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Doctor's 400-year-old letter strikes chord with Holyrood plan to curb tobacco sales

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Published Date: 20 September 2009
By Katrine Bussey
A DOCTOR'S letter written more than 400 years ago has revealed the medical profession were even then concerned about the risks of smoking to young people. The letter, by Dr Eleazar Duncon, was unearthed by librarians at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (RCPE) as they prepared for an exhibition.
Professor Sir Neil Douglas, the president of the RCPE, said it gave a "fascinating insight into historical concerns" about smoking and young people. Its existence emerged just days before MSPs at Holyrood consider the principles behind a Scottish Gov
ernment plan to curb the sale of cigarettes and tobacco to youngsters. The matter is due for discussion on Thursday.

Dr Duncon penned his letter way back in 1606 and concluded

that tobacco "is so hurtful and dangerous to youth that it might have the pernicious nation expressed in the name, and that it were as well known by the name of Youths-bane as by the name of tobacco".

The RCPE president said: "This letter shows that the issue of the addictive nature of smoking and young people has been of concern for over four centuries.

"It would be easy for politicians to think that the problems associated with tobacco have been dealt with and to lose sight of the fact that the proposed Bill includes critically important measures aimed at reducing smoking in young people.

"These measures principally involve ending point of sale advertising and banning vending machines, both of which encourage and influence young people to smoke. We therefore urge MSPs from all parties to support this important Bill and to take this historic opportunity to reduce the harm caused by smoking in the young."

If it is passed the Tobacco and Primary Medical Services (Scotland) Bill would ban shops from displaying cigarettes and other tobacco products, outlaw cigarette vending machines and introduce a registration system for tobacco retailers.

The Health and Sport Committee wants make it a criminal act for adults to buy tobacco on behalf of the underaged.



Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 19 September 2009 9:49 PM
  • Source: Scotland On Sunday
  • Location: Scotland
  • Related Topics: Tobacco
 
1

Scottish Eric,

Falkirk 20/09/2009 08:28:44
It won't be long before english charlie and his gang of pro smoking mates turn up to tell us that smoking isn't addictive.

"It is just a habit, and an expression of personal freedom" they'll say.

A habit exercised at regular intervals during the day, when the slightly anxious feelings caused by blood nicotine levels falling kick in, and the smoker is compelled to top up with another cigarette.

"Smoking helps me deal with stress" they'll say.

The anxious, stress feelings are withdrawal symptoms. Smoking helps relieve nicotine withdrawal symptoms, not stress.

And if smoking wasn't addictive, why is it so hard to stop?

Come on english charlie, give us your pearls of wisdom.

2

drunken proffet,

Tassy 20/09/2009 09:45:49
It is good that they have a detailed condemnation of smoking for young folk. I agree with that one hundred percent. However does it mention old folk who enjoy this disgusting habit, and are there any recommendations that you should stop smoking in pubs.
3

Kobi.,

20/09/2009 10:29:50
Dr Eleazar Duncon then went on to extoll the process by which base metals are turned into gold.

Professor Sir Neil Douglas, the President of the Royal College of Charlatans of Hogwash said "This is really exciting. This could be the solution to the country's debt problems. As someone who was asleep during my science classes when I was meant to be taught that you draw conclusions only from evidence, I could not care less that there is no scientific evidence to back up this claim. Or the one about point of sale advertising and vending machines, encouraging young people to smoke."
4

DaveA,

Forfarshire 20/09/2009 13:48:21
400 years later we all seem to be surviving and while we are at it let's bring back other 17th century practices like burning heretics at the steak and the ducking stool.
5

Trained Sniper,

20/09/2009 13:48:28
The Anti-Smoking propagandists are really scraping the bottom of the barrel to get any headline in the press to try and influence the debate in the Scottish Parliament on Thursday 24th Sept.

The "Holyrood Smoking Conference" being held in the Sheraton Grand Hotel in Edinburgh on 23rd Sept will include speakers who will present their views against the Tobacco display ban and maybe the media will make the effort to attend.



