Liberty advocate. [volume] (Liberty, Miss.) 1835-1866, 1843-11-11

- AuniroR,
We James T.. Matthew'S, Democrat, 81
j. Amos X. Johnston, Wing, II
g. JuDGE Hon CoURr,
10 James Walker, ~
]. s. b. Thachor, 32
!, Education 10 prerem LundcV-D
y Woodward, the very accomplishe an
h able Superintendent, Of the Massa chuselt
c Insane Hospital, discourselh in such
p style in relation TO Education and Insani
ty, that we can but commend his remark.
to the consideration Of our readers:
"Ihere is undoubtedly an intimate
= conneXion between education IL insanity
d Especially between early training and
! that condition Of the brain which is man.
llested IN precocious mental develop.
Iment.
One of the greatest defects, both OF
nursery and school education, is the neg
ecs of proper training OF the bodily pow
'Iers during childhood and youth
Nature provides an excess ofthe prin-
IclPle OF life, that all young animals may
not only grow, but be active and froic-
some, SO that the locomotive system may
be healthy, strong, and well DEVELOPED
Noise is also as useful as it is natural to
children, because the lungs and other or
gans OF respiration Ecann0t be rendered
strong and vigorous without exercise any
more than the muscles. An opposite sys.
tenn OF management, now too prevalent,
leaves the child etEeminate and slender
but tins IS not the worst Of the evil
IL the child is deprived OF oxoroiae ond
kept at his studies too early or too long,
the excess OF the vital principle, which
produced for the purpose Of giving activ-
NY and energy to the digestive and loco.
lmvri"v system, is uxpundoI upon the
brain and nervous system, and they be.
come too susceptible, or diseased. This
course, ifpursued, leads directly to pre-
coclty of intellect, or to train Of ner.
vous diseases, such as epilepsy, chol-
era, spinal distortion, &c. which often
mar the brightest intellect, or bring on
Insanity,
Next TO neglect ofthe proper training
| OF the locomotive system in producing
physical imbecility and disease, is a per-
nicious system Of dietetics, pampering
the appetite with improper food condi
ments and confectionery, inducing dys-
lpepsia, the more inveierate because pro-
duced before the natural tone and vigor
had been given to the stomach, when its
susceptibility is greatest, and its power Of
Endurance least. Then come the res
traints of dress, which prevent the health
and natural development Of vital organs,
, before growth is completed, and impede
the natural functions of organs we'll form
led, whose office is essential to life. All
bandages upon the body are perncious,
: even tight shoes will often produce
= headache, and tight cravats bring on apo.
plexy. Bandages on the chest are par
tcularly injurious, as they impede res
piration, one Of the most important vi
tai processes in the human system.
The chemical principle, Of which res
: Ipiration frees the blood at every round Of
its circulation, is poison to the brain,
THAT destroys life in drowning, strangu-
Iation, the inhalation OF irrespirable gas
es OF wells and caves, and from the fumes
: ot burning charcoal in close rooms. Any
,Iimpediment to the regular and constant
inhalation ofvltal air impedes the expul-
sion Of this principle, and it eventually
goes to the brain, diminishing its ener-
Igies, disturbing its functions, and tending
directly to produce disease.
Such are briefly the foundations of in
Vulnerable evils laid in early life by the
ignorance Of neglect o! the natural Jaws
of man. By Inheritance accompanied
with health and every thing to pamper
and satate, often fails to afford the hap
Ipiness and substantial enjoyment which
poverty secures with its daily toll, and
the homely subsistence which stern neces.
sity compels.
The evil, well understood, leads to the
remedies which education must apply toI
couneract it. Firm and healthy bodies,
brains, lungs, stomachs, and moving pow
Iers, must be first secured. Care must be
taken that none of them be over taxed
The precocious and feeble must be taken
from their books and put to active exer.
else; the robust and vigorous must be ia
ken from cruel exercise and sports, and
quito study and more placid enjoymonts,
lest with vigour they become unfeeling
and pugnacious.l