Cornell University Library arV18936 The avoidable causes of disease, insantt 3 1924 031 306 388 oiin.anx Cornell University Library The original of tliis bool< is in tine Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924031306388 THE iYOIDABLE CAUSES OF DISEASE, INSANITY AND DEFORMITY. BY JOHN ELLIS, M.D. PROFESiOR OF THK PRINCIPLES AND PRACTicS OF AEftTCNF IN THH Wldl'KiU' WEDIOAL C0LL£(» OF CLEVELAND. OHIO: AUTHOR Ol- "UASBIAGE AKO ITS VIOLATIONS.'' A BOOK FOB THE PEOPLE AS WELL AS FOR THE PROFESSION. •■ The Prevention of Disease k more important than its Cnie." SIXTH EDITION. NEW YORK : SAMUEL E. WELLS, PUBLISHEE, No. 389 BROADWAY. 1870. iiQlcnd according to Act ofCongren, in the year ISbV, oy JOHN ELLIS, M.U. ■ IM Clan's Office of tlie District Court of the Hnilcd Sum for the Soutnern Distiiet of Wevr York. CQNTENT3. PREFACE. Diseases can generally be avoided if the requisite knowledgd is pos- sessed. — Are oar American People physicall; Degenerating' — Im- portance of the Subjects Discussed. — The only True Foundation for a lieal Beformatiou of the Evils of Society, S CHAPTER I. Spiritual or Mental Causes of Disease, • 23 CHAPTBB IL Natural Causes of Disease.— A general View, t2 CHAPTER IIL Use and Abuse of the Digestive Organs. — In Eating — ^Drinking— Domes- tio Drugging, etc 60 CHAPTER IV. Violation of the Conditions Requisite for Physical Development and Preservation. — Water — ^Air — Sunlight. — ^Exercise. — ^Mental and Phy- sical Exercise 105 CHAPTER V. Children. — ^Their Proper and Improper Uanagement, and the Causes of their Diaea.'^s and Deformities, and the Mortality among them, . . . US IT CONTENTS. CHAPTER. TI. Our Imperfect System of Education among the Chief Causes of Disease, Insanity and Deformity. — Comparative Neglect of Moral Education.— Neglect of Physical Education. — Neglect of Elocution and Oratory. — Clergyman's Xhroat-ail — Its Causes and Cure 18S CHAPTER VII. Fashions and Habits of the Ladies. — Causes of their 111 Health, and of so many Dying Prematurely from Consumption and other Dis- eases ' '"- 238 CHAPTER Till. Neglect of Proper Amusements, and Indulgence in those which are In- jurious to Physical Health, and Demoralizing, 268 CHAPTER IX. Improper Use of Poisons. — ^Narcotics. — Opium. — Tobacco, 283 CHAPTER X. Alcohol and Fermented Drinks • 309 CHAPTER XL Excessive Labor.— Bad positions of the Body. — Wounds.— Proper and Improper Methods of Dressing them, ' .-• • •. • . . 333 eONCLITSIOlT, 347 PREFACE. Fob many years, while engaged in the practice of medicine, the author of tliis volume has been more and more impressed with the idea that the causes of the suffering, diseases, and pre- mature deaths, wliich we witness around us on every hand, lie nearer our own doors than the transgression of the fair mother of our race ; and that the men and women of to-day are, at least, equally as reprehensible for existing suffering, as those who have gone before them, and often much more so. In fact, he feels satisfied that by far the greatest portion of all the suffering, dis- ease, deformity, and premature deaths which occur, are the direct result of either the violation o^ or the want of compliance with the laws of our being ; calamities, which, were the requisite knowledge possessed by the community, can and should be avoided. The physician, while he confines himself to the treat- ment and cure of diseases and deformity, does nothing but plaster over the evils of humanity. He is at best but a simple sca- venger—useful,, it is granted, in a low degree — so long as he con- fines himself entirely to the removal of the effects, or symptoms and diseaseSi which are the result of causes still operative. Every true lover of humanity, in the medical profession, has be- fore him a nobler calling, and he neglects the great duty of his life if he fails to point out to the community the causes of the Ula which ho is called upon to treat j and if he does not, by his own example, strive to induce others to shun them, he is unworthy of that noble calling. "Whatever may be the value of this volume, it is not the miiah n PKEFAOB. room production of a night, but it is the result of years of care fill observation and reflection, and has been written after having carefully, read many volumes bearing upon the subjects discussed in it. It has been the aim of the author to furnish the reader with the greatest amount of useful information possible in a small com- pass; and as far as practicable, to give the why and wherefore, in language which all can understand. He has endeavored to point out distinctly tlio causes of diseases, and to show the reader how to avoid them, and how to ward diseases off, at theii commencement, by obedience to the laws 'of health and life.