HREEDINU, AND THE PRINCIPLES Of THE SAME. 317 



BO slow in making it the basis of rational action in warding off 

 disease, and in pi-omoting the integrity of their existence ! The 

 reason is, our education is incomplete. We are all that Nature 

 intended in elementary ability, and only deficient in Its use. 

 The means are anatomical and physiological studies; the time is 

 in youth, when the mind is ])liunt, capable of receiving permanent 

 impressions. The place for the engrafting of the same is in our 

 amnion schools and at the fireside, the mother and the teacher 

 ^•ielding a common scepter of instruction. 



Some people do not realize that our organizations are the result 

 tf the most positive laws of Nature, and tliat our ailments are the 

 result of our own ignorance or folly. The mass of mankind are 

 not aware that our ]ihysical systems are capable of improvement 

 analagous to the mental. No; they generally think and act on 

 the false and ruinous proposition tliat our diseases, aches, and 

 pains are so woven into the filamentary mechanism of the living 

 citadel as to be beyond the power of either art or science to eradi- 

 cate — a proposition that should never, for a moment, be enter- 

 tained ; for, if Ave live right up to the laws of life, we are then 

 within the impregnable ram])arts of physit)logy, where our ac- 

 quired and Ihshionable maladies can not obtain. 



AVithin the bulwarks of physiology certain conditions are im- 

 posed upon us, and we must observe them. For example, we 

 require a pure atmosphere, at all times, to vitalize the blood, and 

 thus deprive it of tliose defiling elements acquired by venous blood; 

 and which M'ould otherwise ojierate, as they often do, in oui 

 croAvded assemblies and unventilated sleeping-rooms, as the germs 

 to excite unneces.sary disease. Next, the body should be kept erect, 

 80 that the muscles and organs may acquire and maintain naturaJ 

 action. We require vigorous daily exercise of all the muscles of 

 voluntary motion ; freedom from all compression by dress; appare) 

 that shall afford needed protection ; a quantity of food and drink, 

 at intervals, that shall furnish materials for the wants of our sys- 

 tems, and that control of feeling which enlightened reason and 

 virtue deinand. Our time should be distributed into daily periods 

 of labor, rest, and amusement ; and, above all, we must bear in 

 mind that infirmitv wedded to infirmity is a sin against our na- 

 ture — a wanton violation of the law of Nature and of ou- existence, 

 to which a fearful penalty i? appended, even unto the "third and 

 fourth crenerations." 



