or a natural transmission of a healthy or unhealthy state, similar to what takes place in vegetables and animals, nevertheless admit a predisposition, which is in short but another name for hereditary diseases. Some authors state, that to believe in the inheritance of certain diseases, is the act of a fatalist; as if establishing a fact, was to render its occurrence absolute.

We maintain that there are hereditary maladies, and we are of opinion that they may be considered as the continuation of diseases of the parents, who during the time of their conception were labouring under disease, and have not had proper medical treatment, if indeed they have had any. We are not fatalists in acknowledging hereditary constitution. A disease of long standing, may for a time baffle the resources of art; but, if properly attended, while the patient is able to bear medical treatment, particularly before growth be completed, there is every chance of success; but if man has reached the age of fifty, at which period of life the body undergoes but little change, it is then too late to modify the constitution, for no new elements can be introduced into the economy, as it is unable to endure the powerful stimulus of medical agents.

CHAP. V.

Acquired Constitutions.

ALL causes which influence the native constitution, may either deteriorate or improve it; there are consequently acquired constitutions, and all the resources of art must be employed to counteract any alteration from the normal state. Diseases which become chronic, and so inherent, that there is no chance of a radical cure, may be termed new elements, forming an inseparable connexion with the body. This possibility of acquired constitutions may be observed in all individuals subject to the power of morbid agents; thus lymphatic, scrofulous, nervous, tuberculous constitutions may exist, through the influence of either internal or external causes, without any particular predisposition.

Robust individuals, with sanguine constitutions, and great muscular power, go to prison in full health, and when liberated, are weak, haggard, and suffering from glandular swellings; others injured by the irritation attendant on their profession, become consumptive.

The experiment made by an English Physician on a soldier, renowned for his bravery, is generally known: he bled him so profusely, that the man became timid and cowardly. Similar examples are met with among persons of the

soundest constitutions, who, through accident or disease, have lost a great quantity of blood. The constitution is weakened, anæmia predominates, or there is excess of aqueous fluids; the organization shaken, by a want of equilibrium; is greatly modified, and presents a sort of intermediate state, between health and disease: although life still exists, yet its energy and action are considerably diminished.

Maladies of every kind modify the constitution, and leave powerful traces of their fatal inroads. Some constitutions are ruined by a single inflammatory disease, though of short duration; others, when once affected, never recover their normal state, as the primary cause of the affections still exists.

Living in unwholesome situations, bad food, over exertion, late hours, conduce materially to injure the constitution.

The duration of the action of those agents that modify the constitution, indicate the progress of an acquired temperament. Habit, which blunts all feelings, whether of pain or pleasure, gradually admits the changes which, in the first instance, appear incompatible with the primitive constitution. It is owing to the power of habit that continual modifications improve the constitution, and well directed education counter balances all the anomalies of the physical state of the organs of the human frame.

It is in this philosophical and medical point of

view that the physical education of children should be considered; and it therefore requires the most sedulous care, and strictest attention. Discussions, relative to the state in which man comes from the hands of nature, are of no practical utility. Experience proves, that man is born with either a healthy or unhealthy constitution. In the first case, it must be carefully preserved; in the second case, endeavours should be made to improve it; but this great work cannot be suddenly effected; time, and the power of habit, can alone produce so desirable a result.

As

To procure for children a constitution of body, originally sound, the soundness of parents is indispensable. When, on the contrary, says Combe, young parents are immature, and comparatively feeble, what can they transmit to their offspring, but constitutional imperfection? we are not legislators, we must leave children to be educated in their natural state, which we may really call a state, or constitution of chance; and try when they are unsound, to bring them to a normal state.

Dr. Pariset, in his work, "Hygiène des gens de Lettres," said, "he would take the strongest peasant, used to the inclemency of the seasons, accustomed to the roughest manner of living, and make him delicate, and nervous; his flabby, though ruddy, countenance, would soon prove, that his fibres had become lax, and the cellular tissue overburthened with fluid:

of a citizen of pallid complexion, weak organization, timid disposition, void of energy, he would make a soldier, a huntsman, or a sailor, whose strong muscular fibres, and compact bones, would denote intrepidity in danger.

Thus it is possible to weaken and destroy, to strengthen and improve, any constitution; the example of the celebrated Abbé Rucellai, related by the above mentioned author, is, we believe, not generally known.

He was very delicate; drank nothing but water, which was fetched from a great distance, on account of its purity; every trifling circumstance affected his health; warmth, cold, the least change of season, and temperature seemed to impair his constitution; the mere fear of illness made him keep his bed. Medical men are indebted to him for the introduction of vapours, a species of nondescript disease, which serves to occupy the rich and listless, and to make the fortune of those who attend them. This good Abbé groaned under the weight of his imaginary evils, and the dread of trouble or fatigue, rendered him averse to any undertaking. At last, stung by ambition, or rather by a love of revenge, he undertook to serve Catherine de Medicis in her intrigues; a task in which no small share of activity was requisite.

Employment appearing to him in the shape of a monster, he was on the point of giving up the project; when, conquering his aversion, he became so strong and active, that his friends