Physical degeneracy / by Nathan Allen.

  • Nathan Allen
Date:
1870
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Physical degeneracy / by Nathan Allen. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

    6/42
    nutely into all these clianges, or describe just how they are brought about, but simply notice those more marked and most important. With few exceptions, these changes in the system occur so gradually, so quietly, and so imperceptibly, that they are not noticed at the time, and are scarcely felt by the indi- vidual himself. Some of these changes, it should be stated, are brought about principally by the exercise of the men- tal faculties. That the body, whether in a healthy or diseased state, has a direct and wonderful influence upon mental manifestations, is admitted; while, on the other hand, the exercise of the mind, including the animal propensities, the moral sentiments and intel- lectual faculties in all their diversified operations, has a great effect upon both the development and the functions of the physical system. The brain itself, as the organ of the mind, is subject to many changes', and, as the centre of the nervous system—which rami- fies every organic tissue—exercises a powerful influ- ence over every part of the body. And in proportion as the nervous temperament becomes more and more predominant, with a large active brain, in the same proportion will the influence of mental exercise have over physical organization. As this predominance of the nervous system is relatively increasing every year— becoming a marked feature in the type of our present civilization—the exercise of the mind and the nerves is destined to have more and more influence over the body, whether in a normal or a morbid condition. By a constant, intense, and increasing activity of mind, those organs that contribute most to its wants will not only be developed more and more by the general law of exercise, but also by synrpathy and suffering,