Daily gazette and comet. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1856-186?, 1860-07-28
M NTAL YGJEN

The following is an extract from the
twenty seventh chapter of the book just
published, entitled Gan Exposition Of the
Swedish Movement Cure" by DR.. @. II.
Taylor. It il commended to attention a.
setting forth an important truth that has
been too long ignored and neglected
1.-THE different states Of the mind, wheth-
or in its Departments Of thought or feeling
are well known TO exert powerful influ-
enee upon the physiological manifesta-
tions but unfortunately the consideration
Of these relations has been too generally
left to a class OF writer's whose aim Is TO
ss,onish and amuse rather than to effect
any practical good by their dispositions.
1--WE hear II constantly asserted by In
vslids, that some peculiar mental trouble,
disappointment, or excitement Of feeling
was the original cag@ Of their III health ;
but how few think of looking for relie',
or are led to look for IL, in q restoration of
order and harmony TO the disturbed mindi
How few seem 10 know that the forces that
exercise such potent control over the or
gsnssm for the production Of disease, may
be equally available for the restoration Of
health The ordinary practice Of medi-
cine inculcates the notion that the bust
ness Of the physician is SIMPLY TO endeavor
TO supply and regulate certain material
conditions, by means Of pill and powder,
and that when that Is accomplished, all
has beer done .hI lies within the limits
Of human ability
1.-THE truth is, the influence Of the mind
over the body Ia equally great in health
and In disease. No thoughtful observer
can doubt this. We have seen that volun-
tary muscular action gives language TO
our ideas. and that no part Of the frame
work OF the body IS exempt from the du e
ties Of aiding In the performance OF this
interesting and wonderful function. The
passions. especially, put into requisition
the action Of almost every muscle Of the
body for their expression. Says q Ger
man writer's who IL unacquanted with
the sparkling eye, the free respiration, the
glowing color, and the serene brow OF the
joyous Who is not familiar with the
trembling aspect, besitating utterancs, the
cold ruffied skin, the bristling hair, the
FACILITATING heart, the impeded respiration,
the paleness, the low pulse, and the thou
sand other signs Of ieari The slow, OPP
pressed breatbing, interrupted by sobs,
the cold. pallid, wrinkled skin. the slow
tottering gait and the weak pulse Of the
despsringi The deep broad blush OF
shame, or the psllor Of miserable envy 7
The beaming countenance of requited love
or the anguished expression Of ditappoin-
ted affection The spasmcdic contraction
of throat and chest which accompanies
jesIousyi The gpswing pain which tor
ments the heart of devilish hatei The
storm in the veins of the angry man, his
infamed countenance, his gasping breath,
his bounding pulse, and Wild swollen
countenance y All these egtsrnaI NANTES.
tations depend upon certain changes eiieo-
ted among the invinsible element Of
matter.
"a grave difficulty TO be encountered In
overcoming states Of chronic disease by
ordinary medical means Is now seen.-
Diseases are perpetuated, If not produced,
by causes over which mere chemical infu-
ences can not be presumed to exercise any
positive control. This fact may be, often
Is, tscitly acknowledged by the physician,
but he declines to investigate it's relations
so a. to be able TO turn them TO useful &c
count. fie is unwilling TO acknowledge
in practice, although he may admit cont
dehtislly. that the headache, the nervous
ness, the heart disease, or the dyspeptic
quslms which he Ii called upon TO
remedy, are only indications Of some
pecvliar mpb2 state If tie mind Or 0f Tie
snrti0aai nature II the syfsyv, which 1t be
comes him TO meet directly, rather than
torment his patient with nm internal round
Of palliatives. In these Q. sea. every med
ical prescription must be totally iirele, ant
Though written in the best Lstin) unless
II recognizes the operation Of cases exis-
ting in sphere quite beyond the reach Of
the most potent drug"
"Now the extraordinary states into
which the system may be thrown soon
subside. and arc directly followed by the
ordinary states, and whether the imprss
sions thus made be wholesome or un-
wholesome, the effects are not necessarily
permanent. But " these conditions be
continued Tor considerable length Of time,
ths consequences must be serious. and inay
be even fatal. The continued indulgence
Of malicious feelings by person, for ex-
ample, will surely so modify all the inter
nal invisible functional acts Of his system
a. to check and overcome finally its vital
power (; and thus and latent tendencies to
chronic disease that may belong TO him
will pretty certainly be quickened into
active life.