6

111thstreet,

20/09/2009 15:30:29
"400 years later we all seem to be surviving" says DaveA.

I'll need to be seeing your birth certificate for proof of that one Dave.

Might be true though, perhaps your red meat diet from all those heretics you burned 'at the steak' has sustained you through the centuries.
7

english charlie,

20/09/2009 16:25:50
A few weeks ago it was proved that the 17% reduction in heart attacks in Scotland was a lie. Last week, it was proved that the 10% reduction in heart attacks in England was a lie. Now Tobacco Control produce 'evidence' from 400 years ago, which just shows how desparate Tobacco Control are getting.
8

Scottish Eric,

20/09/2009 22:30:00
Chas
Take a deep breath, lock the doors, draw the curtains, turn the tv up loud so nobody can hear.
Then tell us who are "Tobacco Control"? They lied you say.
Who are THEY?

Are THEY the ones who tell us that smoking isn't addictive? - that's a lie.

Are THEY the ones who say that MPs and Lords can still smoke in the Palace of Westminster? - that's a lie.

Are THEY the ones who said that there would be inside smoking rooms for the G20? - that was a lie too.

So come on Chas, who is/are "Tobacco Control"? They aren't in the phone book.
9

Arminius,

Bei Uelzen 21/09/2009 07:18:28
Having just returned from a trip to an EU country in Eastern Europe where there is no smoking ban, I am pleased that there is a smoking ban in the UK (as well as my Land in Germany) having been kippered by thoughtless smokers in bars, restaurants, lifts, taxis etc....
Aside from the health issues, cigarette smoke is simply unpleasant for non-smokers and for that reason alone, the smoking ban should stay.
10

111thstreet,

21/09/2009 08:53:32
Eric,

Of course they aren't in the phone book man, they WRITE the phonebooks with what THEY WANT YOU TO KNOW!

Troubling and sinister news I'm sure you'll agree. Fortunately we have english charlie to bring us the TRUTH (TM) in an unbiased and well-evidenced manner.
11

Scottish Eric,

Falkirk 21/09/2009 09:14:09
111thstreet
Who are "THEY"?
You sound just as paranoid as chas. He doesn't bring the TRUTH, he brings propoganda from the tobacco industry.
12

english charlie,

21/09/2009 10:50:52
Tobacco Control and Alcohol Concern can easily be found by using 'google'. They are both propaganda groups, paid out of public funds to make policies for Government.
13

111thstreet,

21/09/2009 11:08:06
Eric, I think your sarcasm filters are malfunctioning. :)

Charlie, That's funny when I use this thing you call 'google' to find 'tobacco control' I get a scientific journal, part of the BMJ series of publications. Truly this conspiracy must run deep.

Please enlighten me; from which secret bunker in the Pacific do they conduct their shadowy business to produce propaganda and control the Government?
14

Scottish Eric,

21/09/2009 11:13:53
111th street
I apologise, I was not expecting anything as intelligent as irony on this discussion. I regret any offence.

15

Scottish Eric,

21/09/2009 11:18:19
Chas #12
As 111th street points out, Tobacco Control is a publication. On this planet, magazines tend not to be regarded as 'THEY'. I cannot speak for your planet, whatever it may be called.

And who mentioned Alcohol Concern?

Are Alcohol Concern the mysterious 'Tobacco Control'?

Are the voices in your head especially loud today?

Did the voices tell you to talk about Alcohol Concern?
16

english charlie,

21/09/2009 11:49:53
Fug free Eric, try this one
http://aolsearch.aol.co.uk/aol/search?s_it=topsearchbox.search&query=tobacco+control&rp=
17

Scottish Eric,

21/09/2009 12:06:58
tried it, same result.

Instead of wasting our time with web searches why can't you just tell us who 'Tobacco Control' is?

Doesn't the fact that you can't tell you that you're a conspiracy theorist?
18

english charlie,

21/09/2009 12:13:23
So you believe that nobody is trying to control tobacco? If so, you are a denialist.
19

Scottish Eric,

21/09/2009 12:23:36
Charlie
Why are you unable to say who 'Tobacco Control' is?

