The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1829-08-20
From the Boston Medical lntolligencer.


Influence Of The diet on The intellectual
system In answering this question, we
have only to determine who, is the state
of the body which we term health. Per-'
haps the simplest definition that can be Civ
en- to health is, that it consists in the con
di,ion Of the vital organs which is beat a
Japted for the performance oftheir various
functions; and in which these are perform
cd with the least degree of consciousness
In this condition Of the body, the mind, be.
ing perfectly free from attention to corpo-
real feelings, car be wholly conc entrated
on any subject Of thought with which it is
engag ged; whereas, if the mind be concious
Of corporeal suffering Of any kind, as for
instance, if thought be accompanied with
"A sensation of funess or uneasiness of the
head, it is impossible that the abstraction
can be so complete, and the concentration
so perfect, as they would be in q state COM
pletely void Of corporal sensation. A
state Of health is, therefore, that condition
of body, in which the mind is capable of
cxertion; and consequently that state best
fitted for unfolding its capacities, and stor
ing it with ideas in boy hood and youth.
Every description Of food which is like
" to disturb this state Of corporcal oqnili
brium. if may So speak, as calculated TO
prove injurious to the deve'opement of in
iellcct. A, boy, therefore. who is fed luxu.
riously, and whose appetite is pampered, is
III calculated for study for independent of
the seductive invitations which the pleas
ure of the table hold out TO allure youth
from the severity and dryness Of element
airy studies the Injurious effect Of these in
dulgcnccs on health deprive him ofthe pow
er Of applications and surely We cannot
wonder that the ineXperlence Of boyhood,
when thus exposed TO temptation, should
hazard even the blessing of health for the
enjoyment of an hour. Such is the result
of the qualification Of the palate, the most
contemplate Of human pleasures, on the
developement of intellect But it is not
luxurious refinement in the quality Of the
food only which is to be dreaded; much
mischief results from over indulgence in
respect to quantity and it always has
been O common remark, that boys who are
glu,tons are generally stupid, and to en-.
ploy vulgar phrase, remarkably "thick
headed"
"Fat paunchcs have lean pa,es; and dainty
Make rich the ribs, but bankrupt quite the
wits"
II is remarkable TO see parents indu'g-
ING this detestiblc propensity in their chil.
dren, and supplying the means Of crafty.
inc il 10 excess, in their visits at home from
school, as if boys were intended to be fat.
ted for Smi,hiield show. Itwould inde ed
he high exultation TO the writer of this
essay, il his remarks could induce even a
,y,he of his readers to impress on the ris.
mo generation contempt for the sensual
pleasure of eating. to insiil into you con-
yic,iop that the only use Of food is to sup
ply the wants Of The body. and contribute
10 the support of its strength, and TO teach
them that nothing is truly desirable which
i, not calculated TO advance intel)ec'ua
hannincss. That such a state of society
however, should ever exist. is rather TO Ia
desired than expected, for whatever otbe'
changes may have taken place within Tho
/ lnst century, men in this respect have re
NAMED stationary: and the following sen
tepce written fifty years ago. is applicable
20 tho present moment: "All assemblies o
ic,lity, all places Of public entertainment
exhibit examples of strength wasted u
riot. and beauty wi,hered in irreguiarity
nor j. i, easy to enter house in which
psr, ofile family is groaning in repentene
, Of past incompetence, and part sdmithn
in.u,v.n 7.