CLASS III. 1. 5. 11. OF VOLITION. 321 



driacism, see Class I. 2. 4. 10. by the people, and are generally 

 ascribed to the want of voluntary power, or of industry; but I 

 believe it is generally owing to want of motive or stimulus; and 

 that the pain attending this state of our ideas or muscles is occa- 

 sioned by accumulation of voluntary power, as above mentioned. 

 The cure of this disease, is popularly known to consist in any 

 kind of voluntary exertion of the mind, or of the body; one of 

 our poets has personified hypochondriacism, and well advises the 

 use of exercise, or exertion to oppose the monster, and says, 



" Throw but a stone the giant dies." 



To this should be added, that those who have been educated 

 in indolence, do not find or feel ennui, or the pain of existence, 

 when they are inactive; like our domestic animals, as dogs and 

 cats, who sleep by the fire without inclination to hang or drown 

 themselves; as these beings, not having been long accustomed to 

 expend much voluntary power, are not liable to much accumula- 

 tion of it, and uneasiness in consequence; which is not so, how- 

 ever, with the more active squirrel before mentioned. 



But, on the contrary, those whose education has induced them 

 to use much voluntary exertion, and have afterwards had no ac- 

 tive employment, as happens to some unmarried ladies, are more 

 liable, as I have repeatedly witnessed, to this malady; an idea^ 

 which should be attended to in female education. 



Another source of ennui or taedium vitas, is also derived from 

 wrong education, and is immediately owing to the want of stimu- 

 lus rather than to the great accumulation of voluntary power; 

 and is liable to attend some ladies in high life, whose exertions 

 during their early years were excited by the flattery of numerous 

 menial servants. And afterwards, when this flattery ceases by 

 their living with their equals, they want their accustomed motive 

 to activity, and in consequence become indolent and unhappy, as 

 further described in Class III. 2. 1. 8. under the name of Paresis 

 voluntaria. 4 



M. M. The prevention of this malady must consist in the due 

 care of education. Those who are not designed for very active 

 life, particularly young ladies, should not be forced in their early 

 years to use too violent or too constant voluntary exertions. They 

 should not be flatiered into all their exertions, but should be 

 taught to act from duty to themselves and others, or for their fu- 

 ture advantage as well as for their present amusement. 



Some restraint in exhausting the usual pleasures of the world 

 in early life should be laid on young men of fortune; and after- 

 wards the pleasures and solicitudes of a matrimonial life ar* 



VOL. II. Tt 