I believe that there are many bodies who believe that smoking is bad for you, and are committed to helping people stop and to stopping children from being influenced into starting smoking.

But I don't know of the organisation called 'Tobacco Control' that you keep accusing of telling lies.

And you don't seem to be able to tell us who it is.
20

english charlie,

21/09/2009 12:34:32
Try this one
http://www.nhssbtcg.co.uk/
There are many groups that are trying to control tobacco or don;t you believe this?
21

Scottish Eric,

21/09/2009 12:40:16
So is this Irish group you sent the link to the 'Tobacco Control' you accuse of telling lies?
22

uno.who,

Livingston 21/09/2009 15:02:55
#4 I think they should bring back spelling !
23

english charlie,

21/09/2009 17:00:08
So Eric doesn't believe that there are groups trying to control tobacco and they tell lies to do this this?
24

Scottish Eric,

22/09/2009 20:05:16
Charlie

You don't seem to be able to say who 'Tobacco Control' is.

25

Kipling,

Tobacco taking - historical references 23/09/2009 11:32:29
A bit late in the day, but better late than never (an original start, hey!)

Early references can be found to the problems with tobacco.

The following are taken from (respectively):
The Man in the Moone Telling Strange Fortunes; or, The English Fortune-Teller (1609) .........
(recently republished in http://www.presscom.co.uk/halliwell/characters/maninmoone.html)

and

The Wandering Jew telling Fortunes to Englishmen (1649).......
(see, http://www.presscom.co.uk/halliwell/characters/wanderingjew.html)

---------

FROM:
The Man in the Moone Telling Strange Fortunes; or, The English Fortune-Teller (1609) .........

p.86

The Tobackonist commeth in a bravado to the Fortune-teller :
Mockso describeth him as he approached.
" Who is that ?" said Fido. "Sir," quoth Mockso, " I know not certainlie, but I thinke he cometh to play you a fitte of mirthe, for I behelde pipes in his pockette ; now he draweth forth his tinder-boxe and his touch-wood, and falleth to his tacklings : sure his throate is on fire, the smoake flyeth so fast from his mouth : blesse his beard with a bazen of water, least he burne it: some terrible thing hee taketh, it maketh him pant and looke pale, and hath an odious taste, he spitteth so after it. A boule and a broome, some bodie ! if he holdeth on thus long hee will make / p.87 / a puddle in your porch, and keepeth such a snuffing and puffing that he maketh all smoake again."




Opinion of the Tobackonist.
"O have patience, Mockso," said Opinion, " he is at his breake-fast: it is his heaven, or rather hell: I should thinke it sendeth forth such mistes, fogges, and vapours, five chimnies, well fewel'd, vent not more smoake then his mouth and nostrils : a man were better have his house situated between two brewhouses then abut upon his mansion ; I had rather thrust my head into a Jakes then peepe into his chamber. And nothing so noisome were it to bee yeoman to a close stoole, as to continue within fortie foote
26

Kipling,

23/09/2009 11:33:18
[fortie foote] of his breathing, yet is the causer of these inconveniences meat and drinke to him, and he loveth it above the love of women : it is his morning's draught, when he riseth ; his conserves or cates, when he hath well dined ; his afternoones nuncions, and when he goeth to bedde, his posset smoaking-hote ; hee will not walke farre, nor talke long without it: nay, he will lose his victuals rather then neglect it : pawne his hat-band but he will have it. To be breefe with him, he is his owne strengths enfeebler, his beauties blemisher, his wittes blunter, his memories decayer, and his appetites abater ;—a toyish tobackonist.

