The Daily State Journal

DOMESTIC

Health Maxims. Dr. Dio Lewis pronounces some rather startling propositions in his book on hygiene. For instance:
Potatoes, both Irish and sweet, are very poor food for brain and muscle. The common notion that our health and life depend upon a mysterious Providence is downright infidelity. A child goes out of a hot room with naked arms and legs, in pursuit of its daily supply of poisoned candies, and then dies of croup. Is that a mysterious Providence? If a man indulges himself until he gets the gout, and disease attacks his heart and kills him, is his death a mystery?

The reason that the American people are such dyspeptics is that they eat and drink so much, and eat and drink so fast. The teeth will not decay if they are kept clean. A tooth brush is a good thing, but one good tooth pick is worth an armful of tooth brushes. There is a gentleman now living in New York city, who has three beautiful front teeth which he purchased from the mouth of an Irishman. His own teeth were removed, and instantly Patrick's were transferred.

The word biliousness is a sort of cover for piggishness. People are not bilious who eat what they should.

The Greek and Roman armies ate but once a day.

The common impression that tomatoes are the healthiest of all vegetables is a mistake. If eaten at all, it should be with great moderation, and never raw. Tomatoes have sometimes produced salivation. Dr. Lewis knew a young woman who had lost all her teeth from excessive eating of tomatoes.

Cakes and pies are poisonous.

To healthy persons mineral waters are not wholesome.

Corsets are most injurious to digestion. Their use finally results in an immense and very ugly protuberance of the abdomen.

Those who suffer from heartburn should avoid soups, drink nothing at meals, say "No, thank you," to pies and cake, and go without supper.

If you wish to live to eighty-five, in the full enjoyment of all your faculties, go to bed at nine o'clock, and eat twice a day moderate quantities of plain food.