The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1869-05-12
The Study of Physiology.

While seeking to impress upon tn
minds of the masses the absolute ne
cessity, for their better. business man
agement, of a fair knowledge of poll
teal economy, there is another brancl
of information which the journals
who desires to- be useful should no
forget. .c9. a1Gz
In surveying the condition of Ef
that falls to the lot of nine-tenths o
the worlds inhabitants, nothing strike
the humane observer more painful
thansthe woefut ignorance manifested
in the.matters of food, clothing, ven
tilation, and physical habits.
Wisely has it been written, in refer
ring to the physical constitution o.
man, that 1--WE are fearfully and won.
derfuliy made;" and yet, how aston.
ishing is the neglect visible on every
hand, in the treatment of that exqui-
sitely delicate machinery, the human
system The very same intelligent
man who would not dream of expos
ing the works OF his watch to clouds
of dust or draughts of damp air, will
never think of protecting his own eyes,
AOSIEllo dIQ Shla 1IOIu lIlC SdLu0 uduO-
erous action. He will sit, at one mo-
ment, amid intense, sweltering heat,
In close apartments, to which not a
breath of pure air can penetrate, and,
the next, rush out, with every pore
open, TO face the rain-storm or the win
try blast. - 2 -
Probably three-fourths, or more, Of
all the physical ills that flesh is heir
to, aresbrought upon the multitude by
their Ignorant recklessness in this re-
spect.a a. - 16
Ventilation seems to. be the one
chief matter constantly neglected.
Our close officers, crowded and sitting
hot churches, halls and theatres /; our
stufy cars and stages. esd, too often,
u over-heated and air-exhausted
dwellings,, annually hasten the pro-
gress of thousands to the grave. Men
and women, otherwise sane, will sit,
hour after hour, breathing a putrid
compound. and up of the refuse OF
each others skin and lungs or roast
the iyelong day over a fiery, gas-fum-
ing stove and yet go home wondering
what gives them f'such a headache
only to repeat the dose of poison in
their own rooms, and in the morning
send for a doctor to cure them of some
malignant fever.
Here i sah individual who is con-
stantlygroaning over his dyspepsia
Watch him for a day. Rising late in
the morning, he performs his additions
with the least quantity of fresh water
he can pretend TO wash his face and
hands in /; then, instead of taking a
Whit of fresh air outside, he cuddles
up 70 the fireplace or stove, CASUALLY
the latter, until called to breakfast.
Sum moned to his morning meal, he
hastily swallows half a pound of hot
brea d, or half-baked cakes, with some
mou thfuls of heavy, richly-sauced
meat, and gulps two or three cups OF
stro ng tea or coffee nearly at the boil
ing point. Then, before the digestive
pro cess has even begun, and while ma
ture calls for all the saliva his wasted
organs can furnish, to lubricate the
mass of food, and .counteract the in
sidious stimulant, he must have his
cigar. Them away to his hot office,
in a a then, the. armchair ; again
the choking closeness /; another cigar;
a mass pfPastry for luncheon :. per
haps AMP or, two of. ardent spirits;
cigars oncesmore 4; the airs home; the
heavy, hot supper the theatre, or
the shutain parlor more provender,
late at night another cigar, and bed.
Now. who can wonder at the mani.
fold ailments, the premature badness
or graybhairs, and the early death
that wait On men like these I?
If we descend lower, we find much
the same thing among the poorer clas-
ses, only that the food is coarser, the
tobacco stronger and more constant,
and the air worse, with still fewer mo-
ments Of recreation, such as it is
There is manual exercise, to be sure,
but not of the right sort, feri is dull,
monotonous, hard labor, chiefly in
doors. OF tuater, let us not say a
Waited, then along with the poll
cal ecdhemists instructors in our pab-
bic schools who shall teach our folk
of all eDnditions, how to keep house
the honse of the body, which, if sweet
and clean, properly aired and properly
nourished, is the more likely to be the
taberanacle of healthy mind.
Let US have a few sound lecturers
on physiology, and, we warrant it
there will be much less disease, ment.
al and physical ; and, for that reason
among the rest, far less crime.
Pure ali, fresh water, early hours,
abundant outdoor exercise, proper
food, and appropriate clothing, have q
great deal more to do with the pro
gress and pre- eniinenee of nations than
pseudo-stifesmen have been won't to
imagine 10 81 ~ @
oc7rE---S
"A Western editor, In comment
ing upon the large amount which
Queen &etorialsaves annually from
her salary remarked "Thars a
widow worth going for" 77s ss'
Inn ~