/ p.88 /


The Oration of Fido to the Tobackonist,
shewing his fortune.
" Sir," said Fido, " if I should extract the best counsell I coulde, being disswasive from your tobacko-taking, you would take it in snuffe, custome hath so strongly combined you thereunto, that it were too indissoluble a knot for me to untye : yet this let me tell you, that it is as an incensed Atropos to a long life, clipping off the thred before it be thoroughly spun, decaying and drying up the prolonger of breath : but you are perswaded, as others few, that it doth procure the contrary : you thinke it a medicine for every maladie ; give you tobacko, and a figge for the physitian : say it were physicke, as you affirme, yet physicke is not taken at al times and seasons, continually without interim ; neither is one kind of physicke administered to all bodies, constitutions, and diseases : but tobacko may bee compared to the potion which Circe gave to Ulisses souldiers, metamorphosing them into swine ; so this pretious weede, as you esteeme it, doth so selfe-besot those which take it, that, like swine, they wallow in the myre of their admiring conceits ; that neither reason can rule them, nor experience of others harmes, sustained thereby, make them refraine. I will not denie that conceit may worke wonders : but those wonders are onely in conceite ; as
27

Kipling,

23/09/2009 11:34:56
I have heard of some, who through an irreformable conceit, have imagined their noses to be as bigge as pinnicles to flye in the ayre, contend and quell divels by their owne naturall strength : so you, onely by conceit, / p.89 / thinke richly of the operation of your Indian pudding, having contrarie qualities in it, a thing repugnant to philosophy and working miraculous matters, a quillit above nature : as if you be fat, then you take it to make you leane (against the walles I hope you meane): if leane, then it will make you fat, put V. and S. to fat and I will beleeve you : if dull, quicke witted ; if oblivious, revive your memories ; doing these things and many more ; and helping all manner of diseases, the poxe it will as soone. But I could easily refute these, and all your opinions, had not this texte beene thoroughly traver'st and condemned, with great judgement and learning, in a solemne disputation ; and in the booke entituled, Worke for a Chimnie-sweeper : and were there as many volumnes written concerning this subject as Didimus wrote of the Grammer, you would martyre them, leafe by leafe, and light your pipes at the flame. Nitimur in vetitum, that which wisedome doth forbid folly will follow. This, therefore, is your fortune; if you leave not taking your Indian stuffe betime, custome will so confirme you to it, that when you perceive the inconveniences, and feel the folly thereof, you cannot forsake it, though you will. You shall die before your date ; your body shall be in subjection to sundrie sicknesse, and so sooted with the smoake thereof, that it will be as foule as hell, sending forth such a filthy sent that your breath will bee death to your wife, or any that sent it, but such as yourselfe."
Aside the tobackonist stepped, and another knocked at the gate.

--------------------------
28

Kipling,

23/09/2009 11:37:17
The Wandering Jew telling Fortunes to Englishmen (1649).......

p.23

A Tobacconist,
Or, A Gallant smelling strong of Tobacco.
The hammer at the gate, beating loud in our eares agen : Joculo, comes in, Crying Foh, I am almost strangled with a Damp : why, said Orlotto, what Customer comes next ? one I thinke (sayes the Boy,) to give you a fit of mirth, for his pockets are full of pipes ; at the very gates hee drew out a Tinder-box, and bounce went his nose like a Pot-gun ; his throat sure is on fire, the smoak flies so fast from his mouth, blesse his beard with a bason of water, least he burne it : some little Devill, in mans likenesse, for he spits fire, pants and lookes pale, and so spawles, and drivells, he has almost made a puddle where he stands, see sir, here hee comes, having put up his pipes.
I come to thee Jew (quoth the Tobacconist) to know whether the Doctor of the Towne lie or no, for they all say, my lungs are wasted with excessive drinking Tobacco, and I cannot live, but I feele no such matter ; That sacred Indian-weed, is restorative to me, Tobacco is my heaven on earth, Tobacco is my breakfast, my banquet, my blessing, the scent of it so ravishes me, would I had taken Tobacco in my mothers belly ; Tobacco is to mee an honor, for some Noble- / p.24 / mens chimneys vent not out so much smoke, as I doe at my nostrils, yet my wife curses the Inventor, railes at him, at mee, and the poore innocent herbe ; so my sonne swears he had rather thrust his head into a Jakes, than peepe into my chamber, yet this divine Moly, is meate and drinke to me, what need I New-castle-coals having this fewell to heat me? Hang Sacke, this is my Canarie, this Black-a-More I love, above the beauty of a Cheapside darling : In one of these pipes is my mornings draught, in another my apples and carrawaies after dinner, in a third, my after-noons nuntions, and at my going to bed, this is my posset : To binde this to me, I will lose my hat-band ; and does this then
29

