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Oct. 11, 1851.] &%* &*«&**? 971
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PHILOSOPHY OF THE WATER CURE. The Philos...
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Ellis On Education And Destitution. Educ...
them we may examine them separately ; and , as first in order , we w ill begin with knowledge or the teaching function , since we must know what ought to be courted and what ought to be shunned before we can , with any comfort , engage in the consideration of the habits and disposition to be formed , and of the methods of training necessary to accomplish the purpose aimed at . ¦ . " What , then , is it desirable that all human beings should know , in order to be able each to perform his share of the work required for the general well-being ? Mwe not safely say that everybody ought to have
ay a general acquaintance with the qualities and uses of the objects that inevitably must , or probably will , be brought within the cognizance of the senses—with what the several elementary bodies , separately , and in different forms of combination , may be made the causes of—with the arts and industrial operations by which this knowledge is , and may be applied , in order to produce well-being—with the structure and functions of our own organization , considered both in its parts and in its integrity ? It need not be attempted or pretended to impart the whole of this knowledge in all its ramifications . Much of it must be reserved for
special study and application by particular professions and trades . But a general apprehension of the structure of the universe , and of man in his relation to it , with a minute and accurate knowledge , and a practised and ready skill in the application of indispensable portions ought to be as much a provision made to await every human being , whose coming is expected , as the necessary food , clothing , and shelter . " The kind of instruction which the young are best fitted to receive in the first place , is that which is obtainable through the judicious and pleasurable exercise of their senses . This requires no painful restraint upon the restless activity of childhood , and no call
upon attention beyond their limited power of endurance . The food which they eat , the air which they breathe , the clothes which they wear , the furniture that surrounds them , the houses they live in , the inmates that associate with them , the strangers that visit , and then , the world without , according to the glimpses they catch of it—what an inexhaustible stock of exercises for the sight , the touch , the hearing , the smell , and the taste ; in the shape , colour , texture , weight , dimensions , motions , distance , odour , and taste of all these objects , and in their numbers and proportions , and the contrivances for measuring and noting them !
" Preliminary teaching , such as the teaching thus briefly indicated , will not merely prepare , it will excite the desire to acquire the arts of reading and writing . The narratives of some things that are not within their own experience , will awaken a curiosity to learn more , and to possess the key of the books in which the means of gratification are locked up . The pleasure of being able to record what they have learned , and to communciate to those out of the reach of hearing , and the exquisite enjoyment connected with the power of sketching and delineating forms will speedily
overcome all disinclination so to apply , as to acquire facility , both in writing and drawing . Heading and writing , language spoken and written , occupy , in this method of dealing with them , the important position to which they are entitled among the means for obtaining knowledge , and will not be mistaken for the knowledge itself . A sivl bereavement would it be felt Were we deprived of our power of naming and describing things , and of communicating our feelings in regard to them ; and a sad perversion were we to mistuke a familiarity with the names of things for familiarity with things and their qualities and uses .
" From the more elementary stage , the continued investigation of the order of the universe as a whole and its parts , whether narrated by travellers , observed by themselves , or recorded from times past , will lead on to higher branches of science and more complex intellectual operations . Geography , mensuration , astronomy , and mechanics and chemistry , and their applications , will appear with all those charms in which their beauties and uses invest them to eyes and understandings not vitiated by long dwelling upon unmeaning uud purposeless forms , instead of realities full of vitality and purpose .
' That portion of knowledge which is to be obtained by examining the structure and functions of the human body separately and in connection with the external world—how the surrounding temperature , moisture , and air , act upon them — how we ought to deal with such materials as offer themselves to uh for food , clothing , fuel , and shelter , in order to develope our strength , sustain our health , and infuse vigour and energy into us , will readily be admitted into every course of instruction which is intended to comprise whatever is at the same time communicable and indispoiiHablo for our well-being .
