The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1874-01-08
The Emotions.

Professor Tyndall, while in this coun,
try last year, visited the Falls of Mag
ara, when, reaching the Gave OF the
Winds by descending Biddle's stairs,
he conceived the idea of attempting to
pass under the blue waters of Horse
Shoe Falls from that point. He found
guide who was willing to make the
attempt with him, and together, the
next day, they passed through the mist
and foam of the roaring cataract,
reached the desired point, and returned
in safety. In describing his emotions
at one point in his perilous journey, he
remarks as follows:
"Here my guide sheltered me again,
and desired me to look up; did so, and
could see, as before, the green CLEAN of
the mighty curve sweeping over the
upper ledge, and the fitful plunge of
the water as the spray between us and
it alternately gathered and disappeared.
An eminent friend of mine often speaks
to me of the mistake of those physicians
who regard mans ailments as purely
chemical. to be met by chemical rene
dies only. He contends for the psyche
logical element or cure. By agreeable
emotions, he says, nervous currents are
liberated which stimulate blood, brain,
and viscera. The influence rained
from ladies' eyes enables my friend to
thrive on dishes which would kill him
if eaten alone. A sanative effect of the
same order L experienced amid the
spray and thunder of Niagara. Quick
ened by the emotions there aroused, the
blood sped healthily through the AZ
teries, abolishing introspectlon, clear
ing the heart of all bitterness, and en-
abling one to think with tolerance, if
not with tenderness, of the most relent-
less and unreasonable foe. Apart from
its scientific value, and purely as a
moral agent, the play, 1 submit, is
worth the candle. My companion knew
no more of me than that L enjoyed the
wildness; but as bent in the shelter of
his large frame, he said, Il should like
to see you attempting to describe all
this. He rightly thought it indie
scribable."
There is, in this graphic statement OF
the eminent Sdran, a hint at some
truths which, physiologically consid-
cred, may be of supreme importance.
"By agreeable emotions, nervous cur.
rents are liberated which stimulate
| DlOOliy DIalil, uuIt NlSceId. Iu6 - emo
tions " of every living person are un
questionably of more Importance to his
health, happiness, and well being than
most physicians suppose. Agreeable
emotions are curative in theirinhuence
when coming to the relief Of suffering
invalids. Disagreeable emotions pro
duce disease in individuals who, unin
huenced by them, would be in sount
health. A dyspeptic who, at his owl
table, under the influence of depressing
emotions, is unable to partake of a.
ounce of food without subsequent dis
tress and pain, is able, at the table O
a friend, under different circumstances
to eat hearty meal without discomfort
1t is mistake to regard most disease
as resulting from chemical derange
ments of the system, and it is a mistake
to meet a majority of diseases will
chemical remedies. We have know
physicians who exerted a moral infu
ence over their patients, which CAV
them a success more gratifying and pos
tive than ever resulted from the admin
istration of any drug. The mind in it
connection with the body exerts con
trolling influence; and one of the grea
} secrets in regard to securing health an,
longevity is to train the emotions so a.
to keep them out Of the cloud whicI
hangs ever ready to darken our menta
and moral horizon. n.-B0Ston Journal 6
HenlistiY.