Dr. ARMSTRONG'S _Art of Preserving Health_, book ii. line 120. "I knew a black servant of Mr. Pitt, an Indian Merchant in America, who was fond of SOUP _made of_ RATTLE SNAKES,--in which the Head, without any regard to the Poison, was boiled along with the rest of the animal."--Dr. G. FORDYCE, _on Digestion_, &c. 8vo. 1791, p. 119. No food is so delicious that it pleases all palates,--nothing can be more correct than the old adage, "one man's meat is another man's poison." It would be as difficult for a Laplander, or an earth-eating Ottomaque, to convince our good citizens that Train Oil, and gutter-mud, is a more elegant relish than their favourite Turtle--as for the former to fancy that Kay or Birch's Soup can be as agreeable as the Grease and Garbage which custom has taught them to think delicious. "Man differs more from Man Than Man from Beast."--COLMAN. _Celsus_[95] very sensibly says, that "a healthy man, under his own government, ought not to tie himself up by strict rules,--nor to abstain from any sort of food; that he ought sometimes to fast, and sometimes to feast." _Sanis, sunt omnia Sana._ When the Stomach sends forth eructant signals of distress, for help against Indigestion, the _Peristaltic Persuaders_ (see the end of this Essay) are as agreeable and effectual assistance as can be offered; and for delicate Constitutions, and those that are impaired by Age or Intemperance, are a valuable Panacea. They derive, and deserve this name, from the peculiar mildness of their operation[96]. One or two very gently increase the action of the principal viscera, help them to do their work a little faster,--and enable the Stomach to serve with an ejectment whatever offends it,--and move it into the Bowels. Thus _Indigestion_ is easily and speedily removed,--_Appetite_ restored,--(the mouths of the absorbing vessels being cleansed) _Nutrition_ is facilitated,--and _Strength_ of Body, and _Energy_ of Mind[97], are the happy results. If an immediate operation be desired, take some _Tincture of Rhubarb_--as a _Pill_ is the most gentle and gradually operating form for a drug--a _Tincture_ in which it is as it were ready digested, is the most immediate in its action. TO MAKE TINCTURE OF RHUBARB.--Steep three ounces of the best Rhubarb (pounded) and half an ounce of Carraway Seeds, (pounded) in a bottle of Brandy, for ten days. A table-spoonful in a wine-glass of hot water will generally be enough. _Compound Tincture of Senna_, has been recommended, especially to those who have accustomed themselves to the use of spirituous Liquors and high living. Several similar preparations are sold under the name of _Daffy's Elixir_--or as much EPSOM SALT, in half a pint of _hot_ water, as experience has informed you, will produce one motion,--a Tea-spoonful (_i. e._ from one to two drachms) will generally do this--especially if it be taken in the morning, fasting, _i. e._ at least half an hour before Breakfast.