Produced by R. L. Garnett

A LECTUREON THEPRESERVATIONOFHEALTH.

BY T. GARNETT, M.D.
Professor of Natural Philosophy and Chemistry in the
Royal Institution of Great Britain &c.

SECOND EDITION.

[Figure]

     Such the reward of rude and sober life;
     Of labour such. By health the peasant's toil
     Is well repaid; if exercise were pain
     Indeed, and temperance pain. Armstrong.

LONDON:
PRINTED FOR T. CADELL, JUNIOR, AND
W. DAVIES, STRAND. 1800.
(R. NOBLE, Printer, Old Bailey.)

To ERASMUS DARWIN, M.D.

Dear Sir,

THE first edition of this pamphlet having been introduced to theworld under the sanction of your name, I take the liberty ofprefixing it to the second; and am happy in having another publicopportunity of expressing my thanks for the high gratification andinstruction which I have received from the perusal of your medicaland philosophical works.

I am,Dear Sir,With much esteem,Your very obedient servant,

THO. GARNETT.

Royal Institution,April 8th, 1800.

PREFACE.

Most medical gentlemen will, it is supposed, agree that the greaterpart of the numerous train of diseases to which their patients aresubject, have been brought on by improper conduct and imprudence.That this conduct often proceeds from ignorance of its bad effects,may be presumed; for though it cannot be denied that some personsare perfectly regardless with respect to their health, yet the greatmass of mankind are too sensible of the enjoyment and loss of thisgreatest of blessings, to run headlong into danger with their eyesopen.

It was with the hope of making the laws of life more generallyknown, and better understood, and from thence deducing such rulesfor the preservation of health, as would be evident to everycapacity, that the author was induced to deliver this lecture. Ithas been honoured with the attention of numerous audiences, in someof the most populous towns in England, where it has generally beenread for the benefit of charitable institutions.

The author flatters himself, that besides the benefit produced byhis humble endeavours to serve these institutions, those endeavourshave not totally failed in the grand object of preserving health;and with the hope that the influence of the precepts here given, maybe farther extended, he has concurred in the ideas of those who haveadvised the publication of this lecture.

It is to be feared, that notwithstanding all which can be done,disease will continue to be a heavy tax, which civilized societymust pay for its comforts; and the valetudinarian will often betempted to envy the savage the strength and soundness of hisconstitution. Much however may be done towards the prevention of anumber of diseases. If this lecture should contribute to theattainment of so desirable an end, it will afford the highestgratification to the author.

The first part of the lecture is the substance of an essay which wasread by the author before the Royal Medical Society of Edinburgh,intended as a defence of the general principles of the system of Dr.Brown, whose pupil he then was. It was, according to custom,transcribed into the books of the society, and the public have nowan opportunity of judging how far Dr. Girtanner, in his firstessay