104 ' ATHtETIC EXERCISES. 



that children are not only prone to the diseases of their 



parents, but are even peculiarly liable to the diseases of 



that parent to whom they bear the closest personal resem- 



Remarkablc si- blance. That children particularly resemble their pa- 



milanty of ^^^^g -^^ ^^^ structure and formation of their nails, has not 



children to ' 



their parents been SO generally remarked; and a child will very gene- 



*S^— ^°f"^ of rally be found to partake most of the constitution, and 



consequently to be peculiarly liable to the diseases of the 



progenitor to whom it has the greatest similarity in this 



particular part of the body. A certain conformation of 



the nails affords also a strong indication of the disposition 



Description of to phthisis. In persons of the consumptive habit, the 



which^hidi"^^ "^^'^ *^'^ ^^ general large, long, of a fine texture, and 



cates a disposi- curved over the ends of the fingers, the last joint of 



tion to con- ^yjjjch appears as if enlarged or thickened. When this 

 sumption. ^^ ^ .PI 



peculiar structure of the termination of the superior ex- 

 tremities is found combined with fine sound teeth, a flac- 

 cid skin and high shoulders, little doubt can remain of the 

 existence of disposition to phthisis, whether the indivi- 

 dual be of a fair or of a dark complexion ; and if we find 

 that any hereditary taint is present in either of the pa- 

 rents, it is almost certain that their offsprings will ulti- 

 mately become the victims of this disease. 

 It may be sub- Of the effects of a regimen of the farinacea, combined 

 mel^ ^^ '^*'^'" with milk and fruits, in subduing the early attacks of 

 phthisis many examples are recorded ; and there would 

 probably be many more, were an appropriate regimen 

 adopted rather with a view to prevent than to cure this 

 disease. Hence the utility of noting every mark that can 

 lead to the detection of a tendency to this disease, and 

 the consequent adoption of a plan calculated to prevent 

 its earliest attacks. 

 More may be Some experience has induced me to be of opinion that 

 respect Than ^^ ^^^^ ^^7 ^^ ^^^^ ^^ counteract the predisposition to 

 has hitherto this disease than has hitherto been effected. The surface 

 been supposed, ^f ^-^^ i^^^^^ ^nd that of the skin are both secreting or- 

 gans, the functions of which mutually compensate each 

 other; a languid and inert condition of the skin is neces- 

 sarily attended with a diminution of cutaneous perspira- 

 tion, to make up for M'hich a larger share endeavours to 

 escape by the lungs, and this increased effort may well be 

 supposed ta lay the foundation for disease. The hypo- 

 thesis 



