The Nashville globe. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1906-193?, 1908-02-07

ASa4lh Ildh 10 lUuuu III lH6 DOCK OF
'Leviticus. Every man desires to live
es and abuses, be would give his all
were it possible to recall his bright
youthful days and to have again his
good health. In vain might he seek
for that fountain of youth that he
may battle and be young again. l
venture here the assertion that there
is not a single man in this room,
who is in a perfectly healthy condi-
ton; who has not at some time been
the victim of some ailment, which he
could account for by some imprudence
on his part. The scar once made re-
mains forever.
when the summer day of youth is
slowly wasting away into the nightfall
of age, and the shadows of the past
grow deeper and deeper as life wears
to a close, 1 imagine the awful re-
morse and regret of the man who sits
with his body racking in misery and
pain, his joints stiff with chronic
rheumatism, his brain filled with
gummata, his nervous system almost
total wreck, his wearied heart strug-
cling faithfully to keep up the circula-
ton in arterio-sclerotic bloodvessels.
and looks back through the dim vista
of time upon a life of wasted oppor-
tunities, of reckless and thoughtless
actions, and self indulgence for self
ish qualification. Oh, that he could
only begin again to weave the tangle
threads of life; that he had again en-
trusted to his care healthy and vigor
Gus body; that he could form anew his
associates in life; that he had a pure
and clear consciousness as his guidel
But alas! the time has come when the
shadows are permanent, the sky is
overcast, the sun is set and there is
no light tC appear through the ever
increasing gloom. There he stands.
feeble when he might have been
strong, defeated when he might have
been a victor; dishonored when he
might have been crowned with glory.
lost when he might have been saved.
wish to recall the statement and
here emphasize it-that anything, or
any act which tends to lower the vital
resistance in our bodies, makes them
an easy prey for the development and
ravages of disease. There is a con-
slant warfare raging in us between
the forces of nature and the forces of
disease. Each vying with the other
for supremacy.
Every draught of water we take
contains myriads of enemies to good
health. Each breath we take is laden
with disease germs. Each effort put
forth in any direction is accomplished
with loss of energy If the body be |
kept in good condition by strict ad.
herence TO the laws and regulations of
hygiene, the disease forces can make
no perceptible progress. On the 9TH
er hand, If by any cause whatever, the
vitality of the body is lowered the dis
ease forces become triumphant and
the individual becomes the victim of
some malady which shortens his life.
Perhaps it may be well and bene-
flcial to you for me to emphasize some
OF the important factors that tend to
decrease the vital resistance of the
body: ID OVerWork. Reference is
here made particularly to mental over
work. A man may concentrate his
nina so regularly and persistently
along his business line; may apply
himself to the working out of some de-
vice or project; may be so wound I'D
by business reverseS, that the energy
which should go to keep up the body, |
mas to be utilized in the preserving
OF the mind. Should this continue the
health of the body is undermined and
1t thereby becomes an easy prey for
disease. The same is true with ref |
erence to worry, grief and all condi- |
tons where the mind is overtaxed.
"(G) l might mention the use of
intoxicating drink. | need not stop
here to dwell on its effects upon the
human system or the human family;
now it lowers vital resistance, how it |
affects all parts of the body, for ex.
amples are too familiar to you.
"(3) The contraction of diseases
which tends to weaken the body. The
longer | practice medicine and the
more | study the nature OF this class
OF disease and its influence, not only
on the individual, but upon society,
upon the home and upon generations
yet unborn, the more horritying it ap-
pears to me. can conceive of no
act in man so low down, than for
him TO court the girl of his choice.
win her tender heart away from her
friends, persuade her to leave home
and the tender, loving care Of mother;
lead her to the marital altar and there
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