Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: The religion of health / by Elizabeth Blackwell. Source: Wellcome Collection.
Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.
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![objects—use ; which, if properly understood, includes the highest and most peiTaaneut cultvu-e of which the iadi-s-idual is capable. Were our beautiful sea-coasts studded with such Colleges, with theu: wondei-fal playgi-ounds washed twice a day by the Atlantic waves, fin-nishing encUess ti-easui-es for the eager gatherers; enthusi- asm for ]iealth-giving studies would gi-ow up in the youthful mind, and a stronger generation would mould a nobler society. The estabhshment of sanitary improvements by Government, and the remodelling of education, are not the only means by which we must seek to obey those divine laws which are implanted in our natirre. Every class of society, every institution.—in short, om' whole social life, needs to be re-born into the idea of health. The customs to which we aU conform, whether rich or poor, the stand- ards by which we measure success in hfe, and the means by which we seek to reach it, are all opposed to the idea of health. The hours we keep, our dress, our food, the excitements, and strain of life, are injm-ious alike to mind and body. The deeper we look into the stiiictm-e and state of society, the more serious are the effects of the general neglect of the laws of hiunan gi-owth. Prac- tical life now is a ciiiel foe to pme enthusiastic youth; pmity and enthusiasm are ahke destroyed by the comipt and faithless society into which they enter. We preach one standard of right; we prac- tise another. We exact a superhuman effort from om* chilili-en when smTounded b}^ temptations, we tell them not to fall into e^ol habits; we require an impossible thing when we expect them, as social beings, to do what is right, when society does what is wrong. The diffusion, therefore, of sanitary knowledge tkrough all classes of adult society is as necessary as the remodelling of education. It is through the gi-adual diffusion of this knowledge that combina- tions of individuals may be foiTned, who u'ill be strong enough to put down some of the senseless and injmious customs that now pervade society. This principle of combination may wield a great and increasing power of good. Departirre from any estabhshed custom by a single inihvidual is an eccentricity; but the imion of fifty for the same piu-pose will exercise a decided influence; and a humked resolute men and women fonn a social power in the State. It is encourag- ing to recognise tlie power that might be exerted by such a bund, resolved to cai-ry out the large Laws of Health 'in then- diiUv lives ! Tliere is only one form of combination, lunvover, that I shall ven- ture to suggest, and whose utility I think wdl be at once apparent. I refer to the fonnation of a National Health Society. Such a society seems to be much needed—needed to give co'mbinauon, du-ection, and impulse to the efforts of individuals; to form a store- house of information to wliicli aU coidd apply; to assist hp.iltli legislation, by looking at this gi-eat subject from a family pomt of](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b21483012_0023.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
