This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1896 Excerpt: ...mischief, or as injurious pleasure, we admit both specifications, with no palliating circumstances. But if you mean by fun pure, honest enjoyment of the pleasures so lavishly given us to enjoy, we deny both specifications. An indispensable requisite to the highest enjoyment is a healthy, natural condition of mind and ...
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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1896 Excerpt: ...mischief, or as injurious pleasure, we admit both specifications, with no palliating circumstances. But if you mean by fun pure, honest enjoyment of the pleasures so lavishly given us to enjoy, we deny both specifications. An indispensable requisite to the highest enjoyment is a healthy, natural condition of mind and body. You have all heard of the miserable dyspeptic who finds no pleasure in the most luxurious table, and of the healthy hunger which finds a sweet morsel in a dry crust. The principle applies to all kinds and conditions of real enjoyment. Thomas Dunn. You speak of real enjoyment; do you mean to imply that there is none in what are called forbidden pleasures--that wickedness actually renders men incapable of real enjoyment? Dr. Dix. I mean that forbidden pleasures always entail more pain in the end than pleasure. So, if we strike the balance, or get what I may call the algebraic sum, it is nothing--less than nothing. I mean that every sinful indulgence diminishes the power of enjoying even the forbidden pleasure itself, until at last the power of enjoyment of the good or the bad may be utterly lost. The opium-eater always secures the greatest effect from his first dose, because his nerve-system is then in its most vigorous condition, and therefore most capable of responding to the stimulant. His next dose must be larger to produce an equal effect upon his impaired susceptibility. Thomas Dunn. You are speaking now of an indulgence which we all know to be injurious. Are there not immoral indulgences which are not necessarily injurious, --that is, I mean, to the health? Dr. Dix. Do you know of any such? Thomas Dunn. I know a good many that are called immoral, --going to the theatre, for instance, or dancing. Dr. Dix. I cannot see how anything that .
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