The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-01-14

use Will Do IOunu 10 D6 DlunCeQ ana nOU
accurately regulated.
Therefore, the man who has fallen
under the curse of intemperance, as it
is sometimes said, ''is not man." in
the full acceptation of the word.
Disease is any variation from the
standard of healthy function or struc-
ture. Hrman physiology is the study
of tn late and activities of the body
in health; pathology is the study of the
state and activities of the body in dis
ease. To study pathology to advantage,
therefore, it is necessary to be CONVEX
SAINT with the facts and principles of
physiology, and to make practical ap-
plication of this knowledge, the student
must have verified those which are cog
nizable to the senses by personal obser-
walton. The various phenomena of
life in health have certain uniform ex-
pressions through the nervous and mo-
tor systems, which thus give evidence
of the state of the individual, while the
physical properties of the various It's
sues have a uniform standard, repre-
senting health. And in the same man.
ner, the phenomena Of life in dis
ease has certain expressions, which are
termed symptoms, which give evidence
of the pathological state of the entire
body, or of its parts. And the change
in the physical properties of parts deter
mines structural LESSONS. Upon these
considerations we estimate all change
of function and structure by the meas
ure of excess, defect and perversion,
which is simple, explicit, and always
applicable. Making an analysis of any
given case of disease, we will find that
each of its parts can be measured by
this rule, the healthy function and
structure being the standard. Each
variation must necessarily be an excess,
or above this; defect, or below this
or perversion, change from this.
Now, these foundation principles of
medical science may be utilized in the
illustration or intemperance upon the
soul and body of man, and also in its
effects upon the order, harmony and
works of nature.
Intemperance is disease of the soul
and of the body, and also of the social
state, the nation and of the whole world.
As a lnalady, the most terrible, per-
haps, IN all the history Of mankind, it
nha jtsalf to the ava nf theebsaruss
In the devastating form of excess, by
inundating defect and the most destruc-
tive perversion. 1t is not to be sup
posed that intemperance, in its effects,
has power to annul or discontinue any
one of the laws of nature, but only to
mutilate. The same laws are in action
after excess, defect and perversion as
before. And yet, these laws continuing
the same, it is observable that intemp-
erance may effect what is really new
resolution or combination, which is, to
the ideally perfect state of nature, what
disorder is to order, deformity to beauty,
and pain to peace. This it will do, if
at all, by force exerted in the material
world, and through the laws Of nature.
At the point of his will, man is force
above and outside of nature, because he
is able to act on the chain of cause and
effect in nature from without the chain.
1t therefore follows that by acting in
this manner upon nature, he can vary
the action of nature from what would
be it's action, were there no such thing
as force external to the scheme. Nat
ure, indeed, is submitted to him, for
this very purpose, to be varied in its
action by his action, to receive and re-
turn his action, so as to be the field and
medium of his proper exercise.
That man can comprehend nature,
and subjugate physical agents to his
own use, is most audaciOus concep-
tion-the conquest of nature. Like
other grand ideas, it has slowly emerged
from small beginnings, and is constantly
forcing its way. Resisted by influences
that have gathered around them in the
course of ages of political power, it has
overthrown many and confronts the
rest. And the modern world is fast
submitting herself to its rule.
But if man may control nature for his
own good, for advancing the hopes and
purposes Of the race, then it follows
that he may wrongfully, by Incorporate
action and habit, at will, control nature
to the destruction of himself and all
about him. Intemperance is the excess
of uses and the perversion of the bless
ings of God in nature and art, with
which the pathway of man is strewn
from the cradle to the grave; and it is
presumed, that, but for the retributive
laws of nature, the licensed and un-
bridled monster of intemperance would
sooI destroy the civilizations of the
world and reduce the human family to
savagery and devilish anarchy.
1t should, therefore, be a favorite
doctrine, that the laws of nature are
retributive, so that every departure
from right and sOberness will be faith
fully and relentlessly punished. And
in this view the very world is a moral
| economy, and is so arranged, under its