BOOK III. CHAP. VI. 543 



pines with atrophy, and want of refrefhing fleep; hence a complication 

 of difeafes fiiccceding each other, from bad to worfe ; and, unlcfs he can 

 fubdiie his anxiety, and reftore peace to his mind, he gradually finks 

 under it, and dies, as it is faid, of a broken heart \i\. 



Anxiety affci^s men in this country in proportion to their fcnfihi- 

 litv, and to its duration. When once it has taken a firm hold, it is 

 generally produclive of mortal confequences. Multitudes have expir- 

 ed here under the prefllire of this fatal caufc. Ilurritd by levity of 

 difpofition, or want of thought, into an expenfive way of living, or 

 imprudent fchemes and purfuiis ; dillrefs has poured in upon them at 

 once like a deluge. Fretted, and wearied out at length with the con- 

 flift, and clofely befet on all fides wiih implacable creditors, they have 

 yielded paffively to their fate, and funk down into the grave, under a 

 load that was too grievous for their mind to fupport. In fuch defpe- 

 rate circumftances, a flight indifpofition is foon con^'erted into one 

 more foi'midablej the fymptoms become more and more dangerous, 

 and the malignancy increafes every day, till, in the end, it has de- 

 ftroyed rholl% who required the aid of good fplrits and chearfulnefs, to 

 fecond the efficacy of medicine; every drug has lofl: its ufual virtue; 

 the organs refufe to perform their fundions; and thus, the difeiife in 

 the mind has led the way to a fure conqueft over tlie body. The 

 life of an induftrious planter is one continued fcene of a<Rivitv, both of 

 body and mind. He is neceflarily engaged in many public duties, as 

 well as private aftairs. His flumbei-s are often dilhirbed with corro- 

 ding cares, the failure of fealons, the calualties to which his property 

 may be liable, and the importunity of creditors. The day is often in- 

 fufficient for the multlolicitv cf bufinefs which he finds himfelf cbliscd 

 to allot to it. He ought, therefore, to arrange his various occupations, 

 and make them conform to a certain orderly train and method, that he 

 may proceed in them with the greater eafe and difpatch ; and, by this 

 means, retrench great part of the perplexity, which muft otherwile 

 enfue. The like i-egular method he fhould inforce throughout all the 

 inferior departments of his plantation; and, weighing well the uncer- 

 tainty of all human poffefiions and the frequent viciflitudes of fortune, 

 he fiiould determine with himfelf to confine his annual expences of liv- 

 ing within certain pofitive bounds, fo as not to exceed, if poffible, one 



\f\ Ciuldgan on Chronic Difeafes. 



tth d 



