food as serve them for the support of the whole, or greater part of the day. This frivolous argument, however, will not influence the determination of judicious persons, who value their health, and abhor gluttony. Hence we venture to recommend to those who are disposed to habits of temperance and frugality, but especially to the invalid and convalescent, instead of eating one hearty dinner in twenty-four hours, to divide the whole into three or four moderate meals, to be taken at intervals of four or five hours:—this arrangement will be more consistent with the rules of Nature and of Reason.
DISCOUNT, in commerce, a term employed by traders, merchants, and bankers; especially by the two former, when they purchase commodities on the usual time of credit, and on condition that the seller allow the buyer a certain discount at the rate of so much per cent. per annum, for the time during which credit is generally given; provided the buyer pay ready money for such commodities, instead of taking the usual time of credit.
Traders and merchants, also, who frequently take promissory notes for money due and payable to them or to their order at a certain date, and who sometimes have occasion for the money before the time elapses, procure these notes to be discounted by bankers before the time of payment, so that the latter deduct the interest which will become due by the time such notes are payable. Bills or Exchange are discounted by bankers on similar terms; which indeed constitute a considerable article of the profits of banking.—See Interest.
DISEASE, is that condition of the body, in which it has declined from a state of health, so that its different functions are either greatly impeded, or performed with difficulty.
Of all organized creatures, man is subject to the greatest diversity of diseases: some impairing only the use of the part immediately affected; for instance, the palsy, gout, rheumatism, &c.; others disordering the whole body, such as fever, apoplexy, &c.; again others disturbing the mind, as delirium, melancholy, and the like; and lastly, some attack both mind and body, such as phrenzy, accompanied with fever.
Without perplexing the reader with conjectures on the origin and propagation of diseases, we may observe, that in proportion as men associate together in large and populous places, their manners and habits become more refined; while they gradually degenerate in bodily strength, and energy of mind, so that they are less capable of resisting the noxious agency of the elements, and other external powers. This progress towards refinement is always attended with ah increase of luxury, the painful effects of which are sooner or later experienced by its votaries. Luxury, indeed, has also afforded the means of lessening the sudden influence of cold, heat, rain, moisture, and other external causes; for we can occasionally guard against their severity; but, on their next return, we are liable to be acted upon with additional vehemence. To this state of things we owe the introduction of many articles, both of food and dress, the consequences of which too frequently prove to be injurious to our bodily welfare. Thus it may be safely affirmed, that the number and variety of