* but for their proper treatment, when they are fully developed, the reader is referred to his physician. Several of the chapters contained in this volume were first pre- pared as lectures, and delivered in Detroit, Cleveland, and other places. ' They afterwards appeared in a series of articles in diffe- rent periodicals. Six of the chapters are now for the first time in print. The portions heretofore published have been carefully revised, and have received much additional matter, the result of further observation, reflection and reading. The first part of the chapter on Education, when it appeared in the Detroit Tribune, attracted so much attention that it waa published in a pamphlet form, by some of the friends of education in Detroit, and twenty-seven hundred copies were circulated gra- tuitously. The pamphlet had for its title, " The Physical Degen- eracy of the American People : showing that an Imperfect System of Education, and abuse and neglect of Children, are among the Chief Causes of this Degeneracy.'" So firm was the conviction in the mind of the author at the time of writing, that our American people are degenerating, that he only devoted about two pages to a superficial view of the evidences that such a change is taking place, as he did not for a moment suppose that any one would seriously call it in question. In this he was mistaken, as several periodicals in noticing this pamphlet, earn- estly denied there being any such degeneracy. It is not the aim of the author, in this volume, to advocate either side of this ques- tion, for he does not feel prepared to do justice to the subject ; and furthermore, he loves his native land and his countrymvjn, FBEFACE. VI and notUng would give him greater pleasure than to find after a thorough examination of the subject, and comparison of Amer- icans with the races from which they have sprung, that he has been mistaken in supposing that the American people are degen- erating. He hopes to have an opportunity, after tlie census of 1860, to thoroughly examine aU the evidence upon both sidea of this question, in the Hght of statistics, physiology and path- ology; and to lay the result, whatever it may be, before the public. In the mean time he has thought that it might not be either uninteresting or unprofitable tor the reader, to have placed before him what has already been written upon both sides of the question, although it may be, as it certainly is, superficial and unsatisfactory. The portion of the pamphlet referring to this subject will first be inserted, then will foUow a notice of the same from the New York Evening Post, which embodies the substance of all which the author has seen upon that side ; after which will follow a copy of a reply which was forwarded to the Evening Post, with some slight alterations made to prevent unnecessary repetition, and remedy defects. [For the Detroit Tribone.] FHTSICAL DEaENEBAOT OF AMERICANS. "Mb. Editob: — ^I noticed in your paper of April lat, an article on this subject. If it is true, that the people of the United States are physically deteriorating, it would seem that the subject should command the serious attention of every patriot and philanthro- pist, to say nothing of the Christian portion of the community. With what force the subject appeals to the latter, will be evident if we bear in mind that men and races of men do not deteriorate, physically, without a cause. If it is true, that, while we are justly pitying the poor benighted heathen nations on earth, and are spending our money and the hves of philanthropic men, to send them knowledge, we are ourselves being slowly and surely destroyed as a race, through a lack of knowledge of the physical laws of our being, or still worse, wilfully violating known laws^ how much more do we need the active labors of eflScient mission* aries at home. " l?hq.t the people of the United States are deteriorating, is is accwdance with the testimony of travelers who have been among the nations of Europe, from which ours has sprung ; and its truth can be very easily confirmed by comparing our citizens with the foreign emigrants who flock to our shores. We shall find tha emigrant more robust, hardy, and firmly built ; and that this is not simply an external appearance, will be manifest if we carefully compare the different structures of the body. Even if we descend from the most delicate, to the very bones : Compare the teeth, if you please, of foreigners, with the teeth of Americans, and you will find the mo^t surprising deterioration in the latter. Tooth- ache, decayed teeth, and toothless gums, are far more common ; nor is this all, for even the very jaws themselves will be found more perfectly developed in foreigners than in 'Americans ; the former having, usually, thirty -two teeth and room for them in the jaws; but the latter, in a far greater number of cases, are compelled to lose four teeth, one on each side of each jaw, or to have them crowded and deformed. Here, then, we see that the most solid structures of the body are degenerating ; and how much more manifestly the more delicate structures are deteriorating, may be seen in the delicate and slender form of the body, attenuated face and expression of the couiitenance. It is not necessary that a man or a race of men should be large in order to be well built and healthy. Why do we have aU this deterioration of our race in the IT-nited States? We are told by some that it is the effect of the climate. If this were true, there would be little or no prospect of its being remedied ; but I shall endeavor to prove that it is not true— 'that the Lord has not permitted one race of people to be swept off from this broad continent and another to take its place, and yet the latter not capable of taking the pLice of the former residents. I think that