Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-11-28
For Tie Enquirer.
EDUCATION.-[No. Will


"Mediclne. of t>slf is an evil. Ny business il tc
rrpair The damage, a. far n possbrl done hy vinla
Ing the great laws OF Sat"r- a"d ih- human system
A mechanic, in my employment, goes from his
work 10 his home every night, distance oil So
veral miles. Very frequently he complains Of
soreness and stiffness in his limbs, and sometimes
is, on This account, unable 10 attend TO his work
a few evenings since passed his house, imme'
djaely alter his return home and found him Sit
ling in The current Of air, in an open passage, d.
vested of coat and vest open. The natural con
sequence, in every such case, must be the seri
Gus injury of the system, and great danger OF Ill
health, according 10 the unchangng laws Of heat
as established in The material world.
A superficial observation OF the inhabitants o
any community, especially among the low ant
uncducated classes of society, will convince any
one, that moi only the laws OF health are tram
pied under foot, but that The laws OF Nature her
self are grossly outraged in mul.iludes OF cases
II need ever he expected, nor was il designed tina
every individual should be intimately acquant
ed with every part OF The human system, and IN
dersand all lis operations, and the exact laws BY
which those operations are conducted. But ther,
are few general points, some general laws
both Of The human system and oil Nature, ina
are absolutely necessary 10 be known; and ths
uses and design of the prominent organs OF th'
system should be understood By most persons
all classes and either sex, rs essential 10 The en-
joymenl of health, and a rational prosecution 0
this end, 50 much 10 be desired.
One prominent and important point IS. TO know
the effect of heat and cold upon all material bo
Il nd hon la ic
sed upon the mind, il must be remembered, tina
the human body is not exempt from The operation
OF The law OF heat. Heat expands and cold con
tracts; and when The human body is exposed e
great heat, or is much exercised, il can, with nc
less chance of impnniy, be suddenly exposed e
cold, especially cold and fresh current OF air
than can any ordinary body be transferred sud
denly from cold 10 heat or from heat 10 cold
without altering lis texture. Considering The
nyriads of pores upon the surface OF The body
and the important functions OF sensible and in
sensible peIspiration performed by them, III,
great means by which the impurities OF The sys
! tenn are removed, and then the profound igno
I rance OF the mass, relative In these points, thu
| wonder should be- tina, SO few drag on misera
bic existence, laboring under severe rheumatism
and other effects of cold. The lungs are another
important organ, affected oftentimes from III,
same cause, and which will result with absolut,
certainty, in much suffering, and finally in dealt
itself.
II violation OF law, with reference 10 these two
organs, lead 10 consequences so serious, the vic
lalion Of the laws of every organ OF the human
body, as stomach, liver, &c, &c. has attached L
il, as penalty, suffering more or less acute, ant
tends 10 increase the evils and miseries OF human
life. |, then appears, thai regular law governs
health and regulates disease.
II would be one great step towards the preser
walton Of health, and the prevention Of disease
il this single truth could be deeply impressed
upon The minds OF the mass, especia y upon III.
minds Of The uneducated. So far from this, Their,
is The most inveerae and deeply seated prejudice
that sickness is unavoidable, and comes as III,
immediate act of God himself, and cannot b,
avered BY any thing that man can do. This i
not the only subject in which there is prejudc,
with this cass;-indeed, il is one Of The creates
difficulties in the way of every attempt 10 i'm
prove mankind and meioraie his condition.
maniiesis itself in the holy cause Of religion il
SELF il is The regular attendant Of ignorance :
they go hand in hand, as twin sisters. But, il
this instance, prejudice of this sort is peculiarly
hnrliul, as it mars the happiness and peace of SO
ciety, by introducing among lis members so much
disease that il causes thousands TO suffer and hun
dreds 10 sympathise, and renders mans short life
that might otherwise be happy, but one CONTINUED
scene of misery and suffering. Education, b,
which The mind is enlightened, is the only mean,
by which this prejudice can be removed. A
man in the dark cannot see-give him candle
and he sees for few yards around him-but
place him in the lish. ct the sun, his no
rizon becomes enlarged, objects are seen in ,heil
proper positions and Of these objects he can take
more extensive view. But if there were nc
foolish prejudices existing such as always eIis
where man is surrounded by clouds OF darkness
the $4,000 illi,erate persons in Virginia would be
just as well of, and no better than they now are
for, then, they would have The desire withou, The
ability, and now they have neither desire no. abb
lily To educate Them however, will not only
remove their pIejudices, but will enable them IL
study the laws Of health as successfully as they
can study any other useful branch, will proong
their lives, and bes,rew their pathway with the
choicest blessings and pleasures-healii frs!, aud
then all its consequences.
Every one at all conversant with the true con.
dilon o. The poor and the ignorant classes, will
Immediately remember numerous particulars