The Washingtonian, or, Total abstinence advocate. (Augusta, Ga.) 1842-1843, February 18, 1843, Image 1

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TBS WABBXIT6TOirXAirt Vol. I.] PHRENOLOGY versus INTEMPERANCE. s4p-, Vs'. «U 17 V Asy An\* % \ "A*—■ V^%>v / \ /-'irv 'TT2r !•».#% /\\\ iv * Vr-^A\ A) / | f|>/ N Seciu'- > ( ?\, ffl\ S’ I KfAp PHRENOLOGY VCrSUS INTEMPERANCE. j A LECTURE OX TEMPERANCE, , Considered Physiologically and Phrenologically, or the Laws Qj Life and the principles of the j human constitution, as derelo/.'ed by the i sciences of Phrenology and Phy siology, 4'-c. ipc. BY O. S. FOOLER, A. 8., PRACTICAL PHRENOLOGIST. I* presenting this subject, I shall first briefly explain some ofthose laws which govern the in-' fluences of the body upon the mind, and of the nrind upon the bo.ly, showing what <-or«bti*n* ni ufther induce and causbthose of the other; sec ondly, point out the consequences or penalties at tached to the violation of these laws; and, third ly, show the effects of intoxicating drinks, of every kind and degree, upon the physical and thereby upon the mental economy, violating these laws and thus inducing their penalties, first by powerfully st'muluting the body, and thereby the merely animal nature of man, and also weaken ing his moral and intellectual powers ; and, sec ondly, by shortening human life. Independently of its application to temperance,* its physiological and phrenological facts and prin ciples will be found eminently interesting andj valuable to all classes. PROPOSITION I.— There exists reciprocal relations between the conditions of the body and\ the states es the mind , each, influencing and being influenced by tkat if the other. For aught we know, man might have been created a purely spiritual entity, without a body, but the great ends of our existence arc evidently! better secured by our natures being compounded Hence we arc composed of mind and body soj closely united by the reciprocal action of certain' * physiological and phrenological la>#s, that the | conditions of each have a perfectly reciprocal and powerful influence upon the states of the other, each throwing the other into its corresponding, state. Hence a clear, cold morning, a heavy, muggy atinostphere, oppressive heat, &c\, ver differently affects the mind by throwing the body\ into different states. A high fever increases the j mental manifestations and auguments the feelings whilst hunger, fatigue, and every enfeebled state of the body proportionality weaken them. Dys pepsia induces irritability, peevishness, gloom, and a most wretched state of mind and feeling, totally reversing their character, and changing the friend into tne misanthrope, the blessings of hope into the bitterness of despair, and the hap py man into a most miser able being. Physical inaction induces mental sluggishness, whilst a due degree ot exercise or labor clears the mental ' horizon of those clouds with which confinement ! or slothfulness envelopes it, producing a delight ful flow of thought and feeling. Food and sleep,! or the want of them, powerfully and very offer-i ently affect the states of the intellect and feelings,! •whilst a sufficient dose of arsenic or laudanum .extinguishes both for this world. Sickness en feebles and health strengthens the mind; and most of our constantly occurring changes of feel ing ami mental action are attributable to the .causes involved in this proposition, fame of our ablest speakers and writers of all classes have learned by experience to practice abstinence pre paratory to their most powerful efforts. Certain kinds of food excite some of the animal passions whilst others increases our desire and ability to I think and study. The inspired Paul embodies this doctrine in the text, “ 1 beseech you, there fore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye pre- TOTAL ABSTINENCE ADVOCATE. AUGUSTA, GA. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1843. sent your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, arcepta- , hie onto God,’’ implying that the proper condi tion of the body induces a holy state ofthenpnd. whilst an inflamed or impure body kindles the animal passions As soon may we expect the sun to stand still, or the water to run upwards, as that the pious Christian will “ be elolluyl with the spirit’’ or he borne upwards upon the Wings of devotion, or the profound thinker or (he learned student of nature be able to bring all his mental [energies into full and efficient action, when he j I has overloaded Ins digestive apparatus, or induced a severe cold or fiwer, or in any other way clog-i ged or disordered his bodily functions. A sound ■ii.infHrr* sound hotly” not only bcowsitolly an.l f forcibly expresses the sentiment of this proposi tion, but also embodies the experience of past [ ages and all nations. Both religion and talent j depend more upon the conditions of the body, and especially ofthr digestive apparatus, upon’what we eat and drink, upon our physical habits, than most good people are aware ot. Hence, fasting promotes, piety, whilst “fullness of bread ” kind- j lessinful desires. Insanity, which consis's in; the derangement of the mind, is caused solely by an inflamation of the brain. In like manner also given states of mind throw I the body into their corresponding states. Thus bad news diminishes the appetite and impairs digestion, whilst good news piomotcs both. En couraging the sick generally improves their health, whilst the loss ot property, ot friends, or of i children, olten induces or aggravates disease.