of his genius produced; drew his inferences from the and the panegyrists of his writings, the surest premises; and painted his porcorrect judgment of the critic who does traits from Nature herself. Not relying not suffer himself to be led away by the upon that distant prospect of human life, momentary impulse of his passions and which throws an appearance of univerfeelings, has found something to censure sal uniformity upon every surrounding as well as much to applaud. That dar- object, he entered so closely into its ing and bold imagination which serves scenes, that he was a personal witness to to raise his productions so far above the all the minute discriminations which dilevel of those of men of ordinary capaci- versify the natural character, and which ties, and to stamp them with an evidence are only discoverable by a narrow and of powers peculiarly his own, regardless close inspection. Hence, if he wishes of rules and impatient of restraint, has us to become acquainted with the origbeen, in many instances, productive of a inal of his resemblance, he accompanies relation of circumstances far removed the description with a train of little infrom all the rules of probability; whilst cidents, which, though they might have the taste of the times in which he wrote escaped an ordinary observer, convince has too frequently led him to indulge in the most ordinary capacity that they are a strain of low humour and indecent al correct. Every speech is expressive of lusion, and at other times to sacrifice that particular sentiment which we are common sense to the vapid jingling of led to expect from the character in which uncouth rhymes. it is made; and if we are occasionally But Shakspeare possessed qualities surprised with an unlocked-for trait, we which have been individually the privi- are soon reconciled to its introduction, lege of very few, and which, perhaps, and rather blame ourselves for having collectively, were never before, nor have formed a wrong conception of the wriever been since, united in so eminent a ter's intention, than the writer for differdegree. Occupying, as he did, several ing from us. His images are very freof the lowest stations in life, and associat- quently so lively, that when he attempts ing with characters who filled those which an exact delineation, we are no longer were still lower than his own, his earlier reading the poet's description, but the years afforded his acute and penetrating object of his representation stands full discernment a wonderful insight into the before us, with every feature and lineavarieties of the human character. His ment nicely pourtrayed. In perusing descriptions are not those of the man some of Shakspeare's plays, and noticing who derives all his knowledge from the distinguishing characteristics of his books, who takes every thing, as it were, dramatis personæ, the reader feels as if upon credit, who forms his own opinions he were contemplating one of Hogarth's upon those of others, whose means of pictures, and is ready to exclaim, the information were, perhaps, more scanty farther he looks-“"Tis the very life.” and circumscribed than his own-who, But the praises of our great dramatist unused to the bustling variety and active are not to be confined within the narrow scenes of human action, draws a flatter- limits of such a paper as the present: ing picture in his garret of the charac- they have already filled volumes; and a 627] Juvenile Books. [628 correct discernment of his distinguishing are not yet sufficiently fixed, and whose characteristics alone has been sufficient moral and religious opinions are in danto immortalize a female, who has nobly ger of being perverted by the imaginavindicated the cause of English merit tion being gratified with prohibited obagainst the invidious remarks of Gallic jects of attraction. Perhaps the best jealousy. There is one point of view which more particularly relates to the subject and design of this essay, to which we are anxious to draw the attention of our readers.-Referring again to those remarks with which we commenced, and acknowledging that, in many respects, Shakspeare deserves censure, still, however, we must admit, that amid the surrounding earthy particles is so much pure and valuable ore, that his trouble is most amply repaid who takes the pains to search and collect the precious substance. Many, who have very properly been cautious how they permit youth to resort to any source of amusement and reading, where there might be a danger of their tender minds being contaminated by impure and indelicate ideas, have objected to Shakspeare's being put into the hands of those whose principles D SIR, way to prevent the evil, and insure the good which would result from a perusal of the productions of our immortal hard, would be to select those passages which are particularly worthy of notice, and, by an elucidation of their meaning, and an application of the sentiments conveyed by them, at once impress the memery and enlarge the understanding. With this design, the writer intends the present as the commencement of a series of Essays, in which, adopting such passages in Shakspeare as appear worthy of remembrance, for mottoes, it will be his endeavour, in the remarks which may be made upon them, to combine amusement with instruction, and thus prove the truth of the frequently quoted sentiment of Horace, "Omne tulit Punctum, qui miscuit utile dulci,“ Portsea, March 1817. ALFRED. JUVENILE BOOKS. From the Monthly Magazine. moral