The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1858-03-18
From Mc ~. Y. Courier d. Eugu;ycr.
CAUSES WHICH DEGENERATE OUR RACE.


ration OF human life, it cannot he denied
that there also accompany it many vices
whose effect is TO detcrioate our race. There
are, however, some writer's on DhvsioIorv
who incline to the belief that the dcgcncracv
of the human race is increasing. TO prove
this they cite facts to show that insanity.
paralysis, and other diseases which exhibit
marked depression Of the intellectual and
physical forces, are on the increase That
both among the working and agricultural
classes hy>tcria and hypochondr,sis. frc.
Incntly attended with Il tendency to suicide
Diseases formerly conincL to the rich and
"|'S", are now quite common That i'm,
h"ci'ty, c"ng"nital or acquired, i,liocv, and
other mo,c or less complete arrests of lh.
development Of the body and intellectual
faculties Indicate an Increase. in numbers o,
li"s" who come into the world with ,h.
seed "t !":@c"nrrarv already implanted. 10
li'i> they add the ircrc:,>e of suicides. TN.
prec"ci'y OF young criminals, and also the
ilcl that i'll many localities the r:,cc can n,
longer fulfil the conditions required for mil
''ary service. They state, though the aver
/ age duration OF life "iYe'rs to be greater
than formerly, til" power Of vital resistance
has scn>ihy diminished.
Diseases OF II cerebral type now develop
'hr'nS Ives ut Il much earlier period ,i,an
li"lci"'"rc; sottcnimy OF the brain often
man'irStS n>"i! ut the early awe of thirty
I'VE. On the other hand, the Commissions
er seat into Scotland 10y the English Gov
ernmcnt to enquire into the state of lunacy
III that country. state that their cnuniri..s
i";'i them t" l"licvc thu; civilization, which
/ tends I" an improved condition Of the ,,no-
+ pie, Is not productive OF insanity. DR..
A'"rrl, tie i!f~l i'.ly>;c;;,n 1n the A>yum
i"r i."n::'irs, III III" experiment. of l.: S,.:,.
gives What hr links :.r. SOM. c,us..s of ,l..-
"'''i"racy Tie first is from ,l" use Of al
| coh"!'' fluids, opium, tobacco, &C., and
rom The employment Of p.rnicious vcrcta-
''i" material. The second from tic inilu-
cnre OF malaria, and from recuIiari,.s of
'E""!"Sic'i formation, producing diSc;,scS
| which 50 often cnycn,lcr those morl,;I tenn
rcraments whose types are TO be found in
'hc generation s':cccc,imw those who have
been thu, afflicted. The third is from the
effect of the great own sy>t.m- which :.
accompanied with $" many 'cIct.riou, c!c-
ment< And the lourln is from Iun,lancu-
tal moiml states as witnessed in ,l,.,r
m"''>'n, blindness, the scr"iuIou<, de-,
he great source Of many of those dis
ei'S's which are now eArr'ins !; 'lryr,cr.-
ting influence upon mankind, is said to he
IL" 'h"ni'na'c Use of alcoholic liquors.
he records of hospitals, prisons, and work
houses are cited to prove this. Those who
are not acquainted with the train of dis
eases produced by the abuse Of alcohol, can
scarce!y imagine its evil effects. Those de
generated 10y lis influence have been divided
INTO two Glasses: one Of which ends in
general paralysis, and the other leads to :,
miserable existence, characterized physical
y by species Of consumption, and moral
~ 10y Il manifestation of the wors. tendcn-
cics and Of the lowest bru,ishncss. The
vital standard of the offspring Of such is of
coulsc diminished; while the misery and |
want which are found in the families of
LrnnkarlS, have also decided tendency TO
'icSScncratc large numbers of our race
Other effects Of drunkenness are, that new
malai'cs are generated, and oil ones as.
sumo an increased ialili,y; the mean ,lura.
ton OF life is lessencd, and the disturbances
OF the moral and intellectual nature are
sgaliz"d by the highest rate of insanity.
suicide, and crime. In regard to the use OF
opium there is division of opinion.
W lille DIR. Morcl considers its effect, rs
manifested in China, most pcrnicious, Dr.
Eatwc!l, who passed three years in that
country, states, that Of its effects upon the
mass OF the people, no injurious results are
visible from its habituaI use. There is like
wise difference Of opinion as to the effects
OF tobacco. The evil tendencies of Mala-
ria are exhibited in various countries. An
'nhab!'ant Of La Brcsse, says DR.. Morel,
exhibits from birth a deep impression of the
unhea'hiness of the climate. If he reach
his seventh year, he does not live but veee.
tatcs, and the rst of his life is spent in
CONT ating diseases which render it only a
prolonged dying.
"ll'e great town system" produces scrof.
uIa, Tuberculosis, and crctinism. The men
Lecome pale, low in stature, and beardless
the women, frequently spotr, and the CHI
dren die early, or grow up with arrested de-
vcIopmcni, 6 g'andnlar disease, and curved
srnes. The Imprisonment of the system
also of large numbers of those who reside
in towns and cities form diseases, which It