The tender flesh of all young
animals is of great service — except that of swine
and geese — not when boiled in copious broth,
for then they are deprived of their nutritious
juices, but when roasted or boiled in a small
quantity of water. Such roots are wholesome
as consist of a light flom-, not without a mix-
ture of salt or sugar ; and the same is to
to be said of soft herbs which are neither
too acid nor too emollient. Nor should the
several sorts of seeds be neglected; nor ripe
fruits, concerning the use of which a caution
should be observed; for they relax, dissolve,
cause acidity, and thereby are the less fit
for the sedentary. But it is to be observed
that amongst the most severe disorders of the
studious and sedentary are reckoned the stag-
nation, the thickening, and the hardening of
the bile, which defects are best remedied by
fruits that swell with saponaceous juices, as
strawberries, raspberries, gooseberries, peaches,
grapes, pearsf and other fruits of the like
nature, which studious, sedentary men cannot
well do without, especially in summer. Care
should be taken to prevent their being detri-
mental by eating them when the stomach is
empty either with or without bread, and long
before and long after having drunk wine ; for
thus they neither disturb the digestion of the
other aliments, nor, being hardened with wine,
prove more difficult of digestion themselves.
Eggs properly boiled are very good. Well-
baked bread and preparations of bread arc also
of service. Milk is wholesome provided it does
not grow acid on the stomach. Chocolate de-
serves to be recommended, for it soon repairs
and restores the strength ; it should not, how-
ever, be used to excess. Various dishes which
may be made out of the aliments already men-
tioned by judicious and prudent mixture are
very wholesome, but it is better to use only
simple food either raw or boiled. Relaxed
fibres sometimes require a gentle stimulus^
therefore a mild seasoning is not to be disap-
proved of, as salt, sugar, cinnamon, nutmegs,
and such agreeable aromatics as are generally
cultivated— thyme and sweet marjoram, for
example ; but those are to be avoided which
stimulate with a sharp salt or oil that nature
can scarcely overcome. There are other helps to
digestion, and the chief of these is exact mas-
tication, which greatly forwards the work of
the stomach ; this is highly recommended by
physicians ; but slighted by others, very foolishly,
and greatly to their own prejudice. Digestion
is perfoi-med slowly by the studious and the
sedentary, therefore fresh aliments should sel-
dom be given them. To make three meals a
day, one somewhat considerable, and the other
two rather slight, will be sufficient. The
example of Julius Cassar, who was very mode-
rate in eating, is veiy properly projjosed to the
learned, as is likewise that of the illustrious
Cornaro, who restored his ruined health by a
regular diet alone ; and eating but the fourth
part of the quantity of victuals eaten by his
fellow-citizens, lived to an advanced age, vigo-
rous and cheerful. A regular diet is capable
of eft'ecting everj-thing; studious men, how-
ever, whilst they take care of their health,
ought not to forget that a man who is well
should not so confine himself to rules as not to
break through them when he thinks proper;
for a constant habit is real slavery ; and ma
Page 1751
Presented as published in 1892. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
The tender flesh of all young animals is of great service — except that of swine and geese — not when boiled in copious broth, for then they are deprived of their nutritious juices, but when roasted or boiled in a small quantity of water. Such roots are wholesome as consist of a light flom-, not without a mixture of salt or sugar ; and the same is to to be said of soft herbs which are neither too acid nor too emollient. Nor should the several sorts of seeds be neglected; nor ripe fruits, concerning the use of which a caution should be observed; for they relax, dissolve, cause acidity, and thereby are the less fit for the sedentary. But it is to be observed that amongst the most severe disorders of the studious and sedentary are reckoned the stagnation, the thickening, and the hardening of the bile, which defects are best remedied by fruits that swell with saponaceous juices, as strawberries, raspberries, gooseberries, peaches, grapes, pears, and other fruits of the like nature, which studious, sedentary men cannot well do without, especially in summer. Care should be taken to prevent their being detrimental by eating them when the stomach is empty either with or without bread, and long before and long after having drunk wine ; for thus they neither disturb the digestion of the other aliments, nor, being hardened with wine,
prove more difficult of digestion themselves. Eggs properly boiled are very good. Wellbaked bread and preparations of bread arc also of service. Milk is wholesome provided it does not grow acid on the stomach. Chocolate deserves to be recommended, for it soon repairs and restores the strength ; it should not, however, be used to excess. Various dishes which may be made out of the aliments already mentioned by judicious and prudent mixture are very wholesome, but it is better to use only simple food either raw or boiled. Relaxed fibres sometimes require a gentle stimulus, therefore a mild seasoning is not to be disapproved of, as salt, sugar, cinnamon, nutmegs, and such agreeable aromatics as are generally cultivated— thyme and sweet marjoram, for example ; but those are to be avoided which stimulate with a sharp salt or oil that nature can scarcely overcome. There are other helps to digestion, and the chief of these is exact mastication, which greatly forwards the work of the stomach ; this is highly recommended by physicians ; but slighted by others, very foolishly, and greatly to their own prejudice. Digestion is performed slowly by the studious and the sedentary, therefore fresh aliments should seldom be given them. To make three meals a day, one somewhat considerable, and the other two rather slight, will be sufficient. The example of Julius Cassar, who was very moderate in eating, is veiy properly proposed to the learned, as is likewise that of the illustrious Cornaro, who restored his ruined health by a regular diet alone ; and eating but the fourth part of the quantity of victuals eaten by his fellow-citizens, lived to an advanced age, vigorous and cheerful. A regular diet is capable of eft'ecting everj-thing; studious men, however, whilst they take care of their health, ought not to forget that a man who is well should not so confine himself to rules as not to break through them when he thinks proper; for a constant habit is real slavery ; and ma