" There is another portion of knowledge that must not bo omitted . It can readily be nhown that every man of uh all greatly depends for Ium own wellbeing or happiness upon the conduct of his fellowwien , aa they do , in their turn , upon his . The investigation of the consequences of this undeniable and important fact , leads to the discrimination between what conduct is good and what bad—leads to a thorough appreciation of what are called the social duties . If , for example , it be
seen that men are dependent for their well-being upon an abundant supply of food , clothing , shelter , and fuel , and that t hese can only be obtained by a general prevalence of industry , skill , knowledge , and economy , and that those who are deficient in these qualities must suffer from want , or procure relief from others who are preeminently gifted with these qualities , does it not follow that to work , to apply , to learn , and to save , are social duties ? And if it be seen that division of labour , interchange , partnerships , buying
and selling , and credit and confidence materially assist man in making his labour productive , does it not follow that honesty , fidelity , punctuality , and order ^ are social duties ? It need scarcely be mentioned , that , as drunkenness is sure to incapacitate for the proper performance of these duties , so its opposite , sobriety , must be classed among social duties , lhat a population knowing these duties and performing them will surely be in possession of abundant supplies of the necessaries and comforts of life , seems to be one of those truths so obvious that to enunciate it
is enough . " In those agreeable memoirs written by Huet , the Bishop of Avranches , seldom read because written in Latin , there is a biographical confirmation of what in the extract just quoted is said respecting the awakened curiosity . Before he knew his ABC , he anticipated from hearing his father read out of a book , the pleasure he himself should receive when he also could read ; and , having learned to read , the sight of another with a letter in his hand inspired him with the desire of being able to commit his thoughts to paper . Yet upon this obvious principle how little of a ordinary teaching rests ! Instead of awakening curiosity and feeding that , the teacher sets before his pupil a task .
Oct. 11, 1851.] &%* &*«&**? 971
Oct . 11 , 1851 . ] & % * &*«&**? 971
Philosophy Of The Water Cure. The Philos...
PHILOSOPHY OF THE WATER CURE . The Philosophy of the Water Cure ; a Development of the True Principles of Health and Longevity . By John Balbirnie , M . D . Siinpkin and Marshall . { Second Notice . ') Having in the former article pointed out one radical error in the Philosophy of the Water Cure , viz ., the . belief in a vis medicatrix natures , we will now , before endeavouring to point out the advantages- of the system , suggest where the theory remains hazy and incomplete in respect of stimulants .
A irilan need be no physiologist to be aware of the important part played by stimulants in the animal economy ; b \ it great confusion exists even in the minds of scientific men on this subject , as may be seen when they are found lauding and abusing in the same breath the use of stimulants . Whatever accelerates the vital processes is a stimulus . A mutton chop is a stimulus , so is a glass of wine ; a breath of air is a stimulus , so is a clash of cold water . The question of use is a question of decree . A drunkard is no demonstration of the ? essentially
bad qualities of wine- and spirits , and can only be made so by a logic which would condemn mutton chops , because a man had killed himself by eating too much mutton . It is perfectly true that alcohol can be detected in the brains of habitual drunkards , but what is the condition of the habitual glutton ' s brain ? Dr . Balbirnie is very emphatic in his condemnation of spirits , but he recommends tea for its exhilarating effect upon the body and mind ; in what then , except in the degree , does the stimulus of tea differ from the stimulus of wine ?
But our purpose is not to speak against Teatotalisrn—a very salutary and very important movement , though like most reformations , exaggerated in its statements—we are dealing here with Hydropathy , and criticizing'its scientific pretensions ; and for this purpose , we call attention to the confusion it implies respecting the function of stimulants . Dr . Balbirnie says : —¦ " Alcoholic drinks , fermented liquors , as well as medicinal stimulants of all kinds , should only be had recourse to on extremely rare occasions , and under circumstances of great exhaustion , when life appears sinking . They can never be taken with impunity in a state of health . The nutritious ingredients in any , of ev « n the best , of the liquors in qurstion , are almost
an infinitcHHimnl element compared with the noxious principle they contain . The temporary stimulus of organic activity , and the transient exhilaration / ' ani ? nnl feeling they produce , is mistaken for the acquisition of strength and nourishment . This fallacy has propagated a master-evil over many climes , and throughout many generations—entailing the ruin of countless myriads of the best and brightest , oh well as the worst and dullest of the human specie's . We charitably hope that the times of this ignorance God winked at . ' Hut in those / lays to counsel alcoholic HtimulantH to feeble suckling mothers , and dyspeptic invalids , is inexcusable . They may , indeed , temporarily counteract exhaustion , rouse torpid nervous energy , and flog up languid vascular action , —producing