it can be easily shown, that there are actual evils of life, voluntarily indulged in, (notwithstanding all the lights of science and the gospel,) either one of which is doing more — yes, manjr times more — towards destroying our American pepple, than all the effects of climate. I have nx) hesitation in asserting, that climate has comparatively very little to do with ca»sing the delicate, (".eformed^nervoup, dyspeptic and consuraptivt PBKKAOK. IX race of Hien and -wotnen we see around us. AbrmdJiiit evi'dencu of the txuth of this is to be found in the very simple iact, that our females do not enjoy as good health, and are not proportionally as hardy and robust as our males, showing conclusively that the causes are more active among them than among the males ; and yet climate affects both alike. Again, pass over into Canada, beyond' immediate contact with our people, and we shall find tliat the writer in ihe 'AtlaMic Monthly' states the truth, when he says, that 'certainly no one can visit Canada without being struck with the spectacle of a more athletic race than our own. On every side one sees rosy female faces and noble manly forms,' even m the latitude of Detroit, central New York, and New England. "Is there anything in the atmosphere of our republic, which is inconsistent with symmetry of form, substantial structures and physical health ? If there is we had better forthwith change our fbnn of government. But no I the causes of this degeneracy are to be fbund' deep within the human soul ; in the perversion of God-given faculties, and the resulting vanity, sensTialism and miserly selfishness of the day, which ultimate themselves in the neglect and ill- treatment of our eliildl-en, and in the violation of physical laws, and consequent deformity and disease. "With /our leave, Mr. Editor, I propose to point Out, with a gentle hand, some of the causes of this physical degeneracy, in a series of articles for your paper ; and i^ without much ceremony, I may chance to e:^ose some of the cancerous ulcers of our present social fabric, you will pardon me, as I shall have but one end in view, and that will be to expose them in the light of reason, that the proper remedies may be the more effectually pressed home to the consciettces of our citizens, that our race may be saved from dwindling away ; our men saved from destruction by dissipation, which is so feEtrfuHy prevalent among the young ; oiur ladies from spinal distortion and irritatioh, neuralgia, hysteria, and female diseases ; and that our children may be saved from an untimely grave. As the violation of natural laws commences at the cradle — or even before our ohi'ldreii are bom, but I forbear — I propose to review some of the shortcomings of our present systeia of-ed-tication:" , „ X PKEFACE. In noticing the pamphlet from which the above is taRen, ih« New York Evening Post says : " It has been popular for a long time to represent the inhabit- ants of this country as undergoing physical degeneration. Edu- cational, medical, and other journals, print essays, showing how the decay may be arrested. The introduction of athletic games, archery, and other exercises into school discipline, are constantly recommended by ' progressive educators.' A physician of Detroit has pubhshed a pamphlet, setting forth that our imperfect system of education is one of the principal causes of the physical degeneracy of our people. This is probably not unjust ; our teachers not only instruct too much and educate too little, but confine their efforts to the intellect, to the neglect of the body. Such a state of things so far as it exists should receive attention. " But it may be doubted whether this great degeneracy really exists. "We will not deny that there is a margin for improve- ment ; but is it not quite probable that our people, even now, are making upward progress ? Is the average duration of life short- ening ? It may be that we have fewer old men and old women, but a larger proportion of children attain maturity than formerly. Statistics indicate that the ratio of mortality is actually on the de- crease. It must be admitted then that our people possess a larger aggregate of vitality, though perhaps exhibiting fewer ' remark- able instances of longevity.' The French nation has lost two inches and more in average stature within fifty years, while the Americans are taller than their European progenitors. It is argued that we have less fat upon our muscles, and that we ex- hibit signs of over-taxed energies. The rapidity with which we make our way in the world shows the possession of high vital stamina ; while large accumulations of fat are only proof that there is an inactivity of the vital functions. Lean men will gen- erally- endure severer privation, and they are more ready for phy- sical and mental exertion than the fleshy. The dread which Caesar entertained of Cassius is the tribute paid to the men who really perform most of the work of tho world. " It is true that Americans ' study much,' and that severe men- tal labor taxes the energies. But few persons die iiom this caus^ PREFACE. Xi for the most laborious students the world over have been the longest livers. Only when bad habits have existed, or other duties to the mind have been neglected, has much study