Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1856-12-11
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From the Valley Farmer.
ESSAY ON HEALTH.

From the Valley Farmer.
ESSAY ON HEALTH.
PARTICULAR CAUSES OF DIsEAsE-MENTAI
DIsQUIET.
Among the particular causes of disease
should be enumerated those of a mental
character. The body bears relation to mind
1t is linked with and subject to mind ; the
mind rules it with an iron tyranny. Eithe,
the intellect, the passions, the affections, ol
all bear tyraunous sway over it. Sometimes
the intellect, athirst for knowledge, ambi.
tious of scientific gain, greedy in the pursuit
of its wealth, subjects the body to all kinds
of hardships, drills it, works it, wearies it,
cheats it of rest, sleep, and nutriment
through years of research, study, business or
toll, till the body is worn, emaciated, robbed
of its life principle, and only fit to die. This
process of feeding the mind at the expense
of the body, is one Of which nearly all
schools aud colleges are guilty, of which most
of the professions are guilty, AID concerning
which charges can be laid at the door of al
most every kind of business. 1t is an evil
especially peculiar to our age. Young Amer.
ca loads down the intellect, puts on all the
power and breaks down the bodily car in the
morning of life. Our country is all strewn
over with the wrecks of this evil. It is q
hot-house culture of the mind; kind Of
electrical application of power to develop
mind and secure results before their time.
We do not object to hard study; it is the
making of minds. We approve of strong
and continuous effort; it strengthens the
nerves and hardness the muscles of mind.
We recommend vigorous mental application ;
it gives stature and power to the inner man.
But We object to doing it at the expense
of the body. We object to wearing out
the body before it is time, in this process.
The mind should always be used with a view
to its relations to the body, and as the body
is formed with relations to mind, we doubt
not that a rich mental culture is favorable to
the health of the body. If mental culture
is kept up near to the limit of the bodily
strength, we doubt not that it is favorable to
health and long life. The most cultured
men often live to an advanced age. Schol-
ars, philosophers, statesmeut, often wear
the frost of four-score years.
For strong health, for vigorous physical
powers, mind should receive wise and Wig
orous culture. The nervous system acquires
strength by the judicious culture of the
mind. Schools, study, book, learning pro-
fessions, mental pursuits are favorable to
health under the direction of enlightened
Judgment But all mental exercise should
be so ordered as never to exhaust the physi-
Cal powsrs--as never to pale the cheek,
wither the muscles, oppress the spirits or in
terfere with the health operations Of the
body.
Beyond actual mental exertions, there are
many mental causes of i'll health Dispute
tude, dependency, care, anxiety, affection
ate solicitude, wounded pride, wounded af-
fections, disappointment, sorrow, grief, and
many other states of mind long suffered ac-
tually derange the healthy operations of the
body. They lower its tone and weaken its
powers.
Mental chcerfulness-a free and easy
spirit, is the great antidote to all maladies
from such causes, one absolute essential to
health. The burden of heavy heart is
very great. From observations of many years
making, We cannot but think that mental un-
rest and over-exertion in all its various forms,
is one of the primary causes of the present
low state of health and shortness of life in all
civilized communities. One fact bearing on
this point is worthy of notice. 1t is, that
the average age among the Society of Friends
or Quakers, is said to be one-third longer
than among other people. The great distinc-
ton between them and the world at large, is
their superior Intelligence and calmness of
miud. Though people of thought, they are
proverbially people of calm and cheerful
spirits.
WANT OF REST AND SLEEP.
As intimately connected with the cause i'll
health we have just pointed out, we would
speak of a want of sufficient rest and sleep
as fruitful cause of early decay. Ours is a
fast age. Wisdom, wealth, fame, fortune
and many other things must be obtained
in red hot haste. Long days and short
nights, many working and few resting hours,
is the order of our time. Pleasure, toll,
and study, all reach far into the Eight.
Gods use Of day and night is materially
modified in all towns and cities, and too
often in the country. Late hours and little
rest has unstrung many strong farmer.
Sleep, is "nature's restorer" Of the body's
wasted powers Let the night be given to
rest and sleep, and the day to its duties or
Measures. and it would do much for the