Cheraw gazette. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1835-1838, 1836-07-19

very severe fever, in consequence of the
excitement and fatigue which he under
went when engaged in his splendid dis
covcry of the alkaline metals. "Thc
laboratory Of the institution was crowded
with persons of every rank and descrip-
ton; and Davy, as may be readily sup
posed, was kept in continued state Of
excitement throughout the day. This
circumstance, cooperating with the ef-
fects of the fatigue he had previously un-
dergone, produced most severe fit of ILL.,
ness, which, for time, caused an awful
pause in his researches, broke the thread
of his pursuits, and turned his reflections
into different channels" Davy ascribed
his illness to contagion caught ii, experl-
mcnting on the tumiga,ion of hospitals.
"Upon conversing, however, with DR..
Darlington, who, with DR.. Frank, attended
Davy throughout this illness, he assured
me that there was not the slightest ground
for this opinion, and that the fever was
evidently the effect Of fatigue and an orer
ercited brain. The reader will not feel
much hesitation in believing this state
ment, when he is made acquainted with
the habits of Davy at this period. His
intellectual erertions rerc of the most inju.
rious kind, and yet, unlike the philoso-
pliers of old, he sought not to fortify him
self by habits of temperance" "Such
was his great celebrity at this period Of his
career, that persons Of the highest rank
contended for the honour of his company
at dinner, and he did not possess sufficient
resolution to resist the qualification thus
afforded, although it generally happened
that his pursuits in the laboratory rere not
suspended until the appointed dinner hour
had passed. On his return in the ercning,
he resumed his chymieal labours, and COM
mon1y continued them Till three or four
o'clock in the morning and yet the SERVANTS
of the establishment not untrequently found
that he had risen before them." Such was
the alarming state Of Davy, that for many
weeks his physicians regularly visited him
four times in the day; and the house
keeper, Mrs. Greenwood, never retired to
bed, except one night. during eleven
weeks. In the latter part Of his illness,
"he was reduced to the extreme OF weak
ness, and his mind participated in the de-
bility of his body."*
Instances occasionally occur of persons
exhausted by anxiety and long attendance
on others. being themselves attacked by
fever, and dying, more from the unfayora-
BILE state to which previous exhaustion had
reduced them, than from the intensity Of
the fever itself.
Nervous disease from excessive mental
labour and exaitation of feeling sometimes
shows itself in another form. From neg
lecting proper intervals. of rest, the vascu.
lar excitement Of the brain, which always
accompanies activity of mind, has never
time to subside, and restless irritability OF
temper and disposition comes on, atten-
ded with sleeplessness and anxiety, for
which no external cause can be assigned.
The symptoms gradually become aggra-
waited, the digestive functions give way,
nutrition is impaired, and sense OF
wrctchedness is constantly present, which
often leads to attempts at suicide. While
all this is going on, however, the patient
will talk or transact business with perfect
propriety and accuracy, and no stranger
could tell that any thing ails him. But in
his intercourse with his intimate friends or
physician, the havoc made uponthe mind
becomes apparent; and, if not speedily
arrested, it soon terminates, according to
the constitution and circumstances OF the
individual case, in arrangement, palsy,
apoplcxy, fever, suicide or permanent
weakness.
AS age advances, moderation in mental
exertion becomes still more necessary
than in early or mature years. Scipion
Pinel, in adverting to the evil consequent
ces of excessive moral or intellectual ex-
element, acutely remarks, that while in
youth and manhood the wear of the brain
thus induced may be repaired, no such
salutary result follows over.exertion in the
decline sswhat is lost then is lost for crer.
At that period we must learn TO wait for
what the brain is willing TO give, allow it
to work at its own time; to attempt TO force
it is to ueoken 1t to no purpose i, becomes
excited and quickly exhausted when
forced to vigorous thinking. y" Men OF
exalted intellect perish by their brains,
and such is the noble end of those whose
genius procures for them that immortality
which so many ardently desire. II
Who Can peruse these lines without the
the fate of Scott instantly occurring 10 his
mind, as practical illustration of their
truth +? In the vigor OF manhood few ever
wrote so much, or with greater ease. But
when, on the verge Of old age, and adver-
sity forced him to unparalleled eSertlon'