Kipling,

23/09/2009 11:38:27
[this then] shorten my life, say Jew, am I a dead man or no ? Cast the dice, and let mee see what chance Fortune has allotted me.


The Tobacconists Fortune.

Gallant (quoth Orlotto) or what so ere you are, albeit you cry up Tobacco to be the soveraign of herbs, I would have you know, what I know, that it is rather a bewitching poison : Tobacco, is the idle-mans devill, the drunkards saint, the devils perfumer, the sober mans madnesse, hells chopping herbs, infernall minc'd-meat, that scurvey-grasse which the Fiends late buttered with brimston ; them that take Tobacco, will endure hell-fire, for that stinks like the fire of hell here already.
Some, by selling it grow rich, and but a few ; other poore Sneaks are blowne up with the artillery of their earthen / p.25 / Muskets, for sometimes their rowls rot, and puddings drop in pieces : Indians set it, Spaniards send it, and many Bankrupts here sell it, who commonly live so poorly, they are not able to reach to the price of a signe, but as if some Jack-an-apes belong'd to the house, have two hoops a crosse hang out at doores ; which now is growne as infamous, as a hors-shoo at the door of a Bawdy-house : And when the miserable smoke-sellers die, how are they buried ? in sheets as durty as mouldy Tobacco leaves, and no strewing herbs, but the stalks.
O (quoth the Tobacconist,) but what is this selling of Tobacco to my drinking it ? 'tis to mee my ale, my beer, my wine, my hot waters : a Tobacco pipe is my spit, the bowle my oven, the herbe in it is my boyl'd meat, my bak'd meat, my rost meat.
To you (monstrous takers of it) then (said th' other) thus ; You cry, give me Tobacco and a figg for Physitians : say it be physicke, is physicke good at all times, at all seasons, is one kinde of Physicke good for all bodies, all constitutions, all diseases ? I will not denie but Conceit may worke wonders ; onely Conceit if you be fat, will make you lean, if leane, fat, if dull, quicke-witted, if f
30

Kipling,

23/09/2009 11:39:55
[quicke-witted, if] forgetfull, oh, it kindles the cold braines, nay some of you will sweare it cures all diseases : the Pox it doth assoone. But sithence, the smoke of Tobacco drives you hither to know your Fortune, thus in smoke it flies to you.
If you leave not sacrificing your nose to this Indian-idol, when you would pull it out of the fire (as St. Dunstan did the devill with a paire of Pincers) you shall not, you shall die piping, yet heare no musicke ; have too much vapour, yet / p.26 / want breath, and that so stinking, a reeking dung-hill, is a Druggists shoppe to it : Marry foh, quoth the Tobacconist, and vanished.

=========

31

Kipling,

Preferring to deal with the braves not the weeds 23/09/2009 11:43:26
----------
Writings the tobacco industry must have been keen to suppress, even in those days ?
32

Scottish Eric,

Falkirk 24/09/2009 12:16:41
I suspect Charlie will be concocting a response saying that Kipling kills more people than smoking, because of his exceedingly good cakes being the cause of the obesity epidemic.
33

Kipling,

In response, we have the Glutton 04/10/2009 08:10:05
How so Scottish Eric? Have ye no read my stories?

At the same references as above, we find, (p.41)

The Glutton comes to know his Fortune.

Wee shall never be quiet (said Orlotto) another beates, looke out Joculo, what customer now, who is it ?

