1816.]

Tours of Professor Tauscher in Russia in Asia

guide, who was acquainted with the mazy windings of the arms of the Wolga, as well as with the spot where the nelumbo is found, and was fortunate enough to meet with a great many specimens of this plant, in which Indian mythologists pretend to discover the sacred mystery of generation, flourishing in full bloom. It grows on an insulated spot, in one of the side arms of the Wolga, where the water is from two yards and a half, to three yards in depth; and sends out its vigorous roots several yards around, over a fenny soil, whilst it annually throws up young and verdant shoots above the water. Having carefully deposited a sufficient number of these offsets in a vessel filled with water, I immediately forwarded them by the post from Astrachan to Gorenki. To the great delight of the botanists, as I was afterwards informed, they arrived at their destination in excellent condition, and were transplanted into a pond reserved purposely for their cultivation. In spite, however, of every care and precaution, the hope of domesticating this rare and beautiful plant was completely frustrated, as it perished the very first winter after its transplantation.

"I then turned off from Sedlüstow to the Island of the Four Hills, a few miles distant from the shore, which is provided with a lofty lighthouse, as a mark for vessels sailing into the Wolga, We collected several insects and beautiful plants on this island.

"The country round Astrachan is of no great interest either in a botanical or entomological point of view; though, as I perceived from some specimens shewn to me by a collector, it must be much richer in those classes in the spring of the year. The gnats which render Gurieff and its vicinity a complete purgatory, also infest these quarters though in a less degree.

"In conformity with advices from Moscow, I resolved to make a tour on the approach of autumn, into the steppic regions, lying to the north-east of Astrachan, and to devote it to the collecting of saline plants. I quitted this place, therefore, in the first days of September; both myself and my attendants having previously performed quarantine at Solänka, on the opposite bank of the Wolga. It was not, however, so rigidly observed as to debar us from making excursions round the adjoining country during its continuance. Hence I recrossed to the left bank of the Wolga, and sailed down one of its side-arms to

317

Krasnoyar, a small town, about thirty versts distant from Astrachan, and completely surrounded by water. This place proved more welcome to us on account of the rare species of water-fowl and snipes, than of the plants, which we collected there.

"That part of the steppe which lies, near it, is generally visited during the summer, by the Konduroffsky Tartars, a roaming horde, who pass their winter in fixed habitations, contrary to the usual custom of the natives of the Steppes: these habitations compose two villages, situated close upon the Wolga. Of all the wandering tribes I had yet met with, I found this by far the most civilized and wealthy. For some days I was the guest of one of their most distinguished men. In his appearance, he resembled one of those patriarchs, whose portraiture owes its existence to the imagination of some celebrated artist: the simplicity of his manners, the mild and paternal solicitude with which the master of the family governs every individual of his household, wives, children and servants, and I am almost tempted to add, the tender attention he bestows on his herds, consisting of horses, camels, oxen and sheep, which compose the wealth of the nomadic tribes, and constitute almost his whole livelihood, bring the pictures given us by the Scriptures of the primitive habits of the world's earliest ages, forcibly to our recollection.

"This tribe is not very numerous; at the utmost it includes scarcely more than five or six hundred kibitkes or tents, and about five thousand souls. It is infinitely superior to any other steppic race, particularly the Calmucs and Kirghisians. This is even externally evident from the greater cleanliness and size of their felt tents, their clothing, the attire of their women, and the use they make of a peculiar species of carriage, (an immense covered waggon on two wheels, which they call Arpa,) that serves as a moveable dwelling for their women, and other appurtenances.

"Three hundred versts from Krasnoyar, but more to the north than Arsafar, lies a rock-salt hill, similar to, though better known than the former, and called by the Moguls, Tschaptschatschi. In the centre of a circle of rather steep hills, from fourteen to fifteen versts in circumference, where masses of rock-salt, sometimes covered over with a thin layer of earth, occasionally project, is a hollow of a crater-like form, and some versts

MISCELLANEOUS INQUIRIES.

