mulant power. Spirituous and vinous liquors, let them be
ever so weak or much diluted, stimulate more quickly, and more
readily than seasoned food, and their stimulus is in proportion to
the quantity of alcohol which they contain. These substances, when
conjoined with rich food, must bring on a predisposition to sthenic
disease, in almost any constitution, particularly in the young and
healthy, and, in many instances, those diseases actually take place;
or should this not be the case, should the person avoid, or escape
the effects of inflammatory diseases, the excitability will be
exhausted, and diseases of indirect debility, such as gout, apoplexy,
indigestion, palsy, &c. will take place.

These stimulants are never necessary to a good constitution, and
their effects will always, sooner or later, be experienced: for
though a person with a good constitution may continue for years to
indulge in the pleasures of the bottle, or the luxuries of the table,
depend upon it that a continuance of them will sap the vigour of the
strongest constitution that ever existed.

As nothing contributes more to the health of the body than moderate
and frequently repeated exercise, which rouses the muscles to
contraction, and promotes the circulation of the blood in the veins
towards the heart: it thus produces excitement; but an excess of it
will produce sthenic diathesis; and, if carried to great excess, it
will produce a state of indirect debility, or exhausted excitability.

When any, or all of these exciting powers act too strongly on the
body, the first effect they produce is a preternatural acuteness of
all the senses; the motions, both voluntary and involuntary, are
performed with vigour, and there is an acuteness of genius and
intellectual power. In short, every part of the body seems in a state
of complete vigour and strength; that this is the case with the heart
and arteries, appears from the strong and firm pulse; in the stomach
it is shown by the appetite; and, in the extreme parts, by the ruddy
colour and complexion. In short, every appearance marks vigour of the
body, and abundance of blood. Could the body be kept in this state,
nothing could be more to be desired; this, however, is impossible;
the excitement, though still within the bounds of health, has
overstepped the point of good health, and is verging fast to
predisposition to sthenic disease; so that, to secure a permanent
state of health, it is always better to kee