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she would get wellor something〃？ Persons who are shut up in that
way； confined to their chambers； sometimes to their beds； have a very
small amount of vital expenditure； and wear out very little of their
living substance。 They are like lamps with half their wicks picked
down； and will continue to burn when other lamps have used up all
their oil。 An insurance office might make money by taking no risks
except on lives of persons suffering from mortal disease。 It is on
this principle of economizing the powers of life that a very eminent
American physician； Dr。 Weir Mitchell； a man of genius；has
founded his treatment of certain cases of nervous exhaustion。
What have I got to say about temperance； the use of animal food； and
so forth？ These are questions asked me。 Nature has proved a wise
teacher； as I think； in my own case。 The older I grow； the less use
I make of alcoholic stimulants。 In fact； I hardly meddle with them
at all； except a glass or two of champagne occasionally。 I find that
by far the best borne of all drinks containing alcohol。 I do not
suppose my experience can be the foundation of a universal rule。 Dr。
Holyoke； who lived to be a hundred； used habitually； in moderate
quantities； a mixture of cider； water； and rum。 I think； as one
grows older； less food； especially less animal food； is required。
But old people have a right to be epicures； if they can afford it。
The pleasures of the palate are among the last gratifications of the
senses allowed them。 We begin life as little cannibals；feeding on
the flesh and blood of our mothers。 We range through all the
vegetable and animal products； of nature； and I suppose； if the
second childhood could return to the food of the first； it might
prove a wholesome diet。
What do I say to smoking？ I cannot grudge an old man his pipe； but I
think tobacco often does a good deal of harm to the health；to the
eyes especially； to the nervous system generally； producing headache；
palpitation； and trembling。 I myself gave it up many years ago。
Philosophically speaking； I think self…narcotization and self…
alcoholization are rather ignoble substitutes for undisturbed self…
consciousness and unfettered self…control。
Here is another of those brain…tapping letters； of similar character；
which I have no objection to answering at my own time and in the
place which best suits me。 As the questions must be supposed to be
asked with a purely scientific and philanthropic purpose； it can make
little difference when and where they are answered。 For myself； I
prefer our own tea…table to the symposia to which I am often invited。
I do not quarrel with those who invite their friends to a banquet to
which many strangers are expected to contribute。 It is a very easy
and pleasant way of giving an entertainment at little cost and with
no responsibility。 Somebody has been writing to me about 〃Oatmeal
and Literature；〃 and somebody else wants to know whether I have found
character influenced by diet； also whether； in my opinion； oatmeal is
preferable to pie as an American national food。
In answer to these questions； I should say that I have my beliefs and
prejudices； but if I were pressed hard for my proofs of their
correctness； I should make but a poor show in the witness…box。 Most
assuredly I do believe that body and mind are much influenced by the
kind of food habitually depended upon。 I am persuaded that a too
exclusively porcine diet gives a bristly character to the beard and
hair； which is borrowed from the animal whose tissues these stiff…
bearded compatriots of ours have too largely assimilated。 I can
never stray among the village people of our windy capes without now
and then coming upon a human being who looks as if he had been split；
salted； and dried； like the salt…fish which has built up his arid
organism。 If the body is modified by the food which nourishes it；
the mind and character very certainly will be modified by it also。
We know enough of their close connection with each other to be sure
of that； without any statistical observations to prove it。
Do you really want to know 〃whether oatmeal is preferable to pie as
an American national food〃？ I suppose the best answer I can give to
your question is to tell you what is my own practice。 Oatmeal in the
morning； as an architect lays a bed of concrete to form a base for
his superstructure。 Pie when I can get it； that is； of the genuine
sort； for I am not patriotic enough to think very highly of the
article named after the Father of his Country； who was first in war；
first in peace；not first in pies； according to my standard。
There is a very odd prejudice against pie as an article of diet。 It
is common to hear every form of bodily degeneracy and infirmity
attributed to this particular favorite food。 I see no reason or
sense in it。 Mr。 Emerson believed in pie； and was almost indignant
when a fellow…traveller refused the slice he offered him。 〃Why；
Mr。________ ；〃 said be； 〃what is pie made for！〃 If every Green
Mountain boy has not eaten a thousand times his weight in apple；
pumpkin； squash； and mince pie； call me a dumpling。 And Colonel
Ethan Allen was one of them；Ethan Allen； who； as they used to say；
could wrench off the head of a wrought nail with his teeth。
If you mean to keep as well as possible； the less you think about
your health the better。 You know enough not to eat or drink what you
have found does not agree with you。 You ought to know enough not to
expose yourself needlessly to draughts。 If you take a
〃constitutional；〃 walk with the wind when you can； and take a closed
car against it if you can get one。 Walking against the wind is one
of the most dangerous kinds of exposure； if you are sensitive to
cold。 But except a few simple rules such as I have just given； let
your health take care of itself so long as it behaves decently。 If
you want to be sure not to reach threescore and twenty； get a little
box of homoeopathic pellets and a little book of homeopathic
prescriptions。 I had a poor friend who fell into that way； and
became at last a regular Hahnemaniac。 He left a box of his little
jokers； which at last came into my hands。 The poor fellow had
cultivated symptoms as other people cultivate roses or
chrysanthemums。 What a luxury of choice his imagination presented to
him！ When one watches for symptoms； every organ in the body is ready
to put in its claim。 By and by a real illness attacked him； and the
box of little pellets was shut up； to minister to his fancied evils
no longer。
Let me tell you one thing。 I think if patients and physicians were
in the habit of recognizing the fact I am going to mention； both
would be gainers。 The law I refer to must be familiar to all
observing physicians； and to all intelligent persons who have
observed their own bodily and mental conditions。 This is the curve
of health。 It is a mistake to suppose that the normal state of