274 Human Physiology.. 



destructive sensuality. In these cases, it is the strongest 

 natures that most easily fall a prey, and are soonest destroyed. 

 And children fall into these vices in perfect ignorance of .any 

 evil consequences and innocent, because they have nevei 

 been instructed or warned. Parents are too squeamish to 

 teach their children the laws of nature and the commands of 

 God. Teachers are possibly ignorant, or they are merely 

 unfaithful, like the parents, who commonly have the excuse of 

 fondly believing that, though other people's children may fall 

 into destructive vices, which may curse their whole lives, 01 

 prematurely end them, their children are too pure, too good, 

 ever to be drawn, even by the evil example of others, into such 

 deplorable evils. 



Many are wrecked in childhood, many are destroyed or greatly 

 injured in early youth. The period of puberty is full of peril 

 The system is excited, and full of expansion and change. With 

 the deepening and strengthening of the love-life come feelings 

 of the poetic, the romantic, the chivalric. Young men become 

 shy, girls more modest and retiring. This should be the season 

 of mental and artistic culture, and physical training. If the 

 forces of life are turned into the studies and exercises suitable 

 for youth ; if the nervous power generated in the evolution ol 

 the reproductive organism is absorbed and distributed over the 

 body, the youth passes on to the full development and vigour 

 of mature manhood and womanhood, fitted to perform their 

 duties. But if the strength at this early period is wasted in 

 sensual indulgence, either in a too early marriage, with excess 

 and waste, or in unlawful pleasures, the effect will be seen 

 in failing health and enfeebled offspring. 



