98 ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY. 



tains, it is necessarily a very active organ. It is to it, as the organ 

 of the mind, that we owe our pre-eminence as moral beings, as 

 well as all that has been accomplished in the arts, in science, and in 

 literature. While we cannot but be gratified for what has thus 

 been done, it must be confessed that the too great activity of this 

 organ often leads to melancholy consequences. A large proportion 

 of those who devote themselves to intellectual occupations, irre- 

 parably injure their health. This arises from two causes. 1st, 

 Because these persons often do not mingle a due amount of bodily 

 exercise with their studies. Many young students, especially, 

 fall a sacrifice to this error. Where proper out-of-door exercise is 

 regularly taken, we are inclined to believe that moderate study will, 

 in most instances, be found the reverse of hurtful. But 2dly, by far 

 the most injurious consequences follow from such engagements or 

 studies as continually excite, and agitate, and harass the mind, and 

 consequently the brain. The constitution must be good, indeed, 

 in which such a course does not give rise to impaired appetite, 

 habitually painful digestion, or some more serious disease. The 

 brain, like every other organ, if its powers are continually put upon 

 the stretch, almost necessarily becomes itself deranged, or deranges 

 some other organ.* 



The diseases of the brain are too numerous to allow of even a 

 reference to them individually. The one most commonly met with 

 in practice, is perhaps that particular species of inflammation which 

 gives rise to hydrocephalus, or water of the head. This fatal 

 disease occurs most commonly in childhood, and the physician can 

 usually trace it to the variety of constitution termed the scrofulous. 

 The tendency to it is generally derived from parents ; and hence, 

 when it has once occurred or is suspected in a "family, very grat 

 attention to the general health of the other members of it is called 

 for. Another disease of the brain, unfortunately of frequent occur- 



* " Every physician,'' says a writer, l: has melancholy experience of such cases. 

 We lately met with a painful one, which may be mentioned as an example. A young 

 gentleman, a student of divinity, of not a very strong constitution originally, met with 

 a favorable opening for commencing a school in April, 1837. Anxious for the success 

 of his school, as well as for the progress of his studies, he made the harassing duties 

 of the former the only relaxation from the latter. The consequence was, as might have 

 been naturally anticipated, that his health sank under it, and he was obliged to give up 

 his school in April, 1838. His health continued in the most precarious state until 

 June : 1838, when he was seized with inflammation of the membranes of the brain, 

 which proved fatal. After death, not only the brain, but all of the other important 

 organs, were found in a highly diseased state." 