O Sir, (cried the Garsoon,) an Elephant ; no, 'tis a man roll'd hither in a dry-fat, how he tumbles ; some Whale sure gotten to land, no ; 'tis a Manning-tree Oxe with a pudding in his belly : I'm afraid 'tis the Grecian horse, for in he cannot come, unlesse you breake downe your gates ; so, so, hee's entred with much adoe, like a Gentlewoman with a huge bum; now hee squats downe, how he blowes, for hee is broken winded. But sir, sir, now I take a full view of him, I know the beast ; and have seen him / p.42 / wallow in the streets : describe the monster as thou paint'st him out, said his Master ; yes sir, (quoth the Ladde,) and this it is :


A Character of the Glutton.

Hee's a great man, yet a Constable carries more authoritie : let his consort be never so merry, hee is ever heavy ; no Herauld can give a Lord greater and fairer Armes ; hee is no Three-penie ordinarie dinner : when Wood (the huge eater in Kent, has devour'd a Porkling of 7 shil., a brest of veal, 12 couple of Rabbets, and as many Puddings as will make Rayles round about More-fields, this greedy-gut shall swallow him : he cranches Capons, as fast as an Ape cracks Nuts ; he tosses a Pike (if it be in White-broth) better then any Souldier : he is, a curse to Pasties ; a tormenter of Poultry, a sepulchre to Lobsters ; a terrible Sheep-biter ; a horrible Mutton-monger ; a Gorbelly-Glutton : See, sir, the Beare is at Stake.


The Gluttons speech.

A Chaire, a Chaire, sweet Master Jew, a Chaire : All that I say, is this ; I'me a fat man, it has been a West-Indian voyage for me to come reeking hither ; a Kitchin stuffe-wench might pick up a living, by following me, for the fat which I loose in stradling : I doe not live b
34

Kipling,

continued/2 04/10/2009 08:11:24
[I doe not live] by the sweat of my brows, but am almost dead with sweating, I eate much, but can talke little ; Sir John Old-castle was my great grand- / p.43 / fathers fathers Uncle, I come of a huge kindred, and of you desire to learne, whether my Fortune be to die a yeere, or two, hence, or to grow bigger, if I continue as I doe in feeding, (for, my victuals I cannot leave :) Say, say, mercifull Jew, what shall become of me.


The Gluttons Fortune.

Before your Fortune comes (said Orlotto) Take some counsell. You say, you are a fat man ; I see it, you feele it : How came you so fat ? by feeding : And why fed you so much ? because you are one of Natures Monsters, that eate of your owne Mother. Man is not borne a Glutton, he makes himselfe one ; your Belly is your god, and a Cooke the Saint you pray to ; A full table is your blessing, and yet, a full table is your curse ; By eating a great deale, you eat up your selfe ; for like an Oxe, the fatter he growes, the sooner he goes to the slaughter ; so you shorten your journey to the land of Wormes ; You sit upon thornes, And upon this Thorne growes your Fortune.

Your Body (as it is) shall ever be an Hospitall full of Diseases ; your Minde, a thick Mud, a standing Puddle ; your Soule dwells in a stinking house, yet was brought up to be an excellent housewife ; your Gutts shall, to your dying day, be a Dunghill ; Here is your misery, No woman shall marry you, had you never so much, or if any do, she shall loathe to lie by such a mountaine of uglinesse ; your Countrey will hate you, because she knowes not how to imploy you, for / p.44 / you are fit for nothing, but to eat, drinke, and sleep ; by which meanes you are an idle man, and an idle man is the Devills Cushion. All the good you can do, you shall make an excellent Feast in your grave ; Pray for a Famine, for if that Surgeon cannot worke upon your body, and eate away the proud flesh, such a plentifull yeere as this, must put you to the charge o
35

Kipling,

continued/3 04/10/2009 08:12:16
[must put you to the charge] of a longer girdle, so that you shall never live in any compasse, untill a Coffin imbrace you, for which I wish you provide ; let your Soule feed upon heavenly Manna, you have too much earth in you, so take heed you be not benighted. Fare you well. Ile fare as well as I can (answered he) and tumbled away.
36

Kipling,

continued/4 04/10/2009 08:14:46
And at p.104:

The Glutton entreth to know his fortune, whom
Mockso decyphereth.

