risk of the physical constitution.
Pn
rents, urged by an ambition for their in tellectual progress, are extremely apt to overtask the minds of their offspring, and thus, too often, not only defeat their own aims, but prepare the foundation of bodily infirmity and early decay. Such a course,
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splendid objects, as histories, fables, and contemplations of nature.” The proverb, “laugh and grow fat,” implies a wise philosophical precept. Laughter is a good physical exercise, and exerts a beneficial tendency upon the health.
Mirth and cheerfulness of mind exert
too, is repugnant to the plainest dictates of nature, to be read in the instinctive propensities of the young, which urge so imperiously to physical action.” . . . “ We have frequently seen in early age,” observes a French writer' on health, “ prodigies of memory, and even of eru dition, who were, at the age of fifteen or twenty, imbecile, and who have continued so through life. We have seen other children, whose early studies have so en feebled them, that their miserable career has terminated with the most distressing diseases, at a period at which they should only have commenced their studies.”
While excessive mental activity and the yielding to the more powerful passions are destructive of health and tend to shorten life, the indulgence in the gentler emotions and moderately exciting passions exerts a most bene ficial influence on the physical system, stimulating the languid energies of the body to renewed exertion, gently ex citing the circulation, and giving vigor and tone to all the corporeal powers and functions. Thus hope, moderate joy, the pleasurable sensations which arise from the exercise of the social affections, friendship, gratitude, bene volence, and generosity, the practice of the thousand agreeable courtesies of life, the interchange of friendly sentiment, conversation, and all the
a tonic influence on the system. “ A merry heart doeth good like a medicine, but a broken spirit drieth the bones.” The body of the restless and irritable in mind wastes away, while that of the contented and undisturbed gives evi dence, in its fair round proportions, of its thriving and healthful existence. We do not question but that the rates of mortality in different professions and occupations of life, are influenced by the various degrees of mental activity which they may require for their proper exercise. The politician hurries through an excited and turbulent life, while the philosopher, calm and con templative, enjoys a lengthened ex istence. The speculating merchant, while he credits himself with the results of his successful ventures, must
balance his profits with loss of health and days ; his case of mind leaves him with every freighted ship, and many a “pound of flesh” is bartered away for money lent ; while the agriculturist continues on from year to year in one unvaried routine of existence,
sows
his seed and reaps his harvest, his mind only clouded by a rainy day, and his feelings never excited beyond the emotion caused by a trespass, and lives his life of threescore years and ten. Of the influence of mind upon body, which obtains so extensively, it be hoves the physician to avail himself in the treatment of disease. He must at times throw aside the pestle and
refined charms and pleasures of society, serve not only to humanize the mind, but to promote the health and vigor of the body: “ To be free-minded," says a great master of the human mind, mortar, and avail himself of remedies Lord Bacon, “ and cheerfully disposed not acknowledged by the colleges in at hours of meat, sleep, and exercise, their Pharmacopazias. As mental causes is one of the best precepts of long are so rife in the production of disease, lasting. As for the passions and studies so mental influences are frequently of the mind, avoid envy, anxious fears, powerful in its cure. Numerous cases angers, fretting inwards, subtle and of disease have been effected by reme knotty inquisitions, joys and exhilara dies perfectly powerless in themselves, tions in excess, sadness not communi— as far as their direct action upon the cated. Entertain hopes, mirth rather body is concerned. thn the body is than joy, variety of thoughts rather diseased, its operations are more de than surfeit of them, wonder and admi pendent upon, and are placed more ration, and therefore novelties, studies
within the control of the mind, than in
that fill the mind with illustrations and
health.
' Tourtelle.
The epicure, with a stomach