resulted in deterioration of the health. They are mistaken who imagine that mental development involves physical degeneracy. "With- out intellectual cultivation the habihty is far greater. Thus in our prisons, the labor, though forced, is less severe than that of farmers and mechanics, merchants and editors ; and very often the apartments are better ventilated than our residences and school-houses. Yet convicts are of a lower type of health than people outside pursuing similar employments. " In unfavorable locahties, particularly in cities densely popu- lated, there exist many coimterbalancing circumstances. There is not that equal distribution of labor which is necessary to de- velop the highest physical power. Fashions of dress are often pernicious ; so are residences, pubhc buildings and workshops, when badly constructed or located in unhealthy places. But there evils may be obviated, and such examples are not Hlustra- tive of the general principle. "The imroigrants added to our own population do not appear to equal our own people in vital power. Epidemics are more fa- tal among them, more of them die in early hfe, and they are less able to do manual labor. At the plough and hoe, the axe and carpenter's plane, in the haying and harvest field, Americans wUl achieve more in a given time than they. The Arab and Tartar are not our equals in power of endurance. Even tlie Indian pos- sesses a smaller stock of vitahty, and fails when required to per- form stated labor. "The energy of our people is due to the liigh cultivation of. their faculties. So far from being in a state of decadence, they are yet in early manhood, with an eventful future before them. Luxuries that kings could not afford, five centuries ago, are now enjoyed by our common laborers. The comforts of hfe in pro- fusion are in our grasp. "We have much to learn yet, but our attainments akeady achieved are neither small nor unimportant; and not among the least of these is the enhancement of oui stocls of vital power." — N. Y. Eve. Post. Xii PBEFACK Soon after the piiblication of the above the following reply written by the author, and forwarded to the Evening Pbst. " Mb. Bditoh: — ^A late number of your paper contains a notice of a pamphlet, composed of the first ten of a series of artides I am writing for the Detroit Daily Tribune. The pamphlet was pubhshed by some of the friends of education, for gratuitous cir- culation in Detroit. In your notice you call in question the posi- tion assumed in this work — that the American people are physi- cally deteriorating — and intimate that they are actually progress- ing, and you have ^ven certain reasons why you suppose this to be true. "Upon the supposition that neither of us have any motive fbr writing upon this subject, except the welfare of our race, I have good reason to hope that you will cheerfully permit me, through your column^ to call in question your positions. If you are right, no harm will result to yoni" readers. If I am correct, and can show that the people of the- United States are degenerating, good may result, by inducing our citizens to examine into the causes of such degeneracy, amd to put them away. " That there is nothing in the climate to prevent the highest and most perfect development and health of the human body, when the laws of physical development and preservation are heeded, wo hav« abundant evidence^ for no finer specimens of men can be found in any part of the world, than can be found in almost any part of the United States; so that, if we are, as a race, physically degenerating, there is no need of it, and it should be checked by a speedy reformation of bad habits ; and such a reformation becomes a duty, which we owe, not only to ourselves, but also to our country, and to the future of our race. That there are causes enough operative among us to destroy any race, must be manifest to every intelligent and careful observer. Causes always have and always will produce their effects. With a. knowledge of how our children are fed, housed, dressed and educated ; of the habits and &shions of our ladies ; of what w« eat and drink, at our meals, and of the various poisonous sub- Bta.nces which are so generally used, any one, possessing a reason PSEFACE. «H1 able amount of knowledigfe of tlie laws of physical development and preservation, Would be able to say with certainty, ■without even looking around him, that we are degenerating. I am not among those who 'imagine that mental development involves physical degeneracy.' No mistake could be greater, or more pernicious. It is only when such development is one-sided, — the intellect educated; and the body neglected — -that this results. It is true that ' the most laborious students the world over, have been the longest Uvers,' when they have inherited good physical constitutions, and have Kved according to the laws of health. The highest intellectual development, of which the individual is capable, is only attainable in a well developed and healthy body, which ^one can withstand prolonged mental' appUcation. " Is the fe,ct that emigrants, subjected to a change of air, water and food, cannot withstand the diseases of our climate as well as oitf oWn people, and that more of them die youngs any evidence that they do ndt equsd us in 