POWER OF THE SOUL OVER THE BODY, CONSIDERED IN RELATION TO HEALTH AND MORALS. BY GEORGE MOORE, M.D. MEMBER OF THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS, "Thou hast a noble guest, Offesh! ST. BERNAED. FOR LIBRARY NEW- FIFTH EDITION. LONDON: LONGMAN, BROWN, GREEN, AND LONGMANS. PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION. THIS sketch of the influence of the mind on the body, was commenced and continued with the feeling that the soul is the true object of affection, and that all its interests are essentially religious. The principal part of the volume was written during the unwelcome, but valuable, leisure of disease, for the purpose of being addressed to a few young men, who appeared to be deeply impressed with the nature and importance of the subject. On a re-perusal of the manuscript, the recollection of this encouragement induced a hope that the publication might find an apology in the approval of reflecting readers; especially as, at this time, the public mind is unusually roused to the observation of mental influences, in the production of remarkable phenomena under mesmerism and disease. The views exhibited in these pages, having been consolatory and instructive to himself, the author trusts will be deemed at least a good reason for his endeavour thus to obtain the attention of others. As said good old "Thon Caius, Docteur in Phisicke," A. D. 1552, "man beying borne not for his owne vse and cōmoditie alone, but also for the commó benefite of many, (as reason wil and al good authores write) he whiche in this world is worthy to lyue, ought al ways to have his hole minde and intente geuen to profite others. Which thynge to shewe in effecte in my self, although by fortune some waies I have been letted, yet by that whiche fortune cannot debarre, some waies again I haue declared." March 11th, 1845. |