93 



earnestness with which it is pursued. Mental powers are 

 capable of a certain exertion only, and if they be over- 

 strained, or too assiduously employed, they weary and 

 decline, accomplishing much less than, with unimpaired 

 vigour and more moderate exertion, they would be capable 

 of doing in much less time. 



Lastly, it should be remembered, that the period of 

 growth is the most critical and important of human life ; it 

 is during the period of growth that the seeds of health and 

 disease are sown, which gradually advance to maturity in 

 the animal economy so as eventually to form either a part 

 or whole of the constituents of the body. And as softness 

 and delicacy is the great characteristic of the tissues, it 

 follows that the modifications and successive changes which 

 the animal organism is destined to undergo in its pro- 

 gress to maturity and strength, must be much less capable 

 of resisting the hurtful causes from without, just as the 

 clay which has recently been moulded by the sculptor, is 

 more liable to injury until perfectly set or solidified. In like 

 manner the human body, subjected to improper manage- 

 ment, either from the rude hands of parents, or the still 

 more deleterious influences of physical causes, more easily 

 admits of the harmony and nicely adapted balance of its 

 structure to be impaired; and, as a too frequent conse- 

 quence, the bright hopes and expectations in after life 

 blasted for ever. 



The reading of this paper was followed by a lengthened 

 discussion, in which several members took part. 



