TRAINING OF ANIMALS, &C. 3U 



wherever we divert mankind from thofe amufements and la- 

 bours to which nature excites us, we fliould proceed with 

 particular caution. We read in books, that life and the body 

 are but as a given quantity of living energy and living ma- 

 terials, to be expended and ufed with difcretionand economy; 

 and that the fum of excitability, which is born with the child, 

 is expended towards the clofe of life. The do6lrine of abrat 

 fion alfo intimates, that our folids are perpetually wafting, and 

 that it is by the diminution of moifture, — the aridity of folids, 

 the fcantinefs of fluids, and the flow induration of the folid 

 parts; that the body becomes fluunk, emaciated, flifF, and 

 motionlefs, before it finks into the grave. And, rafli as the The doftrlne of 



dodrine feems, it has been boldly aflerted, that " to live with ^''"'?°'' °'' ^ 



. •' . wearing out hu 



as little food, and as little exercife as poflSble, is the fureft been abfurdly 



means to preferve the body, and to live long.'* To live with 'PP''*'^*i 

 as little food, and as little exercife as poflible, would make 

 a man little better than a mere grafshopper. A man living 

 thus, would be a voluntary prifoner, wan, colourlefs, flefli- 

 lefs, bloodlefs, having no fpeculation in his eyes, no marrow 

 in his bones; his complexion would declare him what he was. 

 This fyftem pradifed, either in infancy, in the prime of man- 

 hood, or in the decline of life, would abridge it. Afcetics 

 are a proof, not of the length of life, which temperance in- 

 fures, but of the premature old age which abftinence brings 

 upon us. The fqualid look, the hollow cheek, the matted 

 hair, the emaciated body, only prove how much, by fuch cri- 

 minal felf-denial, the body fufl^ers, with but little profit to the 

 powers of the mind. Let us then take care that our philo- 

 Ibphy be not too fevere; for men may run into real danger, 

 if we take from them every fair indulgence, or divert them 

 from following the dictates of nature. The faireft livers, who 

 have not abufed, but have enjoyed their ftrength and health, 

 have in general enjoyed them longefl. 



There are habits which feem to be natural to, and congenial Natural habits of 

 with, the feveral periods of life. The child fliouId merely ^g^"2*,^°" *' 

 fuck, fleep, and vegetate. The boy fliould ramble wild and 

 unconftrained, little opprefled with talks or fludies, and nou- 

 riflied with abundance of fimple food. The youth fliould be 

 temperate, fober, a6tive. The old man quiet, fedate, felf- 

 indulgent; fliould have long fleep, delicate food, rich wines, 

 and agreeable temperature J little labour, and a cheerful mind. 

 Z 2 Nature 



