Diseases > Domestic medicine

BUCHAN
74
Weakness of the Digestive Organs, etc.-
No person can enjoy health who does not properly
digest his food. But intense thinking and inactivity
never fail to weaken the powers of digestion. Hence
the humours become crude and vitiated, the solid s
weak and relaxed, and the whole constitution goes to
Head-ache, Apoplexv.—Long and intense think¬
ing often occasions grievous head-aches, which bring on
vertigoes, apoplexies, palsies, and other fatal disorders.
The best way to prevent these is, never to study too
long at one time, and to keep the body regular, either
by proper food, or taking frequently a little of some
opening medicine.
Inflammation of the Eyes.—Those who read
or write much are often afflicted with sore eyes
Studying by candle light is peculiarly hurtful to th
sight. This ought to be practised as seldom as pos ¬
sible. When it is unavoidable, the eyes should be
shaded, and the head should not be held too low.
When the eyes are weak or painful, they should be
bathed every night and morning in cold water, to
which a little brandy may be added.
Dropsy.—It has already been observed, that the
excretions are very defective in the studious. The
dropsy is often occasioned by the retention of those
humours which ought to be earned off in this way.
Any person may observe, that sitting makes his legs
swell, and that this goes off by exercise; which clearly
points out the method of prevention.
Fever.—Fevers, especially of the nervous kind
are often the effect of intense study; which in a
manner unhinges the whole human frame, and not
only hurts the whole vital motions, but disorders the
mind itself. Hence a delirium, melancholy, and even