practice all the means requisite for that purpose, and pursue them rigorously and systematically.

I now proceed to give what I shall term THE FIRST FUNDAMENTAL

PRINCIPLE IN THE ART OF PRESERVING AND ATTAINING HIGH HEALTH which is,

To give the Skin a thorough cleaning, at least as often as once in every twenty-four hours.

How to do it.-It is of little use, I have found, to tell a person to de a thing to which he is not accustomed, without you, at the same time, give him some ready and easy method by which he may do it; I shall, therefore, here give a means by which every one may indulge in that greatest of all luxuries, as well as an essential means of preserving health-a cold bath-as often as he chooses. First, then, get four yards of cotton cloth, cloth of about one yard in width, cut it in two in the middle, and sew the pieces together lengthwise, sew also round the edges a piece of rope of at least half an inch in diameter, then take it to a painter, and get him to put upon it two or three coats of paint to make it thoroughly water-proof. You will then have a bathing mat elevated at the edges, and two yards square, which is large enough to enable the most careless to make use of in the nicest bedroom, without leaving any slops upon the carpet. When you are travel. ing, it can and should be taken with you, so that whenever you can get a pitcher of water, you will have the means of taking a bath. N. B. A mat made of India rubber will answer the same purpose, but is not quite so cheap.

Now, for the bath. Spread your mat nicely on the carpet, before and under your washstand, the last thing you do before going to bed, so that it will collect every drop of water. Have in your room, or what is better, have brought to you, from six to twelve quarts of the purest and coolest water you can get, pour it into the washbowl, then commence by dipping the face into it, then wet the neck, back part of the head, arms and hands, then with the palms of the hands, or with a sponge, if you like it better, throw it all over your person as quickly as possible. Be careful to have a good quantity run down in front and upon the spine; in fact, give every part of your person a rapid but thorough wetting; then wipe rapidly with a coarse towel, and afterwards apply the tiesh-brush (one with a long handle is the best) until you produce a healthful glow throughout the system. Well, your bath is completed, and you feel at least a hundred per cent, better than you would have done if you had not have taken it. The only thing now that remains to do, is to take up your mat by the four cor ners, and empty it into a slop-pail, and your room is in as perfect order as if you had not attempted this formidable operation.

I wish I could impress upon my readers, not what I think of the value of this process, for that would be impossible-but what I know they will think of it after they have practised it for a few weeks To the weakly and sedentary, it will add tenfold to the charms of existence and will at once give them a better appetite, ar easier di

stion and a bolder energy, and it will be a greater beautifier of the ampixion than all the cosmetics sold in Broadway.

These are many people, so irrational are the habits of society, that will be fightened at the idea of making use of cold water in this way. Oh dear! I should take my death of cold, says some pretty miss, whose skin, probably, has never had a perfect ablution for years, and, as a necessary consequence, is thoroughly clogged with impurities, and thus deprived of its most essential attributes as a secreting organ. Now we must try and convince such that a cold bath, taken daily, is not only perfectly safe, but is a positive luxury. Let all such as labor under this form of hydrophobia, commence gradually by wetting at first only the arms, neck, &c., the next morning make a still further application, and so on, till they shall have obtained sufficient courage to take a full bath, but be careful to use the flesh brush, or coarse towel, or, what is better than either, perhaps, hair gloves, to produce a healthy glow in the system; or, if they like it better, they can commence with water made slightly tepid, and every succeeding morning use water more and more cold, till they shall be able to make use of the coldest iced water.

A few cautionary remarks respecting this method of using cold water will not be out of place. The good or bad effects of a bath are always immediately apparent; you feel them at once, if at all. If one is in feeble health, he must be cautious, and not overdo the matter. Then, a very little water, slowly applied, is the best; if in firm, vigorous health, a common shower bath is far better than the one we have prescribed, as it will give a greater shock to the system, and will cause a more powerful reaction.

ON DIET.