—-j The derangement of the mind often doubles and quadruples the physical strength. In short, as well may one qu stion the evidence of his senses |as to controvert this that both mind i and body each powerfully and reciprocally affect j the other. Each member of the human family I daily and constantlyyeeA this truth. PROPOftI 1 IOiN II. — These relations bet \ ween body and mind are governed by certain iti iV,ißlaßi,K laws of cause and effect, given condi : lions of the one inducing and causing the corres- I ponding stales of the other. The principle that i whenever a part of a given class of phenomena ! are governed by laws of cause and effect, every I phenomenon of that class is governed by these 1 same laws, is a universal principle of nature, and j may be relied upon in every conceivable applica tion. Are a part ofthe phenomena of vision gov erned by the laws of optics, every phenomenon of, vision, performed by man or brute since the crea tion ot Adam, has been governed by the same 1 laws. Are a few bodily motions caused by inus- 1 cular contraction, alLue caused by the same con traction. Should minions ot daggers he driven into the hearts of as many human beings, they i would in every instance separate mind and body.' j Let any or every member of the human family, j take opium or its compounds, and one and all will | lexperience its effects. These illustrations-will! apply equally to every law of nature. That some of these relations existing between mind and body are governed by laws of cause and effect, is i selt-evidcnt. Therefore ail ar e equally so, anil every condition of either throws the other into its corresponding state. If in any cne instance a given condition of either body or mind causes or is caused by that of the other, then every state of! either causes or is caused by the corresponding conditions ol the other. Either there exist no re ; lations of cause and effect between the two, or else it is all cause and effect— all antecedent and consequent, for nature always makes thorough work or does nothing. Hence, we can at any time throw either mind | or body into any desired state by putting the oth ; OR, pt into its corresponding one, and we can no more put either into any given state without thereby lh to** In g tiie other into its corresponding one, than we ran arrest the operation of any other law ot nature. And since the brain is the instru ment ot thought, and feeling, its conditions influ ence tho mind more powerfully than those of all the filler portions ofthe body united. Hence to excite either faculty or organ is to excite the other; and as the stomach and hrain arc intimate ly related, its state also powerfully influences that of the mind. PROPOSITION lll. —Every law of nature has a sure reward attached to its observance, and a fearful penalty affixed to its violation. Had there been no lixed laws of cause and effect, things would have occurred without any regulari ty or certainty. Stones Would then have been liable to have produced jgrnin; wheat, animals; the sun, darkness* anil tire sometimes one thing and then anot her. Man could have relied upon nothing—could have accomplished nothing. But this institution of law has reduced chaos to a most beautiful system of uniformity and certainty. Yet without l penalty attached to violated laws, and pleasure to their ohed'enee, they would have been useless, because powerless. Hence a ben evolent God has inseparably affixed happiness to their obedience, and also misery to their violation. Still farther. Hellas pro; otttoned the penalties ofdisohediencc and the pleasures ofobediencc to the importance ot the several laws. As life is the greatest of all blessings, and as the violation of the civ.il law which protects it is visited with the heaviest of all penalities, and as the laws which prated property or character are less important, ail* their violation punished with less severity, so those laws which obtain betwfecn mind and body, being of the very highest ordet ..flaws, their ob servance is productive ofthc purest, most exalted, and most condensed of all enjoyments, whilst tlicir violation plunges the disobedient into the deepest misery, bccausethe miml is the one main fountain from whieh springs most of our pains Atui wJii*! i» *»ill morr, (hr en joyment of violation follows in the direr* line of the obedience or transgression. Each law lias its own penalty and enjoyment attached to itself, being its own executioner. To obey a law is to enjoy the blessings secured by that law; to trans gress it is to sutler its penalties. There can he noescape, no evasion of either throughout God’s vast domains. 1 These results are inevitable and invariable. Infinite Benevolence has put obedi ence with its blessings into our right hand, and disobedience with its curses into our left, and en dowed us with power to choose or refuse either. All our pleasures flow from law obeyed, all our pains from law violated. And as the observance or violation of these laws depends mostly upon each individual for himself, his happintse or mis ery is mostly in his own keeping—the reward or penalty of his own actions. Inferences—A knowledge of those laws which govern the influences of body upon mind and mind upon body, is as much more important tlian is a knowledge of the laws of mechanics or natural philosophy, of chemistry or navigation, of astronomy, or any other thing appertaining to matter, as blind is superior to matter. And yet man’s utter ignorance in relation to this subject, is as deplorable as it is almost total. Every thing else is studied and this neglected, yet this 'should be fully understood, cvendt ‘the sacrifice of all other knowledge. These three propositions constitutes our base lines, our starting points, our comer stones. Who will “gainsay or resist them?’ They stand unshaken and unmoved, being based upon the immutable, invariable laws of nature. PROPOSITION IV.— Balance of power constitutes perfection, and with it that obedience to lute which secures enjoyment; whilst both the ex cessive and deficient action of any part constitu tes imperfection , or that violation of law which induces pain. First, in reference to the several parts of the body. As an organized being, man in composed of three principal classes of organs. 