a glow in the stomach , or a draught r in the bosom ; but they will fail to impart available nourishment . This factitious strength is soon succeeded by increased weakness , and a more imperious demand for a repetition of the stimulant . The mischief does not rest here . For the ordinary dose failing to produce its wonted effect , a deeper and a deeper draught becomes necessary , and at last merges into a habitoften an incontrollable passion . In other cases , where the administration of wine or spirits is commonly supposed to be justifiable—in persons exhausted by inordinate fatigue , it is better to allow the system to wait and want , till an interval of repose gives time for the stomach to resume its activity—to utter the voice , and to take upon itself the supply , of the organic demands . "
We beg the reader to give this passage especial attention ; and having done so , we ask him what we are to say to a Theory which claims for Water energetic power of stimulating and accelerating the vital functions—of exalting- vitality , and by so doing conquering disease ? It is as a stimulus that Water produces its greatest effects . Wherein , therefore , does the stimulus of Water differ from other stimuli ? It has no nutritive powers to give it that preference ; what is its influence on the organic tissues over and above its stimulus , which should make us welcome it as a Benefactor , while we condemn Spirits and Drugs as Poisons ? There
is obviously a weakness in the Theory here ; a whole series of investigations which Hydropathy must make , before it can be entitled to claim for Water this healthful stimulus as contradistinguished from all other stimuli . Nor should it be forgotten that the human frame gets hardened to the stimulus of water quite as much as to the stimulus of wine ; and the "three-bottle" man may find his companion in the " Dozen-douche " man ! The danger of Hydropathy , in making men " Jive too fast , " has been felt by many : and we believe even Dr . Wilson is thoroughly alive to it , and warns his patients against incautious indulgence in
the stimulus . Such are our main objections to the Theory of Hydropathy ; of the Practice we know little , and . on that little dare not pronounce judgment . Comparing it with Allopathy , however , we may express our belief that for the great majority of ills civilized flesh is heir to , it has decidedly the advantage both theoretical and practical . Jones is " out of order " as they say ; his mucous membranes are relaxed : his vital functions are
feeble ; the whole "tone of his system" js low He visits Dr . Sarsaparilla , who , after a detailed examination of his symptoms , prescribes a tonic ( bark for instance ) , fresh air , and begs him to look after his diet . Jones pays the fee ; takes the tonic ; cannot get fresh air ; will not be scrupulous as to diet . If the relaxation of his membranes bo not considerable or of long duration , he recovers his appetite and tone and thinks Dr . Sarsaparilla " a very clever fellow . " If not , perhaps he lingers on in an oscillating condition till a serious illnesa
supervenes . Smith " out of order" hears of Hydropathy . He packs up a portmanteau an"d sets out for Dr . Wilson . There , amidst the lovely Malvern Hills he is subjected to a rigorous regimen—wholesome food , exercise , fresh air , and the tonic of cold water—all under the watchful eye . of his Physician —( whereas Jones never sees Sarsaparilla from the moment of handing his fee , and is , consequently , left to his own imbecile guidance ) . Add to these the enormous moral effects of an entire removal from
business cares or professional anxieties—thegentle exhilaration of pleasant company—the abruptness of the change in diet and regimen , and you will see at once that if Smith be curable , he must be cured . Hut you will not . sre in his cure ko triumphant a proof of the superiority of Hydropathy in a purely scientific view . Bring Hydropathy to , the same tests as Allopathy—let cold water have to light the battle here in this t < r-
rihlo metropolis amidst the bad atmosphere , tin wearing anxieties , the excessive expenditure ol nervous energy , the irregular exercise , the lute hours , the composite cookery—and if it prove ; victorious , then Allopathy may retire from the field . We do not . Hay that Hydropathy is unable to stand th «»« J « '"In ; wo only say that at Malvern and the other establishinnntu the " circumambient « ircnmstiiucc ! s are so enormously in its favour that no lair comparison
can be made . . , i ., Having briefly net forth o » r viowh im UydrouthY as a H «« i . tiHc Theory , w " >«•««¦ J ; ¦ " »» ' » J" ' ° hoard in eloquent exposiuon I he excel « nt o . - position of hinwork renders , t not cl . lluult !<» .. « to convey b y extract * un adequate conception of m » leading positions : —
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), Oct. 11, 1851, page 15, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_11101851/page/15/
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