the eras to
which I usually heard them refer in speaking of past events; and I
recollect being cautioned by them frequently not to stand exposed
to the sun in May, lest I should get an ague. The potato was then
cultivated in small quantities in the gardens of gentlemen, but it was
not thought to afford wholesome nutriment, and was supposed by many to
possess deleterious qualities. The prejudice of all parties, however,
disappeared so rapidly, that within ten years the potato had almost
wholly driven the cabbage from the gardens of the cottagers. Within
the same period, ague, the previously prevalent disease of the
country, disappeared; and no other species of disease became
prevalent. I adduce this fact, as evidence only, that the introduction
of the potato was not injurious to the health of the peasantry at that
period; but whether its production was, or was not, instrumental in
causing the disappearance of ague, I will not venture to give an
opinion. I am, however, confident, that neither draining the soil
(for that was not done,) nor any change in the general habits of the
peasantry, had taken place, to which their improved health could be
attributed. Bread is well known to constitute the chief food of the
French peasantry. They are a very temperate race of men; and they
possess the advantages of a very fine and dry climate. Yet the
duration of life amongst them is very short, scarcely exceeding
two thirds of the average duration of life in England; and in some
districts much less. Dr. Hawkins, in his _Medical Statistics_, states,
upon the authority of M. Villerme that, in the department of Indre,
'one fourth of the children born die within the first year, and half
between fifteen and twenty; and that three fourths are dead within
the space of fifty years. Having inquired of a very eminent French
physiologist, M. Dutrochet, who is resident in the department of
Indre, the cause of this extraordinary mortality, he stated it to
he their food, which consisted chiefly of bread; and of which he
calculated every adult peasant to eat two pounds a day. And he added,
without having received any leading question from me, of in any degree
knowing my opinion upon the subject, that if the peasantry of his
country would substitute (which they could do) a small quantity of
animal food, with potatoes, instead of so much bread, they would live
much longer, and with much better health. I am inclined to pay much
deference to M. Dutroche