Wheeling compiler. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [i.e. W. Va.]) 1829-1831, 1829-08-19

7
Dor aud the profits Of capital in Virginia
aud those countries from which she is now
principally supplied with manufactures.
X.
FROM THE BOSTON MEDICAL IyrELuGENCER.
Influence of he diet on the Intellectual
svsiem.-In answering this question, we
have only 10 determine what is the state
of the body which we term health. Per-
haps the simplest definition that can be
given to health is, that it consists in the
condition of the vital organs which IS best
adapted for the performance Of their varl-
Gus functions; and in which these are per
formed with the least degree Of conscious
ness. In this condition of the body, the
mind, being perfectly free from attention
/ to corporeal feeling, can be wholly concen-
trated on any subject Of thought with which
/ it is engaged; whereas, If the mind be
conscious of corpOreal suffering of any
/ kind, as for instance, If thought be accom-
panied with a sensation offullness or I'M
easiness of the head, it Is impossible that
rbo distraction can be so complete, and the
concentration so perfect, as they would be
/. In a state completely void Of corpOreal SEN
sation. A state of health is, therefore,
that condition Of body, in which the mind
is most capable of exertiOn; and conse-
uuently that state best fitted for unfolding
its capacities, and storing it with ideas in
boyhood and youth.
Every description of food which is like
ly to disturb this state of corpofeal equihr-
ibum, if I may so speak, Is calculated to
prove injurious to the development Of IN
tellect. A BOY, therefore, WHO'S fed luXu
riousIy, and whose appetite IS pamPered'
is IN calculated for study; for independent
of the seductive invitations which the
Measures of the table hold ont to allure
youth from the severity and dryness Of
elementary studies, the injurious effects Of
these indulgencies on health deprive him
Of the power of application; and surely we
cannot wonder thatth ineXperIence otbOy-
hood. when thus exposed to temptation.
should hazard even the blessings ofhealtb
for the enjoyment ofan hour. Such is the
result of the qualification Of the palate, the
most contemplate Of human pleasures, on
the development of intellect. But 1t is
not luxurious refinement in the quality of
the food only which is to be dreaded; much
mischief results from our indulgence in re.
spect TO quantity; and it has always been
la common remark, that boys who are
gluuons are generally stupid, aud TO en-
pIoy a vulgar phrase, remarkably "thick
headed"
."Fat paunchos have lean pates and dainty bits
Make rich the ribs, but bankrupt quite the wits
Tt Is remarkable to see parents indulg-
ing this detestabla propensity in their
children, and supplying the means Of graf
flying it to excess, in their visits at home
from school, as fboys were intended TO be
fat.eued for a Smith6cld show. 1t would
indeed be a high evultaton to the writer
of this essay, if his remarks could induce
even a tythe of his readers to impress on
the rising generation a contempt for the
sensual pleasures of eating, 70 instil into
youth a conviction that the only use Of
food is TO supply the waste of the body, and
contribute 10 the support Gifts strength
and to teach them that nothing is truly de-
sirable which Is not calculated to advance
intellectual happiness. That such a state
of society, however. should ever exist, Is
rather to be desired than expected; for
whatever other changes may have taken
place within the last century men in this
respect have remained stationary; and the
following sentence written fifty years ago,
is applicable TO the present moment: Can
assemblies of jollity, all places Of public
entertainment, exhibit examples ofstrength
wasted in riot, and beauty whitening In
irregularity; nor is it easy to enter a house
in which part of the family Is not groan-
inc in repentance of past intemperance,
and a part admitting disease by negG-
gence, or soliciting It by luxury.'t
T.
Shakespeare, Loves Labor Lost.