Hygienic Manual; Or, How to Restore Health and Secure Longevity

Hygienic Manual; Or, How To Restore Health And Secure Longevity by George Dutton. This 1867 work presents a program for preserving and restoring health grounded in rational principles and physiology. It argues that prevention is the best defense against illness and that life’s laws are best obeyed through simple, consistent habits rather than indiscriminate medical treatment. The book lays out practical rules for daily living: cultivate cheerfulness and moderation, avoid excesses in diet, heat, cold, and passions, and maintain regular exercise and good nursing. It covers hygiene-related practices such as bathing, sleep, air, and clothing, and stresses the patient’s environment, diet, and digestion as central to well-being. The text also furnishes extensive guidance on personal care (teeth, bathing, attire), infant feeding, bread-making, and cooking, with numerous recipes and prescriptions for common conditions. It includes treatments for ailments like constipation, scrofula, and fevers, and features a notable critical discussion of tobacco. Overall, the work seeks to empower individuals to secure longevity through natural means and prudent self-care.