, and sometimes entirely destroy it. I knew one
epileptic individual who used to dread them more than death; and would
gladly have preferred the latter.

4. _Idiotism._ Epilepsy, as I have already intimated, often runs on to
idiotism; but sometimes the miserable young man becomes an idiot,
without the intervention of any other obvious disease.

5. _Paralysis_ or _Palsy_, is no uncommon punishment of this
transgression. There are, however, several forms of this disease.
Sometimes, a slight numbness of a single toe or finger is the first
symptom of its approach; but at others a whole hand, arm, or leg is
affected. In the present case, the first attacks are not very violent,
as if to give the offender opportunity to return to the path of
rectitude. Few, however, take the hint and return, till the chains of
their slavery are riveted, and their health destroyed by this or some
other form of disease. I have seen dissipated young men who complained
of the numbness of a finger or two and the corresponding portion of the
hand and wrist, who probably did not themselves suspect the cause; but
I never knew the disorder permanently removed, except by a removal of
the cause which produced it.

6. _Apoplexy._ This has occasionally happened; though more rarely.

7. _Blindness_, in some of its forms, especially of that form usually
called _gutta serena_, should also be added to our dark catalogue.
Indeed a weakness of sight is among the first symptoms that supervene
on these occasions.

8. _Hypochondria._ This is as much a disease by itself as the small
pox, though many regard it otherwise. The mind is diseased, and the
individual has many imaginary sufferings, it is true; but the
imagination would not be thus unnaturally awake, if there were no
accompanying disturbance in the bodily functions. Hypochondria, in its
more aggravated forms, is a very common result of secret vice.

9. _Phthisis_, or consumption, is still more frequently produced by the
cause we are considering, than any other disease I have mentioned. And
we know well the history of this disease; that, though slow in its
progress, the event is certain. In this climate, it is one of the most
destructive scourges of our race. If the ordinary diseases slay their
thousands, consumption slays its tens of thousands. Its approach is
gradual, and often unsuspected; and the decline to the grave sometimes
unattended by any considerable suffering. Is it not madness to expose
ou