9 1837.] ON PRESERVING HEALTH. ways, a very great friend to the poor, and does all he can to help them; why then should he set himself so against the poor waggoners? The real truth is, that those who understand the matter will see that more good may be done by what looks like ill-nature, than by all the agreeable things which the gentleman does for his neighbours in other ways. He has stopped the practice of riding on shafts in his neighbourhood,--and thus has probably saved many broken limbs, and many lives, and prevented many cases of distress and misery which might have come into families by such accidents. I could mention many dreadful accidents which have occurred in other neighbourhoods, which might all have been prevented if some such gentleman had been among them, and on the watch. I saw, myself, a little while ago, an accident, which was not indeed attended with loss of life or limb, but which caused very serious alarm and injury to a sickly female, and caused her the loss of the little gig in which she and her daughter were driving. A waggon met them; the driver was asleep on the shafts, and there was not room to pass; the females did not see their danger until it was too late to get out of the way; the heavy wheels of the waggon struck the gig and broke it to pieces, and threw the females out. They were about half-a-mile from the village of Esher, in Surry, to which place the sick woman was obliged to walk, to her own great inconvenience, besides the injury sustained by the fright, and the destruction of the little cart, which, to a person apparently in humble circumstances, must have been a considerable loss, and for which, though entitled to damages, it might not be easy to recover them from a person apparently poorer than herself. v. ON PRESERVING HEALTH. IT is a common saying, that "prevention is better than cure." It is far better never to have occasion to send for the doctor, than to have his best advice when sickness obliges us to consult him. Many of the books on health which have been published lately give excellent rules for preventing diseases, and show by what course of living we may be most likely to keep the body in health. People who eat too much, or drink too much, cannot expect to be long in health; the stomach is over-loaded; and then all goes wrong. Poor people sometimes suffer by having too little to eat; but there are very few diseases from that cause when compared with those which are brought on by those who can afford to over-eat themselves every day these make good employ for the doctor. Some poor people, indeed, spend so much money in drinking, that they have none left for good eating; and drinking fills the stomach without strengthening it, and brings on many diseases in other ways. : It is of great consequence to look after the health of children, by keeping them clean and giving them a sufficiency of plain food, and keeping them in good exercise in the open air. Many young females, in high life, are greatly injured by confinement in the house, and want of proper exercise. The following extract is taken from "The Doctor," a well-known periodical work. EXERCISE FOR CHILDREN. V. VARIOUS ways may be found for exercising young people, in which the attainment of a due state of health may be combined with instruction; thus gardening, husbandry, or any out-door employment, will be found to answer these ends. They are pursuits which most persons are fond of, and may always be adapted to their age and strength. Exercise in-doors, although useful in wet weather, or under circumstances which prevent other exercise abroad, is not to be compared with the latter. One hour abroad is better than a dozen confined to the house; at the same time, if, as we have just observed, exercise abroad cannot be obtained, that within may be substituted. The running and jumping in a large room will exercise and bring into action the muscles of the body, and thus promote perspiration, strengthen the limbs, and induce activity in the several secretions. Besides the preceding modes of exercise, the use of the shuttle-cock and dumb-bells is deserving of much regard. The shuttle-cock is a most excellent species of exercise, more par 1837.] NATURAL HISTORY. 11 ticularly for young ladies, because it can be used at all times, in foul and fair weather, and when females may not be able to use so much riding or walking as is necessary for health. Cold bathing will be found an excellent auxiliary to exercise, and it is much to be regretted that this salutary practice is not more attended to in England than it is. In health the body is braced and strengthened by its use, the circulation and secretions promoted, and, were it properly conducted, many diseases, such as scrofula, rickets, &c., might be prevented by its use. In savage countries, the children are accustomed to the cold water almost from their birth; and we want no greater proofs of its excellence than the robust and powerful frames of the inhabitants of these countries. If the cold bath is not always attainable for children, the washing and bathing their limbs every night and morning with cold water may be substituted for it; but where a child is relaxed, and a strong tendency to rickets and scrofula is indicated, nothing short of bathing the child either in the sea, or a river, or pond, ought to satisfy its parents. It should have one good dip at a time, taken out, and immediately enveloped in a blanket, and as soon as possible rubbed dry with a rough cloth. THIS creature is somewhat like the racoon; but its neck and body are longer. Its chief peculiarity is the great length of its snout. The upper jaw is much longer than the lower, and the snout, which may be turned in any direction, proceeds upwards from the end of the upper jaw. It resembles the racoon, also, in the way in which it eats, carrying its food to its mouth with both its fore paws, whilst it sits, very easily, on the hinder ones.-History of Quadrupeds. THE racoon is a native of North America, and of several of the West India Islands, where it inhabits the hollows of trees. Its food consists principally of maize, sugarcanes, and various kinds of fruit. It is also supposed to devour birds, and their eggs. When near the shores these animals live much on shell-fish, and particularly on oysters. We are told that they will watch the opening of the shell, dexterously put in their paw, and tear out the contents; sometimes, however, the oyster suddenly closes, catches the thief, and holds him fast, till he is drowned by the return of the tide. They feed likewise on crabs, in the taking of which they show much cunning. It is said that the racoon will stand by the side of a swamp, and hang its tail in the water; that the crabs, mistaking this for food, lay hold of it, and as soon as the creature feels the bite of the crab, he pulls out his prey with a sudden jerk, and devours him: this is a curious way of going a-fishing. The racoon is an active, sprightly animal, and his claws enable him to climb trees with great ease. He is easily tamed, and is then good-natured 1837.] CAUSES OF POVERTY. 13 and sportive, but is almost constantly in motion, and is as mischievous as a monkey. He sits upright to eat, and carries food to his mouth in his paws. He feeds chiefly by night, and sleeps during the greater part of the day. -Bingley. CAUSES OF POVERTY. IT has often been said, that, in England, the poorest man may, by care and industry, rise to a condition of independence and respectability. Some men, however, have not the same opportunities of bettering their condition as others have; but if a man is really sober, industrious, and considerate, he may in general make a good provision for himself and his family, even though he may not be in a way of rising above his condition, as many diligent and clever men do. But there are some persons who seem to delight in dirt, and rags, and poverty; they will not try to better themselves, or to enjoy the comforts which they might have if they would. Some workmen, such as tailors, shoemakers, and others in London, are generally at ale-houses and gin-shops at the beginning of the week, earning nothing, and spending a great deal. You may see numbers of these reeling about the streets on a Monday: and then, if there is the least change for the worse in trade, they are full of complaints, and they find fault with their masters, or the government, or any body but those who are really to blame, namely, themselves. They have not a penny in their pockets against bad times; whilst those who have kept to their work, and taken care of their money, have become men of property. And the poverty of the foolish spendthrifts is not the worst part of the business; they are degraded in mind, as well as miserable in circumstances, generally without any religious principle, or any moral feeling. There is a set too of ragged, wretched people about the streets, who look pale and sickly, and half starved; a sort of beggared looking race who seem to have no home, and no employment. Many of them are women, and some of them hardly above the age of children. It is the habit of drinking which has reduced them to this |