'vital power?' If so, we must figure ■v'ery low in vitality, when compared with the Mexicans ; for where are the young men, who, but a few years ago, enlisted for the Mexican War? What proportion of them ever returned, and how rtiany of those brave soldiers are aUve to-dey ? Is the &ct that the emigrant, Arab and IkdioB^ cannot endure an amount of physical labor for whicli their muscles have not been trained, and" to Which they are not accustomed, equal to Ameri- cans, any evidence that they possess lees vitality than the latter ? Could our feriners, untrained, excel the Indian in the race? or the Arab in endurance on horseback ? The question is asked : 'Is the average^ duration of life^iortening' with us? The ad- mitted fact that we have fewer aged persons than in days past, is sure evidence, it seem? to me, that our vitaJity is bemg im- paiiedj and our race becoming degeneara^d.- If it could be proved' by statistics that fewer children die, owing, perhaps, to greater caire and improved medical treatrttent, and thereby, the average duration of human life has been increasing, it would be no positive evidence that we are not on the decline; for some diseases, hke the small pox, which were formerly veryfatal, des- troy but compasatively few to-day; and- maay diseases, whicfc ZIT FBEFACIS. manifest unmistakably a loss of vital power, such as the consump- tion, dyspepsia, insanity, nervous and female diseases, are rarely manifested during childhood, even when there is a strong heredi tary predisposition. Is not the increasing prevalence of such chronic and constitutional diseases, far better evidence of deca* dence, than deaths from acute diseases, war, starvation, and ac- cidents, even although the latter may carry off a larger propor- tion of a community while young ? Then, again, many of the habits and fashions which are doing so much towards destroying our race now, were comparatively inoperative, except, perhaps, in our cities, thirty or fifty years ago. Young men used less to- bacco then than now; children, especially girls, were not so reck- lessly deprived, then, of the necessaries of life — sunlight, air, active exercise and labor — ^as in our day. Those monstrosities of the Press, the fashion-plates of our popular periodicals, con- taining most miserable caricatures of the female form, represented as model forms, had not then reached the fireside of the farmer, and mechanic, to destroy their daughters. A. pale, bloodless skin, and delicate body, were not regarded as essential to beauty, and cultivated, by carefully excluding by the aid of bhnds and curtains, the life-giving light of the ' god of day.' Active, use- ful labor was honorable among the young ladies who were to be the mothers of the present generation, and the spinning-wheel and loom were heard in almost every farm-house. To such mothers, comparatively weU formed and industrious, do we owe much, for the physical strength and mental force of the present adult generation. "What is the prospect for the future ? Statistics have not had time to tell their story ; one or two generations more must pass away first. "But has the careful observer no signs by which he can judge whether we, as a people, are physically progressing or retrogress- ing? Surely he must have. I have already alluded to the in- crease of chronic and constitutional diseases among vs. It ia certainly true that an excess of fat is no evidence of an excess of vital power, but rither the reverse; and the same is true of pre' mature wrinldes. Nor is the fact that men are very tall, any evi- dence of superior health and vital power; or that ihey are short PREFACK. XT any evidsnce that they are lacking in these respects. But we find positive evidence of degeneracy in the tliin sharp faces of Americans; not thin from the absence of fat only, but from the absence of bone, for we find the bones of the face not as well de^ veloped as m foreigners. Every dentist can testify that the teetk of the Americans are far more liable to decay early, from being less perfectly developed, than the teeth of foreigners; yet the " teeth and jaws are among the most substanti.al structures of the body. Narrow chests, round shoulders, and slender bodies, denote a lack of vital force. It must be manifest, to every observer, that the causes of this degeneracy are much more active among the female portion of our population, than among the male ; for the American women are not so healthy, and robust, when com- pared with the women of other nations as they should be, for with us they hold no comparison in either of these respects, or capa- city for endurance, to the men. Can any one say that the fe- males of our country are not physically degenerating? Miss Catherine Beecher truly says : " An EngUsh mother at thirty, or tliirty-five, is in the full bloom of womanhood ; as fresh and healthy as her daughters. But whefe are our American mothers who can reach this period unfaded and unworn ? Mary Lamb writes to Miss Wordsworth, (both ladies being over fifty years of age':) 'You say you can walk fifteen miles with ease ; that is exactly my stint, and more fatigues me." How many young ladies have we who could walk fifteen miles, or even five ? How many healthy ladies, beneath the age of thirty or forty, with