Polynesian. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu], Hawaii) 1844-1864, 1858-12-11

rbe consequences of the ignorance of their progen-
tors entail upon the survivors diseases which en-
bitter their lives and lower the attenuated spark
of vitality, that have cause TO thank God foT the
benevoleRce he shows in cutting off SO many of the
feeble offspring before they attain the age necessary
for continuing the race
For the want of this very knowledge, the horri-
bic consequences of the volatlzed oil of tobacco,
circulating through the smoke and inhaled into the
lungs of the smoker, through the mucous membrane,
has for three hundred years even been suspected
70 PROSTATE the spinal nerves and vrile powers till
half the male race in country have become pig
mics and stupid tobacco-poisoned sots.
For want of this knowledge, women have lost
sight of the examples Of mental and physical grace
flneSs forth the sublime characters of the
women of the Bible and Shakespeare, and the ideals
of Greek sculpture, and adopted the wretched and
sicky OF the American boarding school, and
the vulgar and tawdry mongrel French milliners of
Broadway.
For want of this knowledge sleeping-rooms are
built in cities to metallic fiat roofs and that
in climate where the thermometer goes Hp 10 nine
ty unventilated holes constructed for the rich
farmers children under great shingle rooted farm
houses; and triangular hooks and corners IN the
vulgar cottages Of ignorant cts under roofs origin
ally designed only for churches appropriated
sleeping g-ro0ms for the children who 90 into the
country to get health till their poor little bodies
wasted away and their blood so impoverished that
LNe DiOOu Vessels can 10 iOEeE contain DuJ per-
NIT it to percolae through their relaxed tSsuesand
make dropscal brains and bellies the poor little
creatures either screaming with agony stupefed
with laudanum by Irish peasant nurse, whilst the
mother is trying 10 tascnate some travelling gentle
mans valet, who calls himself count az a vulgar
watering place.
Churches are foul with pent-up breath and rank
with cosmetics and human exhalatons till no really
enlightened man is willing to sit in them.
Ignorant and ambitious citizens are allowed 70
!
teCths, and often the whole Of their lots until the
sun and air is so shut out Of their own and their
neighbors houses. that with the aid Of the curtains
and shutters, their wives and chdrens air fam
ished faces look as though they had been starved
for months.
their youth in studying in a wTetched tragmentary
manner, mere scraps OF lapguagues knowledge, and
history; the jargOn of scientific haud-boONs; the
dongs of deiunct heroes the lies OF historians the
praises OF robbers and muruerers; and the myths Of
gods and SoCGeSSCS, ending with the exquisite ac
complishments OF billiards and the polka.
Why enUmerate and reiteraJe all this; says some
sickly and intellectually adult infant. In order to
defend our position; by asitating and proving the
bold assertions continually make IN these pages
intend 10 show to readers the depths OF iguo
rance and oppression in which we are sunk by ignO-
ring those great laws Of our bodies which assert
10 be the Noyd OF God we design TO show them
what vast amount of precious time, and what an
ocean OF lie lOrCe Is wasted Dy our young people
studying how to make themselves feeble in body and
mind, bad citizens and bad parents, and how vain il
is to expect any amendment in the condition OF our
city government till some of us undertake a reform
upon the principle that Christ enunciated when he
uttered the beautiful sentiment We have chosen to
place the head Of this article and illustrate in
our own way, for the express purpose of showing
the difference between living and fossil Christianity,
and the breadth of ground design this journal to
/ occupy.
The sanitary condition Of the human family be-
longs to our profession There Is no lack Of knowl-
dge nor even bcncvoence, but there IS great lack
/ of force Of character and absurd deierence to
/ medical conventonalisn.
Reform must be thorough the taxes must come
down, the poor will become poorer; tenant-houses
and German and Irish grog-shops will increase. Rum
does stop hunger; and it is a great physiological
truth and if through the corruption Of the laws
/ that should protect him, he cannot go home to a
good and decently prepared meal, the poor laborer
viii drink poisoned rum prepared Tor him by those
who have no compassion for his ignorance.
lie belongs to that class Of intellectual infants we
have chosen TO include in the category designed by
the mercfuI and benevolent Jesus and It is ourduty
as his superior intellect, to protect him. Let US
do it, if possible, by urging the passage of sanitary
laws, compelling the seller 10 submit his internal
compounds inspection and let those laws be draft
ed and the inspection performed by her aged and
| young medical men. who possess the necessary
/ knowledge let us Danish the propretors of rum
holes swi milk stables diseased beef butchers, and
medical politicians from City Councils. New
/ York must be reformed by her physicians and me
chancs for neither her merchants, her lawyers nor
! her poll ticIans will ever do it.