" Who is next ?" said Fido.

"Monstrum horrendum, informe, ingens : a monstrous man," said Mockso, "your gate is too little for this Grecian horse ; if you cause not part of your wall to be plucked downe, he cannot come in : God bee thanked, hee hath the witte yet to enter sideling, like a gentlewoman with an huge farthingall : how he puffeth and bloweth like a short-winded hackney : now he approacheth wallowing like a woman with childe : he might be an oxe for his joule, a bull for his necke, a cow for his belly, and a calfe for his wit, I make no question."

/ p.106 /

Opinion of the Glutton.

" Bona verba, Mockso," said Opinion, "he will hate you to death if he heare you, and worke you a mischiefe, if you misuse him : he is a great man, I can tell you, and in huge request amongst no small fooles : Puago might be his grandfather, for his full feeding ; and Garagantua his sire, for his gormandizing ; he is none of your ordinarie fellowes, which will suffice nature for threepence ; give him an oxe rosted, with a pudding in his belly ; a rabbit is but a bitte with him, and he will crunch capons as fast as a beggar will cracke lice ; he is a tall man at a table, and will tosse a pike strenuously, if it be soaked in white broth ; he is none of your great talkers, but will do prettie well at a dinner, if silence be a vertue ; he is a vertuous gentleman, for at meate hee cannot entend to talke for eating, and betweene meales hee sleepeth soundly. To be briefe with him, he is a pestilence to pasties, which sweepeth many of them sheere away ; a consumption to capons, chickins, and other poultry ; a sepulchre to seafish and others in ponds, moates, and rivers ; a sharp sheepe-biter, and a marveilous mutton monger, a gorbelly glutton.


Fido, his oration to the Glutton, inveying against his sinne,
and revealing his fortune.

" Tantum cibi et potionis a
37

Kipling,

continued/5 04/10/2009 08:17:26
[" Tantum cibi et potionis] adhibendum est, ut reficiantur vires, non ut opprimantur : sir, I salute you with this saying / p.107 / of Cicero, because I perceive you ever ballace your belly, an ungratefull member, never thankefully repaying that which is done unto it, but daily calling for more then is needefull ; and why should man, that hath understanding to judge, and reason to rule, be so servile to filthy appetite ? a small thing will content nature, and satiety doth rather displease then pleasure her ; it maketh her unfitte to performe any agill or active thing : beside, the overplus might tend to many profitable uses, but you cannot fall too unlesse your table bee fully furnished : how did they in the old time, when they were sufficed with such sustenance as the grasse and trees afforded ; they lived longer and were stronger then they of this instant ; they had no cookes to provide them cates ; hunger was their best sawce, labour and exercise the cookes which composed that sawce ; if you would feed with the like sawce, composed by the same cookes, it would take you a button lower, and cause you looke not like Boreas, as you now doe ; if not, I cannot remedie it, neither will I speake to your deafe god, Bell, or rather bellie, anie longer. Your fortune will be this ; manie diseases wil be ingendered in you, through your immoderat eating ; fit for no countrie service will you be, neither in martiall nor domesticall affaires : a foole shall you live, and a dunce shall you die, and that sooner too then otherwise you wold, keeping a sparing and temperate diet : all the pampering of your paunch shall be to no other purpose, for you strive for all delicate creatures to feed yourselfe, and you yourselfe shall be food for the wormes."

Away the Glutton lagged, and Mockso highed to the doore, expecting, that as he was larded, so hee would / p.108 / be garded with some or other ; for rich men have manie friends, and neede not walke alone unlesse they pleas
38

Kipling,

continued/6 04/10/2009 08:23:01
[unlesse they] please.

===================

Is it no surprise that Halliwell was given a bad time by the establishment of the day if he was publishing (at his own expense?) this kind of material which was written as long ago as the early 17th century. Vested interests existed then as they do now for the perpetration of unhealthy destructive habits.

 

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