188 EFFECTS OF WEATHER CHAP. 5. 



called constitutional peculiarities or tempera- 

 ments ; and the diseases dependent on them may 

 be infinitely varied by the subsequent combina- 

 tion of different evil habits in individuals. For 

 example, sedentary occupations have hjeen con- 

 sidered to hurt our health, by causing an accu- 

 mulation, or irregular direction, of the nervous 

 energy, which ought naturally to be spent on 

 the various muscles. Thus patients, suffering- 

 great and peculiar nervous irritation, have been 

 relieved by a degree of exercise, which, in 

 common cases, would have caused lassitude. 

 The different kinds of spirituous and fermented 

 liquors are, probably, pernicious, by affording 



intellect in different degrees, and having infinite peculiarities, 

 till we arrive at man. And in man what infinite variety of 

 organization in different individuals both in kind and degree, 

 from the most complete ideot, whose abject imbecility brings 

 him below the level of a brute, to the most" elevated and 

 intellectual character. In ascending the scale of mind, and 

 tracing variety through all its branches, whether we consider 

 that difference which merely arises from the comparative 

 developement of different organs, or that which is produced 

 by all the numberless disorders of body, or by mental 

 insanity, do we ever observe two alike ? All nature is 

 chequered with endless variety of forms, which appear from 

 time to time and are lost for ever, while mutability goes on 

 producing ceaseless combinations. 



