* 9 o THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



There are certain enthusiasts who ascribe all the ills of flesh to cer- 

 tain special causes of comparative trivial importance, but their crude 

 theories are based upon such imperfect data as necessarily to render 

 their deductions of little value. The most cadavei-ous-looking of them 

 all are the ultra-Grahamites, whose appearance alone is generally suf- 

 ficient to contradict the assertions that human decadence is due to an 

 animal diet. 



The ultra-temperance partisans have a far stronger argument for 

 the entire disuse of all stimulating beverages, upon moral rather than 

 upon physical grounds ; as it is undoubtedly the fact that the charac- 

 ter of the diseases of the world has been more modified by the disuse 

 of liquors, etc., than from any one other cause ; and to this is ascribed the 

 substitution of the present diseases of inanition for the former inflam- 

 matory and congestive affections resulting from over-stimulation. 



Still a third class ascribe the deterioration of the race to the 

 increasing use of narcotics, and mainly of opium and tobacco. Every 

 instance of present disease and the use of either of these drugs, in 

 large or small quantities, are considered to be cause and effect. 



Unquestionably the excessive use of all these powerful nervines 

 and narcotics has a deleterious effect upon the animal economy, but 

 the extravagant accusations of these ultraists prevent the truth from 

 being acknowledged, and perhaps any consideration of the subject 

 from being entertained. One writer's assertion may be mentioned in 

 illustration of this remark. He says that one using tobacco freely 

 is so permeated by its deleterious properties, that the ordinary mos- 

 quitoes, flies, and household vermin, flee from his presence, a state- 

 ment so at variance with generally-recognized facts, that the entire 

 theory of the perhaps otherwise correct writer is discredited thereby. 



Unquestionably, the excessive use of tobacco and spirits as some 

 sensualists constantly continue under their influence must have a 

 marked effect upon the nervous energies, thereby interfering with the 

 powers of assimilation and reproduction. It may be, as alleged, that 

 this loss of vigor is entailed upon succeeding generations, and that to 

 these influences may be in truth ascribed some considerable portion of 

 the physical decadence which so characterizes the present epoch. 



Rest. Perhaps it may be true that all Nature requires rest. This 

 is remarkably evident in most, if not all, forms of vegetable and ani- 

 mal life. Plants have their alternate periods of growth and apparent 

 rest. Animals have their periods of activity and repose. The muscle 

 cannot keep up its continued contraction ; and the body, wearied 

 by persistent toil or action, however light or pleasing, sooner or later 

 demands rest, and the entire muscular system gives itself up to repose, 

 with the exception of the continuous breathing and the persistent beat- 

 ing of the heart. So far as we can judge, the action of the brain 

 must also have its period of quiescence, with complete abnegation of 

 itfc wondrous voluntary and involuntary activities. 