Few persons of delicate health are aware how much their sufferings might be alleviated by adopting a light diet. This applies more especially to such as are at all troubled with indigestion or any of its concomitants; to such, a light, nutritious food, that will sit easy upon the stomach, is indispensable, if they would enjoy any comfort.

We give below recipes for a few articles of diet, which we would strongly urge upon the attention of those who are at all troubled with indigestion. They will find, from their adoption, the most surprising relief, Literary men, that are compelled to exercise their minds much, and their bodies little; females, who are much confined within doors and indeed all who lead a sedentary life, will find the prescriptions be low of the greatest service.

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Invalids, when they find it necessary to commence a dietetic reform, usually begin by making a selection from their ordinary articles of food, but I believe the dishes prescribed below will be found far more beneficial than anything in ordinary use. Many people will wish, probably, for a greater variety; but if they cat for gaining strength, and not for the mere pleasure of gustatory enjoyment, they will find

these few articles with a little Graham bread (no butter) will be far more beneficial than the most varied diet. I have lived upon them for months with great satisfaction, and soon lost all relish for other kinds of food: however, what will suit one person will not always suit another, and I, therefore, leave every one to judge for himself. I shall hereafter take up the subject of diet in the series of articles "How to Cure Dyspepsia," &c., and give it a thorough discussion.

The first recipe which follows for making what the Irish term flimmery, or pudding made out of oat meal starch, is perfectly light, very nutritious, and at the same time laxative. Until one gets accustomed to it, it is not so palatable as some other dishes, but with syrup, or molasses, or good milk, it soon becomes agreeable. In Great Britain, where oat meal is more common than in this country, it is universally prescribed for invalids, particularly those of consumptive habits, and not for invalids alone, but many persons comparatively hearty, will find great advantage in adopting it as an article of daily diet. Their minds will be clearer, their bodies more active, and spirits freer. It is made in this wise:

(1.) To make Oat Meal Starch Pudding.

Take, say, two quarts of oat meal, and pour into it sufficient pure cold water to well cover it, let it stand about two days, then strain it through a sieve or cloth into a clean vessel. To make sure that you get all the substance out of the meal, after the first water is drained off, pour on it more water, and rub it well. Let the water stand till well settled, then pour off the top, and at the bottom will be found the starch. To make this perfectly pure and white, after you have turned off the first water, pour in on top of the starch a little more pure water, and after it has swelled, pour it off as before; this operation may be repeated till the starch becomes perfectly fine and white. It is then fit for cooking. This is done simply by putting a few spoonfuls into a saucepan with fresh water, and a little salt. It will be done with about four minutes boiling.

(2.) To make Potato Starch Pudding.

Take two or three spoonfuls of potato starch, mix it in half a pin of milk, beat into it two eggs, then pour all into & saucepan containing half a pint of boiling milk a little salted, let it boil two or three minntes, (stirring it well all the time,) as otherwise the egg will get overlone, and become hard and indigestible. Eat with sugar or molasses. Mr. Fowler, the well known phrenologist, says in one of his publications, this is the best article of diet he has ever found, and he has been a dyspeptic for twenty years. I think every one who gives it a fair trial will agree with him, nothing can be more easily digested, while with the eggs it is very nutritious, and is at the same time very palatable; it may be added, also, that it is very cheap, for the whole expense of a good meal from it, need not exceed six or eight cents.

N. B. As many weak stomachs will find two eggs at a meal more

than they can master, I would recommend that if they eat of this diub three times a day, as many invalids should, that at breakfast it be made with but one egg, at dinner with two, and for supper with but the yolk of one, or without any.

The only objection that can possibly be urged against this article is, that it has a tendency to constipate the bowels. In that case I would recommend the injection heretofore prescribed, or what will be preferred by some, the remedies for constipation prescribed by the Honicopathic practitioners. I do not endorse all the theories of this sect, but I have found their remedies for constipation very beneficial. Potatoe starch is to be obtained at the groceries, being sold by them as Boston arrow-root. As many people, however, prefer to make it themselves, 1 add a method of doing it.

(3.) To make Potato Starch.

