Cheraw gazette. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1835-1838, 1836-04-26

the brain. Consequently, IL Would DC Us
reasonable and logical to infer, from the
former proposition, that the eye is the mind
~ tho mind the eve, as to infer from the
lotter that tbe brain is the mind, or the mind
the brain. ,...
+ reouires, however, to be distinctly un.
derstood, that activity of mind and activity
of brain are inseparable,. and that every
change in the one is attended by a cores
bonding change in the condition of the
other. IT, by the excessive use ofstimulants,
the brain be highly excited, the mind will be
disturbed in an equal degree, as is ex-
eriplifed every day in the phenomena of
intoxication: and if, on the other hand, the
mind be suddenly reused by violent pas.
sions, the vessels Of the brain will instantly
take on increased action, rcdness will suffuse
the face, and excitement of the brain will
show itself in characters as lcglblc as lipro-
duced by physical cause.
The mind and brain being thus INSOFAR
ably associated during life, it becomes al
object of primary importance TO discover
the laws by which their healthy action is
regulated, that we may yield them willing
obedience, and escape the numerous evils
consequent on their violation.
The brain being a part of the anma!
SYSTEM, and subject to the same general
laws as every other organ, the reader will
not be surprised that should, as in the case
of the lungs, state sound original constltu-
ton as the first condition of its healthy
action. If the brain possess from birth a
freedom from all hereditary taintS and lnl-
pcrfections, and have acquired no unusual
susceptibility from injudicious treatment in
infancy, it will withstand 4 great deal in
afer.life before its health will give way.
But if, on the other hand, either it inherit dci-
cieneies. or early mismanagcmcnt have sub
seqncntly cntailcd upon it an unusual prone
ness to morbid action, it will give way
under circumstances which would otherwise
have been perfectly innocuous; and, &C
cordinglv, it may be truly said, that the most
powerful Of all the causes witch prediSpose
to nervous and mental disease is the trans
mission CT 4 hereditary tendency from parents
to children, producing in the latter an I'M
usual liability to the same maIadcs under
which the parents have labourcd.
Even where the defect in the parent is
merely some pccuiarity of disposition Or
temper, amounting perhaps to ccccntricity,
it is astonishing how clear y its influence OF
some one or other Of the progeny may be
traced, and how completely 4 constitutional
bias Of this description may Interfere with
mans happiness or success in life. |
have seen instances in which it pcrvadcd
every member of 4 family, and others in
which it affected only one or two. When
the original ccccntricity is on tho mothers
side, and she is gifted with much force Of
character. the evil -extends more widely
among the children than when tito H.
fathers side. Where both parents are
descended from tainted families, the pro-
cenv is ofcourse more deeply affected than
where one of them is from pure stock ;
and, seemingly for this reason, hereditary
predispositon is more usual cause ofncr-
vous disease in the higher classes, who IT,
tcrmarry much with each other, than in the
lower, who have wider choice.
Unhappiy, it is not merely as q cause OF
disease that hereditary prcdisrosition is to
be dreaded. The obstacles which it throws
in the way of permanent recovery are even
more formidable, and can never be entirely
removed. Safety is to be found only IN a.
voiding the perpctuation Of the mischief;
and, therefore, if two persons, each natural
" ola exctcable and delicate nervous tenn.
pcramcnt choose to unite for life, they have
themselves to blame for the concentrated in.
fucncc of similar tendencies in destroying
the health ofther offspring, and sublectlne
them to all the miseries Of nervous disease
madness, or melancholy.
Even where no hereditary defect exists,
continued excitement of the nervous :unc-
tions in the mother, from anxiety, grlet, OF
other causes, during pregnancy. has often
a striking effect on the future mental health
and constitution of the offspring. Many
authors testify to the truth of this fact
which has not escaped the penetration Of
some mothers. The Margarine Of Anspaeh
! observes Justly, that " when 4 female is likely
to become a mother, she ought to be doubly
careful of her temper; and, in particular:
to indulge no ideas that are not cheerful
and no sentiments that arc not kind. Such
is the connexion between the mind and
BODY, that the features Of the face arc
moulded commonly into an expression o'
the internal disposition; and is it not na.
tural to think that an infant, before 1t is
born, may be affected by the temper of its
mother ?',-Mcmoirs, vol. ii. chap. viii.