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.

    63/166 (page 57)
    I The activity of most of the organs of the body can be very greatly increased; they can be made to per- form their functions for a while with unusual facility and power. I will dwell upon this fact a little. A [child, for instance, may be gradually accustomed to eat and digest large quantities of stimulating animal food. I have seen an instance of this kind, and when J I remonstrated with the parents on the impropriety and danger of allowing a child but two years old such diet constantly, I was told that he was uncommonly robust, and, indeed, he appeared to be in vigorous health; but, soon after this, he had a long inflamma- ‘ tory fever of an unusual character for children, which I attributed at the time to the stimulating diet allowed him. This diet appeared also to have an effect upon his disposition, and confirmed the observation of Hufeland, that “infants who are accustomed to eat ■ much animal food become robust, but, at the same time, passionate, violent, and brutal.^® A child may ] also be made to execute surprising muscular move- J ments, such as walking on a rope, and other feats ; but 4 intimate relation existing' between mind and matter; but it was the J science of Phrenology, first propounded by him, which turned the I public mind strongly and practically to this important point, and J will, doubtless, in time, work a thorough change in public sentiment, 1 and be attended with the most happy results.—R. M.] [36 This fact is undeniable, and yet some parents, not contented j with gorging their offspring in such a manner, must needs give them I highly seasoned condiments, wine, and other strong drinks, as if still more to aggravate the violence of the lower propensities j Rousseau not untruly remarked that all children were thieves, liars, ^ and gluttons. For the latter quality many of them may certainly _ thank their parents R. M.]