Take a quantity of good mealy potatoes, and after having them nicely peeled and washed, grate them on a fine grater, (if the grater is too coarse, much of the virtue of the potato will be wasted ;) pour into the pulpy mass enough pure cold water to cover it a few inches after it has well settled, strain the whole through a sieve or cloth intc a convenient vessel; pour into the sieve fresh washings of water, and squeeze the potatoes well, so as to be sure you get all the nutriment out of them; let the water stand for a short time, and then pour off; there will be found at the bottom a quantity of starch. To render it quite pure and nice, more fresh water should be poured into it, and after having settled, again poured off. This may be repeated a second, and even a third time, to the improvement of the starch

(4.) To make Buckwheat Pudding.

This is also a very light, agreeable pudding, and at the same time decidedly laxative. Take half a pint of buckwheat flour, mix it with cold milk and eggs, if the stomach will bear them, add a little salt, and boil in cold water two or three minutes. This pudding made of Indian meal is, by many, preferred to the buckwheat, but is not so laxative as when made of buckwheat. If made of wheat flour, it is decidedly constipating.

(5.) To make Flour Caudle.

Into five spoonfuls of the puret water, ruub smooth one dessert spoonful of fine flour. Set over the fire five tablespoonfuls of new milk, and put two bits of sugar into it: the moment it boils, pour into it the flour and water, and stir it over a slow fire twenty minutes. It is a nourishing and gentle astringent food, particularly for babies who have weak bowels.

(6.) To make Milk Porridge.

Make a fire gruel of cracked corn, grits, or cat meal, long boiled strain off, either add cold or warm milk, as may be approved. Serve with toast.

HINTS ON THE USE AND CHOICE OF SPECTACLES

Most persons begin to feel the necessity for some assistance to their eyes in reading and working after the age of thirty-five; though even the commencement and progress of the deterioration of the eyes vary according to the degree of health the individual has enjoyed, their original formation, the use that has been made of them, &c.; so that some persons have as much occasion for spectacles at twenty-five as others have at fifty; and others, on the contrary, have as goon sight at fifty as they had at twenty-five. Still, the average time at which glasses are needed for reading, may be said to be from thirty-five to fortyAve. After this latter period of life, the power of adjustment possessed by the eye in youth fails; and those who continue to perceive distant objects, clearly, are unable to see plainly those which are near; and the man who can read the smallest print unfatigued without glasses, cannot distinguish anything distinctly at the distance of ten yards.

Among the many vulgar errors that are daily injuring those who cherish them, few have done more injury to the eyes than the notion that all persons of the same age require glasses of the same focus. Nothing can be more absurd; as well might the same remedies be ap plied indiscriminately to all diseases, provided the ages of the sufferers but tally!

The proper selection of glasses, (says Brewster,) for imperfect vision, is a point of much deeper importance than is generally believed. An oculist who is only acquainted with the diseases of the human eye, without possessing any knowledge of it as an optical instrument, is often led professionally to recommend glasses when they ought not to be used, and to tix on focal lengths entirely unfit for the purpose to which they are applied; and the mere vendor of lenses and spectacles is still more frequently in the habit of proffering his deleterious counsels."

The most general, and probably the best direction which can be given to those who feel that glasses are necessary to enable them to use their eyes with comfort to themselves, and advantage to their occupation, whatever that may be, is to make choice of such as represent objects nearest to their natural state; for, to be exactly suitable to the eye, spectacles ought neither to magnify nor minify, but should enable us to read or work without creating any straining or ur natural exercise of the pupil.

The great design of spectacles is to give the eyes of the wearer case; and although this is also attended by increased power appli cation, yet no glasses can be sail to be properly accommodate to the sight of the individual, which do not, with additional capabiltiy also procure rest and comfort to the eyes. If they weary them, we may anclude, either that we have no occasion for any, or that hose WE have are improper for us, or defectively made.

Convex glaces are

lasses are of two kinds-convex and concave for the use of those who have what is commonly called an off or long sight, and are unable to read or see small objects near them concave glasses are for the use of those who are short-sighted. to enable the...