On the preservation of the health of body and mind / by Forbes Winslow.

  • Winslow, Forbes, 1810-1874.
Date:
1842
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On the preservation of the health of body and mind / by Forbes Winslow. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, Harvard Medical School.

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    those which tend to call into exertion the latent principles of thought, and that habituate his mind to close, rigid, and accurate observation. To the medical student the possession of these powers must be of incalculable value. The study of mental philosophy thoroughly disciplines the understanding; it gives also precision to langiiage and thought, and induces habits of close attention and patient application of mind. The highest scientific object, says an able writer, to which the young can be directed, is mental philo- sophy, or the philosophy of the human mind;—that science which teaches us the laws of our mental frame, which shows us the origin of our various modes and habits of thought and feeling,—how they operate one upon ano- ther, and how they are'cultivated or repressed. The well-directed study of it calls into action and improves the highest intellectual faculties : and while it employs the powers of the mind, it suggests the best means for their cul- ture, and the best mode of their direction. It enables us to trace the intri- cacies of our own hearts, and points out the proper discipline for their cor- rection; it discovers to us the real excellences of the mind, and guides us in our efforts for the attainment of them. The business of education, it has been well observed by a great authority, is not to perfect the learner in any of the sciences, but to give his mind that freedom and disposition, and those habits which may enable him to attain any part of knowledge himself. The most valuable part of our knowledge is acquired by the exertions of our own mind. The object of tutors and professors is principally to point out to us the right road to wisdom, and to excite a spirit of inquiry and observation in those under their care. They may cram the mind with isolated facts; but this does not constitute wisdom, using this word in its proper accepta- tion. At our public seminaries the foundation only is laid ; the superstruc- ture we have ourselves to rear. A man may be profoundly acquainted with facts, but may have no just claim to the title of being wise. A man may possess knowledge without wisdom;—the possession of the former does not necessarily imply the existence of the latter. Cowper has made a just dis- tinction between knowledge and wisdom ; he says, Knowledge and wisdom, far from being one, Have ofttimes no connexion. Knowledge dwells In heads replete with thoughts of other men ; Wisdom, in minds attentive to their own. Knowledge,—a rude unprofitable mass, The mere materials with which wisdom builds,— Till smoothed, and squared, and fitted to its place, Does but encumber whom it seems t' enrich. Knowledge is proud that he has learned so much ; Wisdom is humole that he knows no more.—Task, Book VI. If we desire to succeed in any branch of knowledge, we must exert the prerogative of thinking and observing for ourselves. We must not rest satis- fied with the opinions of others until, by the exertions of our own minds, we have found them to be correct. Lavater, the great physiognomist, exclaimed, whilst looking at the picture of the immortal Hunter, That man thinks for himself; and it was this exertion of his own mighty intellect that enabled him to make such a rapid advancement in surgical and physiological science. I never read, the great Hunter used to exclaim to his class. This is the book that I study (showing some part of the dead subject), and this is the work that you must study if you wish to become eminent in your profession. The mind of man, observes Mr Rcid, is the noblest work of God which reason discovers to us; and therefore, on account of its dignity, de- serves our study. And the great philosopher Locke also observes, Since L 2