The Carson daily appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1865-1870, 1868-11-04

has deservedly been paid of late years to the
building up Of the physical constitution. In
newly settled country, where regular labor
is necessary, and the mind not overta>ked. .
there are but few cases ofprolonged i'll health;
but when wealth increases and the necessity
of manual labor ceases, the leisure thus af
forded is generally filed eilhor by close APP
plication to mental pursuits or by devotion to
luxurious, and perhaps, dissipated mode Of
life. Either Of these exclusively pursued
will produce the ply steal deterioration so COM
monty the accompaniment Of the continued
pecuniary prosperity of community. But
an intelligent people will soon perceive this
evil, and apply all their energies to guard
against it, and 10 seek regenera,ing influences.
Thus, while twenty years ago. New England
was striving after intellectual dere!opement,
and large proportions of the children of the
wealthy classes were born with the seeds Of
consumption, or other kindred disease. there
is now marked improvement in physical
culture. So in wealthy circles all over the
country physical exercise is becoming fash
ionable.
This renewing of physical exercise in diff
ferent forms is most valuable step in the
work of building up strong physical con-
stitution, when we hope to see carried out
in every portion of our land. and especially
in our cities, where the duties of life are
necessarily so often sedentary. We must,
however, remember, that physical exercise is
out one step. an important one, certainly,
but by means the only one, i'll this work.
The formation Of regular habits of life is
still sadly neglected amongst us, and until
it becames fashionable to eat moderately,
and only at stated intervals. to sleep suf-
fciently, and during the hours of night, and
to exercise regularly, but not excessively, we
are yet ar from having reached the right
H., It,,
who know, and still fewer who realize, the
evils to the physical system Of irrrguariiy
in habits. Tnere is a power in all living
beings OF repairing damages caused
BY attacks from external agencies,
and the lower We go in the scale of exist
ence, the stronger that power becomes, so
that even when portion of the body is re-
moved from some of the lower orders Of
animals new one will grow; and in many
worms and other insects, the parts thus sew
cred will supply the necessary organs, and
in each become a separate existence. That
this fact is still more evident in the vegeta-
BILE kingdom, every one who has grown a
plant from slip is aware. This power,
then, though existing in man. is less fully
developed 4; and the teeth are probably the
only organs, that once removed can never be
restored. But so far as the union Of broken
bones, the healing of wounds, and the re-
SiStance OF nature to disease. this power Is
inherent 10 all, and is greatly regulated in
its strength by the habits of the individual.
A system Of attack and resistance is con-
s,antly going in the frame Of every one
of US. The power to restore increases with
the regularity Of the attack, but if the frame
is attack at uncertain times and with If
regular force, the constant vigilance neees-
sary TO resist must before long wear cut the
strength Of the constitution. Proper exer-
else, pure air, nourishment and recreation
are like the withdrawal Of the attacks, and
if these are made regular, the attacks will
also be regular, ard the resisting power viii
have time to accumulate. 1t has been album
dainty proved that six hours sleep, taken at
regular and proper times, are equal in re-
Operative energy to eight taken at uncertain
periods and regularity of catiug ard drink
ing. of toll and rest, of study and play, will
conduce far more than is now commonly be-
lieyed, to the grand work Of building up a
fine, vigorous and healthy constitution. No
keenness, or culture of intellect that fails to
recognize every part of health culture no
wealth, no morality not even religion that
does not embrace the preservation of the
physical system from Deterioration. and its
cultivation to the highest perfection, car ever
be permanent force in the world.