If it be too strong, or if he takes too much, the digestive faculty, already impaired by general weakness, cannot manage it: and he will hasten his death by such a conduct. The rule is to eat only innocent, tho’ the most nourishing things, and these only in moderate quantities: chicken, young lamb, and veal, boiled down almost to a jelly, are the proper foods for dinner; but even of these let him eat less than his appetite demands. Two hours before dinner, let him take half a pint of chicken broth; and as his stomach afterwards grows stronger, veal or mutton broth; and let him take the same again one hour after his light dinner. Let his breakfast be a yolk of an egg, beaten up with half a pint of asses milk, and a quarter of an ounce of conserve of roses: and his supper veal broth nearly boiled to a jelly. Every afternoon let him take half a pint of asses milk alone: and while all this is doing, let care be taken that there be no violent evacuations. A purging would be destructive; and morning sweats are very hurtful. Let him therefore rise early: and to complete the cure, let him believe these methods will perform it. An easy mind will do more than food and physic. Quiet, good humour, and complacency of temper, will prevent half the diseases of old people: and they will cure one half of the others. CHAP. XIII. _Against sharp humours._ The first sign of sharp humours, in the bodies of old persons, usually is an uneasiness at the stomach; then comes on a want of appetite, with sour belchings, wind, purgings, and defluxions; and last, thirst, and a feverish disposition. The fault lies originally in the stomach; and generally an irregular diet has been the cause; particularly high sauces, bad wines, and spicy foods. The first step to a cure is to abstain from all these; and life depends upon it. For to aggravate those symptoms is to destroy the constitution utterly. Incurable fevers; or fatal purgings, follow. The best beginning is by a vomit; and after this the diet should be all of the mild and cooling kind. Every morning let the person take two spoonfuls of syrup of snails, made by bruising them with sugar, and hanging them up in a flannel bag till the juice runs out. At meals, let his drink be a tea, made of marshmallow and liquorice-root, with one third part milk, drank just warm. If the skin grow yellow, or the white of the eyes appear of that colour, a dose of rhubarb once in three days will be needful. The best method of taking it is by chewing. This is as much physic as we would have an aged man use in such a case: the rest must be done by a proper regimen. First let him regulate his passions. Violent anger will increase this disorder more than the most improper foods. Let him also banish fear: if he thinks himself in danger; he will bring it on.