from the tale; but, as this cannot R. JOHNSON was once requested be expected from young children, I think by a lady of Lichfield to tell her them highly improper. what books were proper for her children, I would have nothing presented to the who were just learning to read; his thoughts of children but plain matter of answer was, "O, madam, Tom Thom, fact, or what has at least the probability and Jack the Giant Killer" intimating, of truth; and, such is the curiosity of as I suppose, that he thought it of no con- young people, and the elements of useful sequence what kind of books, were put knowledge are so multifarious, and their into the hands of children. But, with accession is so very attractive, that it is all due respect for the opinion of this worse than absurd, it is both culpable great man, I think it of very great conse- and cruel, to abuse the juvenile thoughts quence, and am convinced, that correct with the vagaries of fiction and romance. early impressions are of vital importance. Children too may be early taught a love I was therefore pleased to see the matter of truth, that shall contribute to all that taken up by Y. Z. in the Monthly is lovely and dignified in the human chaMagazine for March,* though I must racter. A forward boy, of seven years beg to dissent from the opinion of this old, requested, a short time since, that I writer in regard to fables. Fables may, would lend him a book to read ;-I found I grant, convey strong impressions of him Robinson Crusoe: after looking moral instruction to those who are of over the contents, he came, and said, sufficiently mature age to separate the But, sir, is it all true? because, if it is not, I should not like to read it, for 1 See Atheneum, Vol. I. p. 317. 629] Juvenile Books.Health. [630 don't know what to make of books that flicted with mental derangement at eleven are not true." years of age, and another at fifteen, evi 小 We have many publications that are dently from this cause; and another, a quite unexceptionable for the use of female, who was not afflicted till after children, but the one which pleases me marriage, tells me that those visionary the most is the Book of Trades: I think ideas, that have been the source of so it might be extended with advantage; nor much trouble and affliction to herself and should I be sorry to see it accompanied nearest connexions in life, had their rise by a book of youthful pastimes, and from the flattery of a fond brother, older athletic exercises, with plates,-for it is than herself, who was in the habit of telabsolutely necessary that the thoughts of ling her, when a little girl, that she should children should be dissipated by play and be a great lady, and keep her own coach: diverting exercises. she being extremely beautiful, the Tales of fairies and hobgoblins are now brother was most likely the dupe of his pretty well discarded from the nursery, imaginations, and entertained a hope though not entirely so; I was obliged to that she might make her fortune by mardischarge a nurse lately, who persisted in riage; instead of which, it was her lot to telling tales of wonder: but every thing be united to a worthy clergyman, who, that is erroneous and visionary should be though he might start in life with the carefully discarded too; and it is also hopes of a good living, never obtained proper to avoid, as much as possible, one. Had her "sober wishes never whatever cannot be satisfactorily ex- learned to stray," she might most likely plained; the mental food of children, as have avoided the most deplorable disease. well as their corporal food, should be easy Nor is there any question but that the of digestion. Great injury may be done leading features in the human character by over stimulating juvenile thoughts, depend, in a great measure, on the power even with what is in itself perfectly of early mental impressions. Happy rational, though unfit for the tender then for those whose early impressions ideas. Now, if the thoughts of children were favourable to wisdom and virtue, may be excited to a diseased action by and whose tender thoughts were kept what is in itself rational, the most fatal free from the contaminations of falseconsequences may be expected from hood and of folly. That the mind filling their heads with what is erroneous is most susceptible of strong and inand visionary; and no doubt but that the delible impressions in early life does most lamentable perversities of human not admit of a doubt; the great impornature, and the most humiliating and de- tance of strict attention and caution, as grading complaints, have often had their to what those impressions are, is there origin in the ridiculous tales of the nur- fore incontrovertible. sery. I have had a patient who was af Spring-Vale; April 4, 1817. ON HEALTH. To the Editor of the Gentleman's Magazine. MR. URBAN, Walthamstow, April 9, 1817. On the Common Causes of Ill Health arising from Indigestion. SHALL send for the Gentleman's Previous to the observations on the Magazine, with your permission, injurious influence of High Feeding and some observations and recent experi- Spirituous Liquors on the Health, it nents on the destructive tendency of seems proper to present the Reader with Spirituous Liquors: the following are a familiar view of the process of nourish some preliminary observations on Health, ment, and of the healthy action of the for the next Number. digestive organs by which that essential function of the animal machine is effect Yours, &c. T. F. |