1. The vital temperament or nutritive apparatus, namely, the heart, lungs, blood, digestive appa ratus, &c. embracing the entire system of inside organs, which manufacture vitality, furnish ani mal vigor, and re-sqpply the brain, nerves and muscles with that vital energy which their every action compels them to ex|iend. 2. The motive apparatus, embracing the bones, muscles, sinews, tendons, &c., which constitute the frame work of tiie system, give it its size and sha|ie, and produce bodily motion, physical strength, &c., and 3. The brain and nervous system, the exercise of which produces thought, feeling, sensation, tal ents, memory, &e. Nearly every form of physi cal pain and disease is caused mainly by the de ficient or excessive action of one or more of these temperaments If carried ar, they hasten death, hut when they are all well developed and equally balanced, there will he an abundant supply of vital energy to keep the animal economy in mo- tion, a proportionate supply of physical strength, love of exercise, and ability to labor, together with lively sensibilities, intensity of feeling, and power of thought, the result of which will be good health long life, physical and mentH enjoyment in the highest degree of which our nature is susceptible, and a high order of natural talent. But on the principle that an overloaded stomach withdraws the strength from the brain and muscles, the pre dominance or deficiency of either part tends to increase the excess or defect, which augments the evil, being the reverse of what should take place. This exhausts the weaker temperaments which go by the board, carrying health, happi ness, and life along with them. The best condition of body, the one most favor able to true greatness and a genera! genius, to balance and consistency of character, and to per fection in every thing, is that in which each tem perament is strongly marked, and all about equal ly balanced. Is there too much of the motive, there is power, yet but little action, so that the talents lie dormant. Does the vital-motive great ly predominate overthe mental, though there may be physical power and enjoyment, there will be too little mental, too much grossness, coarseness and obtuseness of feeling, with too little of the intellectual and too much of the animal. But where the mental greatly preponderates, there will lie too much minil for the body, too great sensi tiveness, too much intensity of feeling, and that too exquisite, too much sentimentalism and re finement, with a tendency to precocity, which in duces an early death. These temperaments and their predominance may he aptly compared to the several parts of a steamboat. The vital is the wood, water, fire, steam and engine, which produce the propelling power; the motive is the hulk; the mental, the freight and passengers. W hen the vital predom inates, it manufactures more steam, more vital energy, more impulse, more animality than the brain, nerves, and niueles can work* off, which produces an overflowing of feeling and passion, a restlessness, a Jjigh pressure, and a liability to explode.' The Hon has a prodigious chest, and an amount us animal (tower almost beyond con ception, with but a small brain. Hence with scarcely a hundreth part of his strength, but with well developed brain and nerves, man can accom plish a thousand fold more. Does the osseous and muscular system greatly predominate, there is too much hulk; the person will move slowly and feel hut little, enjoy and suffer only propor tionally little, and if the mental is also weak, be obtuse in intellect, a stranger to refinement and intellectual enjoyment, and having but few pass engers, the boat of life will be too light freighted to be worth running, or to secure the great ends of existence, namely, intellectual and moral en joyment. But where the mental greatly predom inates, the vessel is overladen, the energies of the system are drawn from flic digestive apparatus and muscles, and concentrated in the brain which thus consumes the vital powers faster than the vital organs can manufacture the re-supply. This over-draught, whilst it greatly augments the talents, also causes premature death. This prin ciple, whilst it explains the cause of the prema ture death of precocious children, cautions exces sive parental fondness not to press them forward in study, less by increasing the predominence of the brain they thus hurry them into an early grave. It is also illustrated by the ill health, tho dyspepsia, the nervousness, head-ache, ennui, &c. of our literary and sedentary classes, and by the intellectual obtuseness jf those who neglect men tal culture. Consumptive families are usually slim-ftuilt and na.row chested, which indicate weak vital organ • and very active brains. This disproportion of parts hastens their death. Apo plexy gout. &e. are caused by the opposite ex treme, and if physicians would but restore the lost balance between the temperaments, they would save many patients whom they now lose. If mankind in general would only keep these temperaments equally balanced, if, when they are becoming nervous, they would labor more and think and feel less, when worn down with labor, they would rest and read, when thev have taken more food than exercise they woukTrcstore the balance between the two, if, like Bonaparte they would take the extreme opposite that which caused their disorder—which is only applying the principle we are presenting—a large portion of those who now die young would live to be old. The inference is plain and powerful that what ever unduly excites or developes cither of these classes of organs, proportionally induces disease and hastens death. Secondly. This same principle of balance, when applied to the phrenological faculties, con stitutes virtue, and their disproportionate action predisposes to vice. The phrenological definition of virtue is this, the proper and harmonious exer cise of all the faculties upon their legitmate objects, under the control of the moral sentiments. On the other hand, vice consists in the excessive [No. 18.