THE STUDIOUS, Sec.

51

Hepatic complaints. — The circulation in the liver being slowobstructions in that organ can hardly fail to be the consequenceof inactivity. Hence sedentary people are frequently afflicted withschirrous livers. But the proper secretion and discharge of thebile is so necessary a part of the animal economy, that where theseare not duly performed, the health must soon be impaired. Jaun-dice, indigestion, loss of appetite, and a wasting of the wholebody, seldom fail to be the consequences of a vitiated state of theliver, or obstructions of the bile.

Pulmonary consumption. — Few diseases prove more fatal to thestudious than consumptions of the lungs* It has already beenobserved that this organ cannot be duly expanded in those who donot take proper exercise ; and where that is the case, obstructionsand adhesions will ensue. Not only want of exercise, but the pos-ture in which studious persons generally sit, is very hurtful to thelungs. Those who read or write much are ready to contract ahabit of bending forwards, and often press with their breast upona table or bench. This posture cannot fail to hurt the lungs.

Adhesions, &c. — The functions of the heart may likewise bythis means be injured. I remember to have seen a man opened.whose pericardium t adhered to the breast-bone in such a manneras to obstruct the motion of the heart, and occasion lus death.The only probable cause that could be assigned for this singularsymptom was, that the man, whose business was writing, used con-stantly to sit in a bending postare, with his breast upon the edgeof a plain table.

Weakness op the digestive organs, &c. — No person can enjoyhealth who does not properly digest his food. But intense thinkingand inactivity never fail to weaken the powers of digestion.Hence the humours become crude and vitiated, the solids weakand relaxed, and the whole constitution goes to ruin."

Head-ach, apoplexy, &c. — Long and intense thinking oftenoccasions grievous bead-achs, which bring on vertigoes, apoplexies,palsies, and other fatal disorders. The best way to prevent theseis, never to study too long at one time, and to keep the body regu-lar, either by proper food, or taking frequently a little of someopening medicine.

Inflammation op the eyes. — Those who read or write much areoften afflicted with sore eyes. Studying by candle-light is peculiarlyhurtful to the sight. This ought to be practised as seldom as pos-sible. When it is unavoidable, the eyes should be shaded, and thehead should not be held too low. When the eyes are weak orpainful, they should be bathed every night and morning in coldwater, to w hich a little brandy may be added.

Duorsv. — It has already been,observed, that the excretions are

* Since the lungs are the first and chief instrument in sanguification, or the formationof blood, the animal that has that organ faulty, can never be duly nourished, nor havethe vital juices which are derived from the blood in a good state; and this is true,understanding the lungs only as an instrument of digestion, and abstracting from anacrid and purulent matter, that mixeth with the blood in such as have their lungs ulcer-ated. See Arbuthnot on Aliment, p. 26.

t The membranous bag surrounding the heart. Its use is to secrete and contai» thevapour of l' e pericardium, which lubricates the heart and prevents it from concretingi>r adhering to this membrane.