_To acquire a Habit of Regularity_, Mr. LOCKE, who was a Physician as well as a Philosopher, advises that "if any person, as soon as he has breakfasted, would presently solicit nature, so as to obtain a stool, he might in time, by a constant application, bring it to be habitual." He says "I have known none who have been steady in the prosecution of this plan, who did not in a few months obtain the desired success."--_On Education_, p. 23, &c. "It is well known that the alvine evacuation is periodical, and subjected to the power of habit; if the regular call is not obeyed, the necessity for the evacuation passes away; and the call being again and again neglected, habitual costiveness is the consequence."--HAMILTON _on Purgatives_, p. 72. It will facilitate the acquirement of this salutary evacuation,--to take at night--such a dose of an Aperient medicine, as Experience has pointed out, as just sufficient to assist nature to produce a Motion in the Morning. HABITUAL COSTIVENESS is not curable by Drugs alone,--and is most agreeably corrected by _Diet and Regimen_, those most important, and only effectual, although much neglected (because little understood) means of permanently alleviating _Chronic Complaints_, for which "Coquina est optima Medicina." Strong Constitutions are generally _Costive_[100],--that perfect and vigorous action of the absorbents, which is the cause of their strength, is also the cause of their Constipation:-- "Oportet sanorum, sedes esse figuratas." This ought to make them content,--but the Constipated are for ever murmuring about a habit--which, if managed with moderate care,--is the fundamental basis of Health and Long Life. A little attention to Regimen will generally prevent it--a simple Laxative will suffice to remove it--and neither will be often necessary, for those who observe a deobstruent Diet--take proper Exercise in a pure Air--sufficient liquid Food--and eat freely of Butter, Salt, and Sugar. The peculiarity of most Constitutions is so convenient, that almost all Costive persons--by attending to the effects which various things produce upon their Bowels--may find, in their usual Food and Drink, the means of persuading their sluggish Viscera to vibrate with healthful celerity. A SUPPER or BREAKFAST of thin Gruel, (No. 572,) with plenty of Butter and Salt in it,--ripe Fruits, particularly _Grapes_[101],--Oranges,-- Strawberries,--Raspberries,--Mulberries,--Marmalade,--Honey,-- Treacle,--roasted Apples,--stewed Prunes,--Figs,--Raisins,-- Tamarinds,--French Plumbs, &c.;--will almost always produce the desired effect. Two or three strong _Cinnamon or Ginger Lozenges_, (see page 234,) gradually dissolved in the mouth when the Stomach is empty, will act as an Aperient on many persons. SALAD OIL is a very pleasant _Peristaltic Persuader_:--by the following means it may be introduced (as a supper) to the most delicate Stomach,--without any offence to the most fastidious Palate.