The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-03-17
NO NEED FOR US TO DIE.
DR.. Hammond Says He Sees No Niece
eitv for Departino This Life.


DIR. William A. Hammond In the Boston Globe.
People die through their ignorance Of
the laws which govern their existence and
also from their inability or indisposition
10 obey those laws with which they are
acquainted. We are told in the first chap
ter Of Genesis that before Adam ate the
forbidden fruit the life Of man was to be
eternal, but with the acquisition Of the
knowledge OF good and evil death became
his portion. 1t seems so me that 1t would
be more in accordance with the actual
state Of affairs at the present time to be-
lieve that death came through his loss Of
knowledge rather than from his obtaining
it, for now he loses his life not through an
excess of knowledge, but through an ex-
cess Of ignorance.
do not see that there is any physiolog-
ical reason why even at the present day
man should die. From a knowledge OF
the causes oil disease greater than that pos
sessed fifty years ago, and from the adj
vance OF medical science leading to better
methods OF treating the deviatons from
the normal standard OF health to which
we are subjected, the life Of generation
has within the period mentioned been
heightened from five TO six years. That's,
the average man instead OF living thirty
years, as he did fifty years ago, now lives
nearly thirty six years. Looking at the
question from this standpoint only, IL will
be seen that IL is merely q question OF time
when his life will be extended 10 thou
sands of years, and that with an eternity OF
time his life also will be eternal.
Let us take one aspect OF the subject
and we shall not, think, fail TO perceive
that when we thoroughly understand it
and are willing 10 live in accordance with
its requirements, death, unless by acci-
dent, will cease 10 exist.
We know that this life Is continued
through the death OF the various atoms OF
the several tissues that enter into the COM
position Of his body. The organs are kept
in action by force and this force results, us
does all other force, from the mctamor-
phosis Of matter. Thus, TO obtain heat
we burn wood or coal, and ashes and gases
arc evolved in the process; 10 generate
electricity we convert zinc or some other
metal into salt, through the action OF an
acid, and electricity is set free. In the
body, the brain, the heart, the liver, the
muscles all act through the destruction, OF
rather alteration, OF the substance OF which
they are composed. With every thought
that emanates from tho brain, with every
emotion which il feels, with every
act Of the will which II originates, with ey.
cry perception which il experiences, a Ger.
tain portion Of the central tissue Is broken
down into simpler substances, and through
L sartA oh Ia
body. With every pulsation that the heart
makes, some part OF the organ, small
though II may be in amount, Is destroyed
and cast out OF the system 10 make room
for some new substance.
The food that man takes into his stom.
ach ought TO be OF such quantity and quail.
ity as would exactly repair the losses which
through the action OF the several organs
his body Is TO undergo. II II is excessive
In either OF these directions, or II II is def
cient, disease OF some kind will certainly
be the result. II he knew enough TO b,
able TO adjust his daily food 10 the expect
ed daily requirements OF his system. dis
ease could never ensue through the ex
haustion Of any one OF his vital organs. A
large majority Of the morbid affections "a
which he is subject Is due TO lack OF this
knowledge.
Suppose, for instance, that man on ris
ing ia the morning should say 10 himself
To-day have TO read ten pages OF Black
stones Commentaries, twenty pages o
Don Quixote,' 10 walk three miles and q
half, 10 pay visit OF half an hours dura
ton 10 my grandmother, and 10 take my
sweetheart TO the thoater, where I shal
spend two hours; 10 do this / require sC
much carbon, 10 much nitrogen. | car
get those precise quantities from cigh
ounces OF bread, four ounces Of eggs
eight ounces Of beef, six ounces OF pota
toes, four ounces OF fish, a half pint o
beef soup, eight ounces OF water and eigh
ounces OF strong coffee. 10 make them 90 {
little further than they otherwise would
In case have any extraordinary demand
made upon me for mental or physical OK,
ertions, shall have 10 add 10 these sub
stances Others which will compensate foI
the Increased loss"
Now, suppose that he Is exactly right IL
his calculations, and that the food taken
Is neither too great nor too little, but ex
actly conpcnsates the anticipated losses
the death of each cell In the brain OF thu
heart or the muscles, ETC., will be followe,
by the birth Of a new cell, which will taxi
lis place and assume It's functions. Gout
rheumatism, liver and kidney diseases
heart affections, softening Of the brain
the various morbid conditions 10 which
the digestive organs are subject, would b
impossible except through the action o
some external force, such IN the swallow
ing OF sulphuric acid or a blow on thu
head or a stab with knife, which woult
come clearly within the class Of accidents
and Of course many Of these would b
ayoidable.