1816.]

[ 319 ]

THE GUARDIAN OF HEALTH.

NUMBER VII.

ON THE BENEFITS OF FREQUENTING WATERING-PLACES. HOW few of the inhabitants of towns live agreeably to the general rules for the preservation of health, which were the subject of a former paper! It is in vain to preach to them what they ought or ought not to do, in the expectation of obtaining a strict observance of the precepts that we inculcate. Every man, from the most independent monarch to the purchased slave, has peculiar duties incident to his station, which he ought to perform even at the expense of his life and health. Were the soldier to take it into his head no longer to expose himself to cold and rain; the tailor not to sit in a bending posture; the man of letters not to meditate; the merchant not to write and keep accounts; the women Hot to wash, sew, and cook; were, in short, every individual determined to do nothing but what is consistent with the rigid rules of health, the world would soon be overrun with lazy and hearty beggars; and the fruits of such a general self-indulgence would be the total abo·lition of all ranks in society, nay, even the destruction of society itself. We live, not merely for the sake of existing, but that we may be serviceable to the world. To be worthy of that life which the Creator hath given us, we must possess the courage to sacrifice it when necessary for the benefit of our fellow creatures, and we must be satisfed with such a state of health, as the duties of the trade or profession which we have voluntarily embraced will allow us to enjoy.

that by fears equally absurd, and another by the most frightful dreams that melancholy can suggest. One who has all his heart can desire, possesses nothing, because he is incapable of any enjoyment. Another, by dint of inedi tation upon all the misfortunes that might by possibility chance to befal him, completely cats himself off from the means of remedying such as actually overtake him. Melancholy, depression of spirits, indolence, indigestion, want of appetite, nausea, flatulence, obstructions, unpleasant dreams, spleen, va pours, vitiated juices, and a thousand other plagues, are the constant companions of merchants, artists, men of letters, women, wealthy idlers and the votaries of luxurious indulgence; and yet all these are complaints for which no person need keep his bed or neglect his employment, although they may sometimes require the exercise of a physician's skill for their alleviation or removal.

Merchants, artists, literati, and the female sex in general, are obliged by their respective avocations to follow such an unnatural mode of life, as often renders them sickly and ailing. If we could but hear those persons who seem all bustle and vivacity as they pass along the streets complaining in private to their physicians, their friends, or by themselves, we should be astonished to find how much secret misery oppresses mankind. One cannot touch a morsel at the most sumptuous entertainment because he has no appetite, and his stomach no power of digestion; to another almost every kind of food is too strong, and all sorts of liquors over heating; while a third sits distended with flatulence and gasps for breath. This man is tormented by absurd doubts,

Of all remedies the most effectual for the persons in question, is a trip to some watering-place; and that they may be the more ready to try it, as I know them to be rather slow in their resolves, I will state the benefits which may be expected from their compliance. I shall premise that I confine myself to the advantages which are common to most kinds of mineral waters: as an enumeration of the peculiar qualities of each species could not be brought within a reasonable compass.

Most of the patients, whose case I ant now considering, are prevented by their mode of life from taking sufficient exercise. They are mostly fixed to their chairs. Their juices become depraved. Their digestive powers are weakened, and obstructions in the viscera are produced by the compression of the abdomen, and from these sources spring most of their disorders.

