The physical culture adapted to the times : an address delivered before the Mechanical Association in Andover Theological Seminary, Sept. 21, 1830 / by Edward Hitchcock ; published by request of the Association.

  • Hitchcock, Edward, 1793-1864.
Date:
1831
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The physical culture adapted to the times : an address delivered before the Mechanical Association in Andover Theological Seminary, Sept. 21, 1830 / by Edward Hitchcock ; published by request of the Association. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    no longer a poetic dream. It is that period in the history of nations, when their character is most complete in its grand outlines : when great vigor of intellect is connected with great vigor of body : when there is competence and independence, with little excessive poverty on the one hand, or enormous wealth on the other: when industry and enterprise are yet uncrippled by sloth and effeminacy: when there is refinement of manners without fastidious nicety; and when the moral pulse of the community beats full and strong; not urged on to feverish violence by igno- rance and credulity, nor feeble and intermittent, through the influence of luxury and scepticism. But this happy condition of society rarely lasts long ; and then begins to be exhibited the feebleness, and distor- tion, resulting from excessive cultivation of the mental powers, while the physical are neglected. Ingenuity and wealth enable many to dispense in a great measure with active bodily efforts, and multiply the means for inordinate gratifications of every kind. Thus are engendered a multi- tude of factitious wants, that give at length an almost en- tirely artificial character to society. As a consequence, the firm and elastic muscle and the vigorous frame, are succeeded by debility, and the pale and lean aspect of dyspepsy. The eye of the mind, no longer bright and sparkling, looks out with a feeble glance, from its pale tenement; and although the intellectual faculties are plied with a thousand stimuli, they send forth only imperfect and distorted productions; like the flowers of a garden exceedingly fertile, which, though of great size and gaudiness, have lost their delicate natural form and simple elegance, and their power of pro- ducing sound and valuable fruit. In short, amid an excess of refinement, and every facility for the cultivation of knowledge and virtue ; frivolity, imbecility, and corruption, characterise the times : And all because the laws of pro- portion have been violated, by neglecting a cultivation of the bodily powers, correspondent to that of the intellect- ual.