Remarks on the influence of mental cultivation and mental excitement upon health / [Amariah Brigham].

  • Amariah Brigham
Date:
1844
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Remarks on the influence of mental cultivation and mental excitement upon health / [Amariah Brigham]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    106/166 (page 100)
    This superioritj^ we should be careful to preserve, by the proper physical education of both sexes, when young; and by cultivating every part of man’s nature, and not the mind exclusively. There is another, and I fear a more frequent and fatal disease than that of insanity, caused by mental excitement; and which, judging from my own observa- tion, and the records of cases in modern medical journals, appears to be increasing with frightful rapidity. 1 allude to organic diseases of the heart. The heart is a vital organ, and its sound state is essential to the posession of good health. When we reflect, there- fore, upon the powerful influence which the feelings have upon this organ, the change from its natural action, caused by anger, fear, love, joy, avarice, ambition, envy, revenge, and all those passions and feelings that agitate civilized societ3% we shall not wonder that the diseases of the heart have increased in modern times. This disease has also increased in all countries during times of great political and moral commotion. Corvisart says, “ it was more frequent in the horrible times of the French Revolution than in the usual calm of social life. Testa, in a late work on diseases of the heart, states equal numbers, and in nfair hand to hand fight, without conquering them; M'itness the attack on Washington, where the advanced guard of the British army, routed with ease tlie whole American forces, though most advantageously posted for the defence of their capital, and four times more numerous than the assailants. Even the American seamen never coped successfully W'ith the British, where the circumstances were at all equal. The brilliant affair of the Shannon and Chesapeake, sufficiently demonstrates this—R. M.] I