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VARIETIES, SCIENTIFIC AND MISCELLANEOUS. 



Causes of Disease Daily observation 



demonstrates that the human structure, 

 even in its most perfect formation, is liable 

 to lesions of organization and derangement 

 of function, producing that state of the sys- 

 tem in which its usual actions or |)ercep- 

 tions are either interrupted, or attended 

 with pain. This state is called disease. 

 Every animal carries within itself the germ 

 of its own destruction, or in other words, it 

 is formed for a limited existence. Many 

 diseases therefore arise spontaneously, or 

 without any assignable external cause, but 

 many more are produced by causes over 

 which we have some control, and, perhaps, 

 the chief source of the physical ills to which 

 we are liable, is the deviation we make 

 from the simplicity of nature. The in- 

 jurious effect that domestic influence has 

 upon the health of tlie lower animals is 

 very strikingly apparent, and in proportion 

 as their subjugation is more complete, and 

 their manner of life differs more widely 

 from that which is natural to them, so are 

 tlieir diseases more numerous and severe. 

 The diseases of our more valuable domestic 

 animals are sufficiently numerous and im- 

 portant to employ a particular class of men, 

 and the liorse alone, has professional as- 

 sistance appropriated to him. Men of edu- 

 cation and talent have devoted themselves 

 to the investigation of the diseases of this 

 noble and useful creature. The poor little 

 canary birds, confined in their wiry prisons, 

 are very liable to disease, more especially 

 inflammation of the bowels, astlniia, epi- 

 lepsy, and soreness of the bill. No animal 

 deviates so far from the simplicity of nature 

 in its habits as man ; none is placed under 

 the influence of so many circumstances cal- 

 culated to act injuriously upon the frame. 

 His morbid aiTections are hence abundant 

 and diversified, as may be seen by referring 

 to the different nosological arrangements ; 

 these long catalogues of diseases afford 

 strong evidence that man has not carefully 

 followed that way of life which has been 

 marked out for liim by nature. The 

 crowded state of the inhabitants of large 

 cities, the injurious effects of an atmosphere 

 loaded with impurities, sedentary occupa- 

 tions, various unwholesome avocations, in- 

 temperance in food, stimulating drinks, 

 high-seasoned, and indigestible viands, and 

 these taken hastily, in llie sliort intervals 

 allowed by tlie hurry and turmoil of busi- 

 ness ; the constant inordinate activity of tlic 

 great cerebral circulation, kept up by the 

 double inijjulse of luxurious liabits, and 

 high mental exertions ; tlie violent passions 

 by which we are agitated and enervated ; 

 the various disapj)oinlnients and vexations 

 to which all arc liable, re-acting u])on, and 

 disturbing the whole frame ; the delicacy 

 and *enbibilitv to external influences, caused 

 -V.M. Xnr's.-rirs Vol.. VHI.No.lfl. 



by heated rooms, too warm clothing, and 

 other indulgences, are all contrary to the 

 voice of nature, and they produce those 

 morbid conditions of the system which a 

 more simple and uniform way of living 

 would prevent. Oiu- associates of the ani- 

 mal kingdom do not escape the influence of 

 such causes. The mountain shepherd and 

 his dog are equally hardy, and form an in- 

 structive contrast witli a delicate lady and 

 her lapdog, the extreme point of degeneracy 

 and imbecility of which each race is sus- 

 ceptible. In the early ages of society man 

 enjoyed long life ; his manner of living 

 was simple ; his food, habitation, and pur- 

 suits were all calculated to fortify his body, 

 and no anxious cares disturbed his mind. 

 Humboldt observes, that individuals whose 

 bodies are strengthened by healthy habits, 

 in respect to food, clothing, exercise, air 

 &c. are enabled to resist the causes of dis- 

 ease in other men. He describes the In- 

 dians of New Spain as a set of peaceful cul- 

 tivators, accustomed to uniform nourish- 

 ment, almost entirely of a vegetable nature, 

 that of their maize, and cereal gramina. 

 They are hardly liable to any deformity ; 

 he never saw a hunched-backed Indian, and 

 it is extremely rare to see any who squint, 

 or who are lame in the arm or leg. In 

 countries where the inhabitants suffer from 

 the goitre, this affection of the thyroid 

 gland is never observed among the Indians, 

 and seldom in the Mestizoes. He repeats 

 the same testimony very strongly, concern- 

 ing various tribes in South America, as the 

 Chaymas, Caribs, Jlusycas, and Peruvian 

 Indians — From Mr. Curtis's Essay on 

 the Deaf and Dumb. 



Mozart — Every anecdote connected with 

 Mozart may be said to belong to the musical 

 era in which he lived, and we feel mucli 

 pleasure in laying before our readers some 

 iew cliaracteristic anecdotes from an able 

 article dedicated to this eminent and preco- 

 cious musician, in the very best periodical 

 of the day, the Foreign Quarterly Review. 

 When Mozart was at Vienna, in the year 

 17!i3, he composed his violin quartettes, 

 dedicated to Haydn. These quartettes were 

 not understood in Italy. Artaria, of Vienna, 

 sent a set of them to Italy, which were re- 

 turned to him on account of the engraver'.s 

 mistakes. The new liannonies and bold 

 aj)po(/yiature of Mozart were taken for 

 wrong notes. Mozart often visited Doles, 

 the cantor of Saint Thomas's scliool, in 

 Leipsic, with whom he felt much at his ease. 

 ( )ne evening, before setting out for Dresden, 

 he sup])cd with Doles, and was in great 

 spirits. The cantor begged him to leave 

 something in his own liaiul-writing as a 

 remembrance. Mozart was sleepy, and 

 v/ould Iwvc gone to bed ; liowever, he asked 

 for a piece of paper. This he tore in two, 



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