New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-04-04

rooms work In position In which the chest cahho'
have full play Unless they great discretion IN cat
ing and drinking they Liable to become nervous snd
dyspep e aud without being actually fiek, are leo 10
feel that life a lead of letters by profession,
although they often live 10 old are subject to seN
raj sources Of danger One too great strain on one
nervous by prolonged study OF the same SUBJECT
For many years this strain may be borne without hah
but II pretty sure end at last in failure followed By
irTabity mind, restlcssness OF action, ana pecu-
liar heplessness that borders on paralysis Another
danger il that OF sudden and often repeated tension OF
mind produced by rapid and intense thought. third
danger arises from writing against line, with the feeling
that tho printers devil is at the back OF The CHAIR
waiting copy any conceivable or 1rconcelVape
subject " Our philosophical and historical Writers,
saws Dr. Richardson. se most acutey the fret OF these
dangers our poets and rovests the second our jour-
nasts the third"
The diseases which arc especially prevalent
amongst the members Of the clerical profession as Dr.
Richardson ntans chiefly OF tie nervous ordef
the peculiar affection OF the throat from when h'
suffer is in nine Of ten induced by exhaustion OF
nervous energy. The uniform tenor Of their lives tie
poretual strain of preaching the audience week
after week for many years. and tc rigid rules OF action
which are woven around them by society, nave an I'M
favorable influence the nervous system OF inc MN
iser lie has TO learn the discipline CT his
order, which in many cases Is sufficiently severe III TIC
must obey mis- superiors the church they know how to
enforce rule If he must obey the behests dootrnai ana
moral whtm he ministers they too know how
to enforce but many oDediencos Unless hslot
is cast in the Church Of EnGand-ad thcn he must nave
unusually a!nabe churchw ard snsthe minister CT re-
aOn as the author Girms, is subjected 10 TIE pressure
OF opinion more than any educated nan IN the
community. His health takes its character from
these circumstance He is apt TO become meian-
ohoic. Knowing that the slightest act may SUD
jcct him TO the comments OF his congregation
bo Is atnOrmaly sensitive TO criticism Diseases
Of the nervous system ere thus induced although tho
temperate habits OF clerHmen and freedom from per
sona ;emptaons tend protrac. their lives. The mem
bcrs OF the legal profession arc more exempt from
nervous ailments. They suffer much from dysptPs!a'
owing t. their habtual confinement within doorS, anu
TO their strange notion that "the Offices IN when lhe!
work should be the dustost. most ill-Seutated' ana
dnlmes dcns Of the whole circle OF educated society
So much the worse for tao English par Tho author
would change bis tone Lo 10 sec the airy, light
some and spacious Offices OF many OF the Newfofh law
yers with whom case OF dyspepsia 70 OF rare occur
renee. "They often suhIcc;cd 10 worry tian
the clergy and though they make larger amount OF
money they lead harder life until they rcnch emf
nence" Medical men, according to the experience OF
Dr. Richardson. enjoy exceptional as antseo' Tor tho
preservation Of health Although they have TO pas
through many trying oTcas the effects are not 50 dam
aging as might be supposed. The medical prac-
titioner soon learns theory Of living which h may
never have found in any system OF philosophy. II,
practice that there dangers in the path
OF duty which cannot be easily overcome when
they ere Tesolutely faced. He learns TO thro" on
painful impressions soon as lie IS removed from
their actual presence. The unpleasant sights OF the
d9y fade from him passes from 10 another or
fresh and happier scene. On the
whole the sous OF Hseuapus are tie most cheerful OF
any portion % the community. The author has never
known among them an instance Of mcanehcha' and
rarely a wclLmarsod Of hypochondr!asis They
peiere die in harness. and their preference usually
graiifed Men whose lives devoted n the fac art
arc less subject TO the erlvcr physical evils Than pro
fessoual They in the way Of enjoying recie
at0ns which greatly relieve tho Ia0noony of their lives
ana which add in no small degree, to Their health lbeif
Journeys 10 Rome and Venice give charm T. their OK
stence, and compared with the mass OF mental work
ers they are free the influences which encourage
disease Men engaged in commercial pursuits are apt TO
fan into tie as the professional ca5s' and
with the results OF disease from mental and physc
strain. The struggles OF competitive business arouse
alternate passions Of dependency and hope. 1heF
rarely possess the and thoughtful temper which
comes 81 ma ly TO tie riustcr. the lawyer ara the
physiciar They are absoTi -, without diversion OF
mental exc. ciso in Their own affairs. TIC su'ecssiu
man has Their sy-npe y The unsuccess'u their con
tempt often indeed is tho LEDGER the 'pa-uf
in which thc 81 per buried alive" Ihey who I've
solely for gain among tho acutest physical .l.Tei'
in the world Every penny earned by perpetual strain is
at the expense OF vial power that cnn never DC
The gravest special diseases OF commercial nen ar
those which arise from too exclusive devotion TO tLo
making Of money.
IN general the practical counsels Of The volume arc
marked By sound discrimination and healthy common
sense. some instances however, the author ''e--
shoots bis mark, and insists Gu noticu3 that VIII
not bear the test Of experience. Nor 10 he a.
WAYS consistent with himself. But tho matter Of
his book for the most part, is much bet
ter than the manner he often grows profy, and In
dulges In series Of reflections wtkou. poiat OF apparent
purpose lie speaks not because ho has something to
say bu; because he has to say something Nke the GCcic
who gives brcad-p TO h. patient instead O medicine,
in order keep up show OF Practice s style eYIaces
no acquaIutauce The art Of composition. lie H. fire.
quently dusc when the whole story could be better tod
i'm few words. shows skill in the construction Of
sentences firing tie reader wish their ankradn- and
verhosify He has never cultivated the gltt Of simple
and forcbe expression, md forsets that strength OF
thought like personal beauty appears TO the best adyan
taee in neat coeumt this detect be shares In com
mon with many popular medical writer's Of tho day who
inherit the proiIity OF pr. John Mason Good without
his wealth OF knowledge. The transparent lucdity OF
STYLE displayed IN the writings OF benjamin Rush ANA OF
the late Dr. JaIncs OF Boston, has few examples
In modern medical literature. st tho doctors porhar5
do as ell writers other branches OF science.
wbo with some remarkable exceptions liko Tyudsl and
Huxley rarely able to do Justice TO the own IDEAS
Is rule She cscsvcres OF sciontnc theories arc the
last bscOms tho apOstlss OF tie sc.ntho gospel
The more they know, tho worse thov write.
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