well developed chests and waists, can be found in our land? Comparatively very few. Is it pos- sible for our delicate, pale-faced, small waisted women to become the mothers of healthy children? Never I The pale, dehcate faces, and slender bodies of the children of such parents, which we witness around us on every hand, answer most emphatically, never! — that if the mothers of our land are degenerated, their children will inherit imperfect organizations, and the coming gen- eration wUl be found wanting in physical development. Is it true that we as a nation have enhanced our stock of vital pow« er? It certainly does not appear to be true; but we have ifl PEEFACE; our nervous (Sxcifcability, activity and energy, and if we only had corresponding physical development, our nation would soon out- strip- all others. Gur soldiers possessed the energy to astonish the natives, and even the world on the plains of Mexico, but their ftail physical bodies could not withstand such excessive draughts upon their vitality, and- a' fearful mortalitfy, from the diseases of the climate was the result; Dr. Kane accomplished wonders in his Arctic voyages ; and; had he possessed physical capacity 6qual to his' mental energy, he might have lived to have yet car- ried his explorations, perchance, to the very Pole, instead of rest- ing from his labors with 'our nation's honored dead.' How rdany of our young mothers do we -witness, who have Ae mental energy, soon exhausting their feeble vital powers in the care of tJieir children, arid- thus leave them to the care of strangers? It is impossible to do justice to this subject in the short space of a newspaper article, yet if the reader will but seek -with ordinary diligence, he -will find an abundance df evidence that the citizens of this great republic are physically in their decline, and that no- thing' but a speedy riefbrmation of bad habits, especially so far as oiu- children and- ladies are concerned, can open to us, as a nation, a glorious and 'eventfUl fiiture;' " Detroit, Aug. 30, 1S58. As has already been stated, the obje'cit of this volume is neither to advocate nor defend- the views contained above, still the author can but intimate that it will not be for the good of our nation and race for our citizens to allow their eyes to be blinded as to the probable destiny of the American people, if danger actually exists, and that duty would seem to require that we should not permit- the voice of warning, -wiiich has been raised by so many observers, to pass unheeded. Although it may not be very flattering to the vanity of young America to be compelled to believe that we are physically in our decadence, and that there is reason to fear that a fate similar to that of the Spanish race in Mexico, is to be our fate ; still it will be best for us to look the truth in the face, and take timely warn ing, if actual daager exists; for a£ Inetoiy showsthat if a natioa fhymcaSy declines, it cannot lotig maintain its physical or even mental supremacy. If there is no cause for alarm, no harm will result from an examination of the subject, and the anxiety felt by many sincere lovers of our country will, perhaps, thus bo quieted. But surely, without raising the question whether our country- men are degenerating or not, when we look around us and see the amount of disease and suffering, and the number of prema- ture deaths, or deaths which occur before old age, we may well begin to enquire into the causes which produce such fearftd effects, and especially when we bear in mind that the effects of these causes cease not with this life, but follow us to eternity. The rum-drinker's and the tobacco or opium-user's appetite, is not sim- ply an appetite of the material body, but it is a craving of the spirit for unnatural excitement, and it is well known that the use of these substances excite the passions, and render refonnation and regeneration diiEcult, if not impossible, so long as their use is continued. Tlie infatuation of the love of approbation, when it leads Its' victims to violate conscience, and to continue in known injurious practices, is not less injurious to physical and spiritual life than natural drunkenness. Can any subject bo more important to the sincere Christian at this day than the subjects discussed in this volume ? A man must know before he can do, he must see evil before he can put it away ; and nowhere can he see his own evils as distinctly as in his ex- ternal acts ; and he must cease to do evil, before he can cease to think- and will evil. That there are fearful evils running riot over our land, which are even threatening the physical destruction of the American people, is certain, and have we not reason to fear that a large portion of the nominal members of our Churches, are being overwiielmed by the flood, instead of seeking the ark ol safety ? To bring those evils to light, wiH l)e the aim of the author in this volume. It is high time that those who profess to be Christians, should awake to the importance of ultimating that which they profess in jfe, even in their external lives. As the natural world is the ultim.ate or basis of the spiritual ZTU. PBEFACE. ■world, 80 man's natural body is the ultimate of his spirit, and it is through his natural body that he acts in this