Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1867-10-07
HYGIENE AND RELIGION.

The body, as the dwelling-place of
mind, a never get u of repair with
out its tenant suffering. Health and
bodily vigor are indispensable conditions
for the fullest discharge Of mans duties
as q moral and intellectual being. This
truth has always found uttsrance and
shape in the hygienic ob%servances en-
acted with all the force of religious obli-
cation at n time, and urged with all
the wisdom Of philosophic teaching at
another. The earliest sanitary code
was closely interviewer with a religious
code in the legislation Of Moses. The
preservation of health was proclaimed
to be a duty, and its neglect was pun
ished by sever penalties. In Leviticus
and Deuteronomy every reader has found
minute specifications Of the different
animals to be used for food, and OF
those to be Stunned as I" unclean." In
these snactments reference was had to
the climate and the danger Of the people
in contracting leprosy. Great precau-
tons were enjoined to prevent this dis
ease, and injunctions laid down for a
separation of the sick from the we'll, and
the publication, BY washing, of persons
and raiment, and certain substances,
wood, hides, etc., most apt to retain
contagion. Personal cleanliness and
previously careful publication by wash
ing and putting oil fresh garments were
exacted mot only of those who minis
tered at the altar, but also Of those who
went up to pray and make their offer
ings. The great Jewish lawgiver thus
formally recognized the salutary indu-
ence on the public health Of relaxation
from the ordinary cares of business and
labor, and of indulgence in joyous emo
tons. These seasons Of rejoicing were
for the benefit not only of the family,
including the man servant and the maid
servant, but, also, "the stranger and
the fatherless and the widow that are
amongst you"
With the decline Of the Roman empire
the moral not less than the physical man
became utterly corrupt and ran to decay.
1t required a new people-barbarians
from the north and converts to Christi
anity-to begin anew the race Of civil
ization, and to exhibit the iudissoluble
union between hygiene and religion.
All the teachings of Christianity, by
calling into action the kindlier and bet
ter feelings, and imposing restraints on
the unlicensed and unlawful indulgence
Of the passions, are also so many ssni-
tary precsp.s for preserving the health
Of both mind and body. The early
fathers Of the Church were vehement in
denunciations of the vices of all kinds
which corrupted and poisoned to the
very heart the Roman empire, and which
were alike destructive to body and soul.
The writings Of st. Clement contained q
body of hygiene and its relations to
morality and religion. st. Basil also,
who was q physician, has left US in his
"Homilies" full instructions in a II
itsry matters having, among other
things, not only the spiritual, but the
bodily ills caused by yielding to the pas
sions.
Thus, those who may be otherwise
disinclined to the practice of those hab-
its of cleanliness, and abstinence from
excess and improprieties in eating and
drinking, will see that they have the
sanction of religion to call them to their
duties to themselves, their. families and
society at large.