Lectures on life and health, or, The laws and means of physical culture / by William A. Alcott.

  • Alcott, William A. (William Andrus), 1798-1859.
Date:
1853
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Lectures on life and health, or, The laws and means of physical culture / by William A. Alcott. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University.

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    have been miserable invalids, — very often dyspepties, — whose minds were about as much crippled as their bodies. What they have done has been by fits and starts, and not in a steady, persevering manner. Betaking themselves to a change, or to some new article of diet, they have only used it a few days, perhaps, and then turned to something else. And in endeavoring to ascertain its effects by an isolated and limited experience, they have fallen into a habit of watching their own feelings and sensations in a manner which, as a whole, is, if possible, more hurtful than the disease they were desirous of removing. They have become filled with whims and caprices. Indeed, it is very difficult to attend to this sub- ject in later life, for the first time, without running upon this very rock of practical error; and I see no remedy for such a condition of things but a different training of several succes- sive generations. This, then, — I mean, now, early and correct physical cul- ture, — is the great desideratum of our day. This would pioneer the way to something efficient and truly worthy of the race. It would prepare for a general and highly-important reformation. Our eating and drinking, like our exercise, cloth- ing, sleep, &c, — indeed, our whole nature, — must be bap- tized into science and Christianity. Whether we eat or drink, or whatever we do, we must do all to the glory of God. Thrice happy that state of human society which learns the practical blessedness of an injunction as much in accordance with true reason as it is with revelation.