The medical side of Benjamin Franklin / by William Pepper.

  • William Pepper
Date:
1911
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The medical side of Benjamin Franklin / by William Pepper. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    122/202 page 74
    want of Necessaries, or to Drinking, or to all of them. Farmers who manufacture in their own Families what they have occasion for and no more, are perhaps the happiest People and the healthiest. ’Tis a curious Remark that Moist Seasons are the healthiest. The Gentry of England are remarkably afraid of Moisture, and of Air. But Seamen, who live in perpetually moist Air, are always Healthy, if they have good Provisions. The Inhabitants of Bermuda, St. Helena, and other Islands far from Continents, surrounded with Rocks against which the Waves continually dashing fill the Air with Spray and Vapor, and where no Wind can arrive that does not pass over much Sea, and of course bring much Moisture. These People are remarkably healthy. And I have long thought that mere moist Air has no ill Effect on the Constitution; tho’ Air impregnated with Vapours from putrid Marshes is found pernicious, not from the Moisture, but the Putridity. It seems strange that a Man whose Body is compos’d in great Quantities of Water and Small Beer daily without Inconvenience, should fancy that a little more or less Moisture in the Air should be of such Importance. But we abound in Absurdity and Inconsistency. Thus, tho’ it is generally allowed that taking the Air is a good Thing, yet what Caution against Air, what stopping of Crevices, what wrapping up in warm clothes, what shutting the Doors and Windows! even in the midst of Summer! Many London Families go out once a Day to take the Air; three or four Persons in a Coach, one perhaps Sick; these go three or four Miles, or as many Turns in Hide Park, with the Glasses both up close, all breathing over & over again the same Air they brought out of Town with them in the Coach with the least change possible, and render’d worse and worse every moment. And this they call taking the Air. From many Years’ Observations on myself and others, I am persuaded we are on the wrong Scent in supposing Moist or cold Air the Causes of that Disorder we call a Cold. Some unknown Quality in the Air may perhaps produce Colds as in the Influenza; but generally I apprehend they are the Effects of too full Living in proportion to our exercise. Excuse, if you can, my intruding into your Province, and believe me ever with sincere Esteem, dear Sir, Your most obedient humble servant, B. Franklin.
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