Volcano weekly ledger., 1856-02-02
Science and Art.

The MAGNETIC TELEGRAPH follow
ing remarks on the Electro Magnetic Tele-
graph were made by DR. Child, at the close
OF lecture on the nervous system, before
the Wagner Free Institute, and were written
in photography:
I'VE find in many parts Of the human
system emblems and types of some of the
most useful inventions which the sacagity Of
man has developed. That wonderful instru-
ment, the telegraph, has its principles laid
out and most strikingly illustrated in the
simplest action Of the nervous system.
"The discovery of the telegraph is but Of
yesterday, but its principle is as old as the
hrst animal whose organism was guided and
controlled by a nervous system. / believe
that God created this beautiful world on
which we live with design to its continued
and unending development and progression,
and that mans mission, next to the develop
ment of his own internal spirit, and in aid,
too, of that development, is to bring out and
develope the resources of nature around him.
God meant that man should subdue the ele-
ments and make them do his bidding. He
gave him dominion not only over animated
nature, but over the winds and the waves;
that he might chain the fiery steed and bid
him do the work of ten thousand hands that
he should speak to the rolling thunder and
say "Go thou quietly into the earth" that
he should send the swift-winged lightning on
errands of mercy and love.
IL look upon the discovery of the teIe-
graph as one Of the most important of this
age or of any age, not only on account OF
its influence over the world of mind, but
also over the world of matter Its influence
over the world of mind is incalculable,
in the spread Of the gospel of peace and in
bringing about tho brotherhood of man.
What are battlements, walls, Notifications,
armies, and all the paraphernalia of war,
compared with the voice Of love, as it moves
along these silent wires, and speaks to brothers
in distant climes and far-of lands, and binds
them together in fraternity Of interest, Of
love and of duty.
" But it is of its influence on the physical
world that l would now speak.
"The ancients called man the microcosms,
and the world the microcoSoma, the type and
ante-type; but before the telegraph, the world
had but an incomplete nervous system, and
the figure was not complete. 1t my be Wis
ionary, but / believe that when the great
nervous system of the earth becomes more
complete and perfect-when the iron roads
shall intersect all countries-when the wire
of the telegraph shall reach all climes, and
connect all lands-many Of those diseases
that in their breath march carry terror, desc
lation and death over the nations of the
earth will be either banished entirely, or SO
modified as to yield to the influence of q
superior knowledge better philosophy
We know comparatively nothing Of those
electrical conditions which regulate and con
troll many of the diseases that scourge the
nations, and sweep away millions into an un
timely grave May we not hope that in the
outworking and unfolding of the great prob
lens of the present age, there may be re
vealed to man such wisdom, such light, a:
shall illuminate many of the dark and hidder
paths through which we have hitherto
grouped. Let us then thankfully receive the
blessings of the present, and look forward
ever hopefully to the teeming future"