Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-02-08

'"These." said he, Indicating one group of
the deadly things that appeared mere dots
germs and always exist in greater or less
quantity with the diphtheria germ. If they
are In large quantities, as in the case here;
there is little hope. The anti-toxine has no
effect on these, and though the diphtheria
germ be destroyed the pus germs will con-
tinue to multiply and cause death"
From Cause to Cause.
For PHYS sake exclaimed, you don't
mean to tell me that the great work and
sacrifice attendant upon the discovery of
anti-toxine after all only remove half, and
frequently not half the causes of diphthe-
ria?"
Yes. that was the fact, the doctor said,
and when l urged: But how can you rest
with this? How can you bother with treating
Ealf cause Of death? Why don't you ap-
ply yourself directly to some antecedent
cause, the parent germ that must be re-
sponsible for the existence of these two,
end thus seek to kill a dsease-not a germ"
How am l to reach the more remote
cause, except through the more immediate?'
the doctor answered, and his voice, his bear
tng-tte whole man-was SO expressive of
marvellous humility, endless patience and a
yield my opinion in wonder. not unmixed
with reverence, before this manifestation Of
the soul of science.
Still. you know how 1t is with woman:
Convinced against her will, she's of the
same opinion STILL I honestly don't want
to believe that science amounts to a row
of pins in solving the problem of life. feel
about the whole matter of scientific re-
search as the old lady expressed herself
concerning the Darwinan theory:
~ don't believe in it, and if it were true,
think it ought to be hushed up"
When I realize the uncertainty that at
tends every enunciation Of scientific truth,
when I recollect how one man spends
lifetime in observation of phenomena
which observed again by the man that
comes after him are interpreted anew, an
nulling all truths the first man deemed he
had exactly determined, 1 can't fancy any
thing but bedlam to follow a general en-
deavor to regulate the life of our body,
mind and soul according to scientific prin-
ciples.
Doubtful of Science.
In the matter of domestic science, my
conscience prods me for preaching 1t every
time l think of the awful despair that's
going to seize upon women as they realize
that in order to be efficient wives and
mothers they must know all about the
science of nutrition and sanitary science;
yet IN the limits of the lifetime that is left
to them they can scarcely hope to accom-
plsh this, if for no other reason than that
the sciences themselves are not accom-
plished. but just begun. This is terrible
enough considered solely with reference to
dyspepsia or no dyspepsia money saved or
no money saved on subsistence; but when
Prof. Atwater proclaims that the right ex-
ercise of our higher intellectual and spir-
itual faculties depends upon right nutri-
tion-well, for my part, am secretly half
inclined to- pick out the pieasantest path
to perdition, and go there at once and have
done with it. Clearly it is only a question
Of time and Slightly varying degrees of de-
struction, so far as the science of nutri-
ton refers to us, and for the welfare of
the great great grandchildren Of my great
great great grandchildren-to live for that
,.,ir \ TO y,ob- ri
low-beings for which science. SO far as l
know. makes no provision. The spirit of
charity necessary to endure indefinite
wretchedness for the sake of others does,
moreover, it seems to me, contain in itself
every good that science can attain for hui
mainly. 1 am truly SO bigoted to be-
ieve without any reservation whatever
that ''loye is the fulfilling of the law.
even the unrevealed law of every unknown
natural science. and that faith not suffi-
cient to remove a mountain may still be
equal to removing microbes.
However l do not ask any one to take
my word for this, and though they seem to
contradict me. l submit herewith the opin-
ion OF superior authorities on the same
subject -nl
Question of Definition.
When 1 showed Dr. Pace at the Catholic
University Prof Atwater's statement con-
corning the relation of the intellectual and
spiritual faculties to the stomach, and ask
IL
chologist, this is so, 1 was gently rebuked
for my presumption.
Il am surprised at you," said DR.. Pace,
surprised that you should question any
statement made by a special agent of the
government. AS a matter of patriotism,
you should accept it as the truth, regard
less of anything but your loyalty
But having demonstrated my inability to
assume such attitude of mind, wonderfully
becoming my sex though 1t might be, DR..
Dor IINy tn1 To
riousIy. -"
whether 1t is so that the right exercise
of the intellectual and spiritual faculties
depends upon right nutrition, is altogether
a question of the sense in which the word
right is used. If in the sense of proper
that is, If it Is meant to say that the
proper exercise of the intellectual and spir-
itual faculties relative to their mere phys
ical activity depends upon nutrition, yes;
| that is true. The brain, the organ through
which all the energies Of man function
| in consciousness, is nourished by the blood,
which, in turn. depends for its energy upon
the food eaten. We know that If the brain
| Is anaemic-lackng in a sufficient supply
| of blood, or is fed by blood insufficiently
supplied with the necessary elements-the
| action of the intellect is diminished In
| vigor. and the will is weakened. But such
right action, understand, refers only to the
| physical organ. If you consider the intel
| lect and spirit relative to the end for which
| they operate, then you have a question
| that is quite different
"You may have man living in obedience
| to physiological laws, whose mind and spirit
| operate right relative to the natural man.
| But this man may direct his strength of
| mind and will to planning and executing a
| robbery, and thus the right action of his
| higher faculties becomes wrong in effect.
| Also, you may have another man who ex-
| ercises his intellect and will to diminish the
| vigor of his body, 50 that he may better
| control his passions. and while the exercise
| is wrong physiologically considered. it is
nevertheless right according to his purpose.
| Do you see?"
| Mind and Body.
| mo, don't see," was bound to declare.
| IT see the distinction you make, but do
| not see that it Is established with any de-
gree Of certainty that the right exercise of
| the intellect and will, considered solely with
| reference to their physical expression, de-
| ponds upon nutrition. Is there not the IA
| nnliar fact of experience that genius is
habitually badly fed, that the greatest in
| tellectual triumphs have been achieved in
| direct defiance of physiological laws, also
| that given a clearly defined purpose, the
| will does not weaken in an anaemic. body,
| but frequently seems to gain vigor as the
| vigor of the body grows less? Besides, right
| nutrition depends upon the right exercise OF
| the intellect and spirit quite as often as the
| contrary operates, so that should think
| that in order to get at the facts of this in
| tarHanapIannn 9TH fh,v h,