The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1855-06-14
The Laws of Health.

A, late meeting Of the directors of Heri.
OTIS Hospital. one Of the most ancient and
eminent oil the charities of Elinburg, ii was
resolved to impan 10 all the pupils connec.
led with the institution, the elements of phy.
siolosy and the laws of health TIE princi.
pal speaker, himself clergyman, bore elo.
quent testimony against the old prejudice,
that instruction of this character rendered
people irreligious; and commended, amid the
ann'anse IF sh- aad;..ss, tuar kuowiedge
OF the elements of physiology, difused
among all classes, will not only. m materially
diminish sickness, but prolong the average
OF human life. There can be no better proof
required of the increasing intelligence of the
age, than the adoption Of this reform in one
OF the most conservative institutions OF one
OF the most conservative capitals in Europe.
On this side Of the Atlantic, the Study OF phy.
slology has been introduced into numerous
schools; bu, hitherto, in Europe, this impor-
tant. branch OF knowledge has been ignored
in academies for the young, while Latin.
Greek and Metaphysics have been cfammed
dd hbitun down The ihroats Of pupils. a'ss
Such departure from common sense in
this practical age will be almost incredible
hundred years hence, when :he study of the
laws Of health will be one OF The first lbinas
which youth will be taught. II is astonish-
Ing that physiology has been so long neglec.
ted as part OF our education. We. instruct
our children how to depori themselves in
company, how 10 exercise ,haugbt, how 10
conduct business; but we keep them in il.
norance of ha. which is greater lnen all.
how 10 preserve health. On one we. bestow
a professional education, on another met.
camille one, on another that of an artisan,
but his health, without which all else 10
nothing, We leave 10 chance. Il Is 60 also
with our daughters. Nay. in their case, we
not only neglect 10 instruct Them 10 physIolo.
gy, but actually counenance mode of life
which is sure 10 impair the consultation,
shorten their days and iujufe their progency.
Ii is true, that, within few Yeas, the laws
of health have been made study in many
American schools; bul the great majority of
our children are sull brought up in ignorance
Of physiology /; and hence the justice Of our
structures; at least as applied TO the mass,
II has been said, we know, that the study
is unfit for The young, and lha, ihefe is time
enough in adult years to begin il. But We
can see no indeIicacy In any useful study.
Homi soil qui NAL ypenss.. Besides, it is TOO
late in adult years, 10 acquire knowledge
of health. Most OF the excesses of which
young men are guilty, are committed in
adolescence. or when the passions are warm.
the reason weak the character undeveloped.-
Il is Ia her earlier maiden years, that lats
hours, excessive dancing. and an injurious
mode Of dressing sap the heath of the fe.
male. Young persons are kept in ignorance
of the laws of health, and are thus induced
10 break them continually, blinking il little
OF no harm when, ifthey knew the penalty
that would have to be paid, in later life, a
portion Of themsif not all, would be nors
carefully ssfp tssss ,sy iaa a11 arsi
Without health there can be no real ahaps
piness. The dyspep'ic, the nersous, the
gouiy, the rheumatic, ihs consumpiivs may
have fortune, frisuds, everything, b1. they
are mol happy. Yet, there are thousands of
such, who, il they had been taught physioioi
gy at school,, might have preserved their
health, and been happy through long and
useful life--LsdgU. ..'7sss IS,