world. A man may, as to his intellect, be raised into angelic knowledge, so as to behold in their beauty and adaptation to the wants of man, the truths of God's Word, and yet if that knowledge be not ultimated in the external acts of his daily life, or if he is not engaged in the effort to ultimate it, his religion is like a house without a founda- tion, or a house built upon the sand, and will be swept away by the rains and floods, or the sophistries of the natural man. " Cease to do evil and learn to do well," are the commands of the Lord ; but before we can do well, we must cease to do evil ; cease to do evil in our external acts, as well as cease to think and will evil. The author would by no means undervalue the importance of spiritual truth, and the spiritual or higher degree of man's being, for he well knows that no reformation of man's external life will be permanent, unless it arises from an earnest desire to shun evils as sins against God ; and to do right because it is right, and in accordance with the Divine commands. Here lies the great difficulty with the moral reforms of the day ; they have no true spiritual foundation, they are earth-bom and crumble back to earth. They may have palliated for a season, the various evils they were intended to correct, but we find a reaction following. "We behold, for instance, even in our fair land, the dark form of intemperance arising, and spreading devastation and ruin in its train ; and where are the eloquent advocates of the temperance reform, whose voices were heard in thunder tones but a few years ago ? If echo alone answered where, it would be a relief, but, alas I of not a few it may be said, their banners are furled, and they are rushing on in mad haste, as if to catch up with time lost in the cause of temperance, on their march to the drunkard's grave. Why do we see all this backsliding in this worthy cause ? Simply because the motives which proippted the reformation were too frequently natural, and not spiritual ; therefore temporary and not eternal. Man's evils may be restrained from going forth into act, by counteracting evil affections. The miser is often re- strained, by the love of money, from an indulgence which will require the sacrifice of his treasure, but a change of circiunstanret^ PBEFACE. ZlX or an increase of wealth, may remove this restraint. Love of approbation, often restrains men from gratifying in external act, their evil desires ; but a change of location or of society, may remove this restraint. How many men have lived virtuous and temperate lives, in external act, among their old neighbors and friends, but after being lured; by the love of gold, to the shores of the Pacific, have become vicious and dissipated. Fear of the loss of health, may restrain men while symptoms of disease are present, but a return of health removes this restraint, at least for a season; or the man counts the cost between the uniawfiil grati- fication, and the suffering from the disease which results, and chooses the gratification. A fear of death, it would seem, should restrain men, if any selfish consideration can deter them perma- nently, from evil action^ But how often has the author heard, even young persons, declare that they would rather hve ten years in the gratification of their perverted appetites, than to restrain their appetites, and live as we should live, fifteen years. In all these selfish and natural motives for reform, there? is no spiritual life ; man is his own center, and the gratification of his selfish desires, his chief dehght ; and his evils can never be permanently removed until he comes to act from higher motives, "We are bom naturally into the love of self and the world, but the Lord declares that we must be bom again, or we cannot enter the Kingdom of Heaven. The Lord must 'become the center, and we must acknowledge him as such ; and we must open our hearts to the reception of His love, and our understand- ings to the perception of the Divine precepts of His "Word, and permit the new life to flow forth into our external acts. Love to the Lord and to our neighbor, must take the place of love of self and the world ; then the motives which prompt our acts will be spiritual and eternal. K we eat and drink it will not be simply to gratify our appetite, or taste, and the inquiry will be, not what will taste the best, and give the most present gratifica- tion, but what aritcles of food, and quantity of them, wiU be the most conducive to health ; for in order that we may keep the Lord's commands, and overcome our evils, and do good to others^ a healthy body ia very important. So in regard to our clothing X* PtTEFAOK. the important question will be. not what is the most beautifi]] and dazzUng to the eyes of others, but what will be the moat healthy and usefiil, and after this, the most appropriate, having in view our being able to perform uses to our fellow-men. So in regard to the acquisition of wealth ; it is right and proper to labor to feed and clothe ourselves and families comfortably, and to make reasonable provision for old age and sickness, and also to acquire it to be able to perform more efficiently, acts of use- fulness to others, but never for the sake of being called ric^ or for the sake of unnecessary sensual g