At a watering-place, the rules generally prescribed to those persons who drink the waters, require them to assist the effects of the fluid by a due portion of bodily exercise. At such times, therefore, they return to their obedience to nature, who requires of us incessant activity, if we would continue in health. Here the man bloated with fat accumu lated in sitting still, waddles along as fast

320

On the Benefits of frequenting Watering-places.

as the asthmatic female, who has not snuffed the fresh air since the month of September. Here the spare scholar and the rotund alderman, the deformed artist and the gouty squire, the cachec⚫ tic prelate, and the hypochondriac peer, all meet in pursuit of the same object, and are all impelled to an exertion of their active powers. In exercise alone they find the means so indispensable to them, of securing themselves against the bad consequences of a too luxurious or too sedentary life. By these means they quicken the circulation of the blood, and produce a better commixture of all their juices. They promote the due perform ance of all the natural functions of the viscera, and strengthen by exercise their relaxed muscles. Hence we see how necessary it is that water-drinkers should seek to enjoy this advantage in its fullest extent. For this reason I should advise them to repair to the fountain-head, instead of having the water brought to them; for, in truth, the journey itself is more beneficial to such persons than the water. Neither is it sufficient for them to walk only the distance prescribed; they ought to pass the remainder of the day in gentle exercise, and to lead a real country life. Walking, riding, dancing, conversation, are all wholesome exercises with which the visitors at watering-places should diversify the day, without sitting down to the gaming-table and passing the whole afternoon or evening in an employment alike destructive of health of body and tranquillity of mind.

One of the greatest benefits of watering-places is the diversion of the mind from the usual avocations, and its being occupied in seeking incessant amusemeat. For this reason also it is better not to drink the water at home, but at its source, or in some strange place, where the objects are novel and agreeable, and of a totally different kind from those which people are in the daily habit of seeing. This is a very essential point for my patients, whose malady is often more in the mind than in the body. The visitors at a watering-place must become Arcadian swains and shepherdesses. The fields, the gardens, the meadows, must be their haunts, the azure firmament their covering, the verdant turf their couch, the pure air their element, and amusement their object. Some amusements are to be preferred to others, but no kind must be wholly rejected, if no other is to be had. In general, those for whom a visit to a watering

[May 1,

place is most needful, are low-spirited, dissatisfied persons, enemies to pleasure, society, mirth, and the enjoyments of sense. I must, therefore, inform them that water-drinking alone would be of very little benefit to them, unless they take part in every thing, however trivial they may consider it, that tends to divert their minds, and to dispel some of the darkness which envelopes their gloomy imagination.

The amusements to be preferred are those connected with bodily exercise. For the most delicate, excursions in convenient vehicles or upon the water, in calm warm weather, may answer this purpose. To stronger persons, I would recommend walking, battledore and shuttlecock, conversation, singing, musical exercises especially dancing, shooting, and hunting. Whoever considers these amusements as improper or sinful, should be informed that this way of thinking is merely a consequence of that mental disease, for the cure of which he is ordered to drink the waters and to dance.

Next to bodily exercises come those amusements which consist in an agree able diversion and occupation of the mind, and with which those hours may be filled up when exercise cannot be taken. The reading of entertaining works suitable to the taste of each individual, society, music, balls, masquerades, change of objects, the contemplation of nature, fishing, fowling, but above all, theatrical exhibitions are excellently adapted to this purpose. A play transports the spectator, as it were, into a new world, in which he with pleasure forgets himself and the old one. The mind of that person must be a perfect blank, devoid alike of feeling and of thought, who can witness a good play, well performed, without interest and gratification. I can easily imagine that my bypochondriacs may have strong scruples about going to the theatre. But they may rely upon it that a virtuous mind is not in such danger of contamination as they fancy, from theatrical exhibitions; and lest my arguments should have very little weight with them, I will appeal to the great reformer, Luther, whose authority they will not question. In his Table-talk, cap. xxxvi. on Schools, this pious man expressly says, "Christians ought not to renounce plays entirely, because obscenities and gallantries sometimes occur in them, for in this case, we ought not for the same reason to read the Bible. It is therefore frivolous to

1816.] Oedipus Jocularis-Spick and Span-Culprit-A Clincher. 321

Oedipus Jocularis:

OR, ILLUSTRATIONS OF REMARKABLE PROVERBS, OBSCURE SAYINGS, AND PECULIAR