Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1841-11-30

ON THE EFFECTS OF ARTS TRADES AND
PROFESSIONS. AS WELL AS HABITS OF
LIVING, ON HEALTH AND LONGEVITY.
No. TT.

PROFESSIONS. AS WELL AS HABITS OF
LIVING, ON HEALTH AND LONGEVITY
No. III.
We have already adverted TO various employmens,
such as engraving tailoring, shoemaking &c in which
unnatural or constrained position exeris perni-
cious influence upon health. There are numerous oc-
equations in which similar posture combines, with
other circumstances, TO abrdge the term of human life
such as weaving, saddle and harness making, curry.
ing and leather dressing, besides many other handi
craft trades which are necessarily pursued in bent
position OF the body. Headache and indigestion are
the usual attendants upon these occupations and de-
bity and languor of the circulation are hardly less
common.
Since the extensive introduction Of machinery hand
weaving has gone almost into dsuse, except in some
OF our cities, where large numbers Of foreigners chief
ly Scotch and Irish, employed in MANI featuring
the cheaper kind of cotton goods. These FORM per-
haps without exception, the most miserable class of
our working population. Though employed often l6
hours out of the "a, they seldom make more than
iour shliliHgs a day, on which they have to sup
= n themselves and families They work in a damp,
fQed atmosphere, usually in Easements cellars,
Re no attention is paid TO ventilation cleanliness.
sote with the trunk fixed the chest uncxpanded tho
the limbs fully exercised they consume heir lives
in unceasing toll, with scarcely any more cultivation
Of their moral and rational faculties than is manifested
in the brute creation To these causes together with
innu,rous diet and the free Of alcoholic slim
ulants and tobacco is it owing that the longevity Of
less than that of almost any other class Of
operatives.
It has been observed that occupations which require
long continued Standing arc apt 10 produce rarices in
the lower extremties as in butchers and printers 1t
Is 10 less true that undue pressure upon particular
part OF the body in the exercise Of any ait trade
even slight PRESSURE when long continued, is highly
injurious; and in no instance is this more remarkable
than where pressure is made upon the abdomen par.
ticuary over the epigastric region impede the
action OF the respiratory muscles. There many
equations which, as now pursued, extremely delr
mental TO health, that might be prosecuted with com
plee impunity if attention were paid to these circum
stances. Thus, the pernicious practice Of leaning
against table in writing, has been very generally ex
changed for a standing position at desk but this
ought he alternated with sitting posture, taking
press the chest against the desk Cere5ra
and nervous affections usually caused by the soop
ing position hence their frequency in gardeners. DR.
COPELAND remarks, that workingin constrained positions
shows its effects decidedly in miners aud golfers
who labor chiefly in the sitting kneeng posture IRE
queny with the body bent in the greses degree, II
an unnatural atmosphere, often containing hydrogen
carburreited hydrogen and carbonc acid gases,
with artificial light They are, moreover, exposed t.
in water. They generally spare men, with Sigh,
ly curved spine and bowed legs. Their complexion il
unhealthy. Their complaints asthma, rheumatism
disorders OF lie head intolerance Of light &c evident
~ resulting from the circumstances Just stated con
nected with their employment, and their exclusion
from the beneficial influence Of sunshine light an
air. Mr. canyon personally examined, without &c
lection, an of whom had worked least ten years On
der ground, IS persons had cough dyspHoea, pap'
alton, 12 OF these being 30 wears Of age or above
only 10 below 20 subject I dyspepsia, 2s t
chronic rheumatism. and 81 other affections %
The go had had hemopiysis. These statements ma
servo to show tho comparative heahiness OF agucu
tural and mining occupations.
temperature and Moisture. With proper procau
tons. the human body may be exposed with impunii
10 great changes of temperature. ~ our own climate
these changes sometimes amour, 10 40 degrees n 2
hours Sin Charles Blaglen remained eight minute
IN partner, heated 20 eco degrees and Tile, 40
B Duhsmel bore heat Of 200 degrees for nearly Gg
minutes, without suffering any great Inconvenience
The natural temperature Of man is about 9s degee'
and this remains constant, equable and pcroetua
that varies but ieH degrees In the coolest cImal
and under the iorrid zone g. was Tie opinion Of Doe
haaye mat could not i've IN aemperst1rc orcec.
log Big own but this now known 20 be 1correc
sa-e many inhabited parts of tle iornd zone have
: Temperature of from 100 10 80 deq'ees TA- hcul
oi bearing variety ~ temperatures j. peculiar pfi
d rocsve OF man. AMI enables hin llabi, every pa
= ~ ihs oarh-irom the polar circle, where mefrur
feezes, 70 tie equator. comprising rlnge of rs ID
r. grees. The impuniiy with which man j. able 20 5e
y T.oe1' changes 81 temperature Is sirihrg.ugy man
Tested IT. to Of the Russian who leaves h.s vaP
u bath n l61 degrees, and punges into bank of sao
r frozen hvef, perhaps has several large yesse
Il OF cod water poured upon nina 10 al these case
tie s1 hesi rers.os rear, re sl-~e - '1i ir