Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-09-30
THE FIELD or THE INcURABLEs.

"Thad dream, tckic1 ,cas not all eam."-BrRoN
know Of no sight more ridiculous, and al
the same time more provoking, than the APP
pearance of hale, hearty, healthy, hy2ocondri
&C. There are some men who seem born TO oe
miserable, and 10 waste their lives In frult!ess
complainings and unfounded apprehensions
whose highest felicity is, to inhale the odourS
of an apothecary's shop, or TO swallow, with
greedy zeal, the most yillainous compounds oil
unriphteous medicines. Some men seem to re-
ceive from nature this disposition to watch o.
yer the operations of their BIO els and TO mark.
with the utmost care, all the disgusting and hu-
initiating process going on in the inner man -
Others are by nature of happy temperament,
sasy, placid, and contenfed; never sending their
thoughts into the region ofconecture, or liking
on their vigorous bodies all the tremendous dis
eases, to be found in the "theory and practice
Of physic" But have known such men, sud-
denly transformed from this know-nothing, fear
nothing character, into the most learned and
miserable expounders of symptoms, pains dis
eases, and dangers, to which flesh is heir. And
it is my belief that there is no one cause, which
operates so frequently to produce this wretched
effect, as sma,tering knowledge, CLEANED from
partial perusal of medical works, or the hall
understood language of professional men. Some
one disease becomes the favorite Of the imagi-
nation, and no matter what the constitution or
habits or liability Of such disorder, every thing
in nature is made to bend TO the sudden fancy.
was revolving thoughts like these few nights
since, after had retired to my bed; and mus
ing on this self induced misery my waking
thoughts were soon changed TO visions OF sleep.
NIethought was in an extensive plain, which,
as far as the eye could reach, presented level,
smootil, and fertile aspect. At first sight, there
was an appearance OF calm serenity diffuscd o.
YER the landscape, and nature seemed rejoicing
under the invigorating influence of summer
sun. But as / advanced farther, this appear
ance gave way TO one of more gloomy charac-
ter. The sun still shone in its splendor, and
the earth tillretaned its peaceful hue but there
was an indefinite and indescribable melancholy,
which pervaded the landscape as whole, and
gave it sombre hue. AS stood musing what
this might mean, saw man standing near
the boundary ofthe field with most laughing,
loving and quizzical expression OF couatenance,
watching the different individuals who we're
moving around US. To him applied for infor-
nation, and in answer TO my inquiry, he said:
g THIS, sir, is The field Of the incurabss." Those
unhappy beings, said /, who are doomed TO
guish of remedies disease. But why, sir,
that laughing face. so unsuitable to this melan-
choly scene? !" My friend,'' answered he, 81
call them incurables, not because their diseases
ar. past remedy, but because they have no dis
orders of W hich to be cured Sick men with
out disorders, exclaimed l. 81 Look above you,
said he, and see the presiding genii OF this re-
gion." ! raised my eyes in the direction he
pointed, and saw floating in the air thousand
cerulean beings, who seemed indeed 10 be "alry
nothings," almost without substance or even
form. And what, my friend, do you call these
wretched looking sprites? seizure demons, said
he. Commonly called 5luc deUils, in our land
of plain language. The very same" observed
he, !. and they hold the whole OF this region
under subsection, dstIling their pestilent inf1u-
ence from the region of air. producing the most
laughable effects upon the bravest and healthi-
est men | think, said |, | will walk around
and see if can distinguish my old friends in
in the herd. 6 Beware" said my informant,
(" how you trust yourself within the influence OF
these devils Oh, my dear sir, [ fear not a
whole legion of them. have conquered them
often, and routed whole legions al one pitched
battle They dare not attempt TO distiH Their "a
pors upon me- SO maniully marched forward,
even 10 the centre of the field OF the healthy IN
curables
The fist man saw was of dali, heavy Vi
sage, square head and shoulders, thick and
clumsy, who looked as if ne had taken the world
easy, and had not been disturbed by tribes, as if
he had tempered his nerves to the happy cal
lousness of an oyster, and the motions OF his
soul 10 the dull stagnation of mud puddle
There was, however, an unnatural, and evident
" an unusual expression of hypochondriacal
feeling in his face, and when l put the question,
PRAY my friend, from what complaint do you
suffer, he turned upon ME such look of calm
suffering, and patient resignation, that felt my
pity mingled with respect. Alas! my nerves
are shattered to pieces Really, my dear Sir,
/ should rather think you suffered from letharge.
o. no: did you ever read 'Warren on the Nerv-
Gus system" Not l. Read it then instantly.
I, was there first learnt that all my complaints
were of the nerves. had scarcely commenced
the perusaI, ere suspected the truth. deter
mined instantly to subject myself to the test Of
experiment seized file, which i applied
with all my powers to handsaw--the etfec
Was dreadful felt a most indescribable sen
salon about my teeth--yery much worse thar