Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1859-05-25
VOL. 5.---NO. 80.
Under BRAIN-WoRK.

Oyerworll of the brain, against which we
hear many people cry. and which we hear
so many coSy-looking men deplore very COM
placently in their persons, is not by
good deal so dangerous as underworld of the
brain, that rare and obscure calamity from
which nobody is supposed ever to suffer. The
Rev. Onesimus Howl drops his chin and ele-
Yates his eyes, upsets his digestion with excess
of tea and muffin, and supports, upon the
doughv face he thus acquires, reputation
for great strain on the brains caused by the
outpouring of a weekly puddie of words. HIS
friends labor TO prop up his brain with added
piles of muffin. Paler becomes his face and
more idotic his expression, as he lives from
New Year s-day to New Year day rattlings-
bout in his empty head the few ideas of other
men he has contrived to borrow, and tranquil
ly claims all the sweets OF indulgence on
count Of the strain pat upon his Wits DR..
Porpice is wheeled about from house to house
in his s'brOugham,'' and prescribes his cordials
and his mild aperIentS; treats by help of what
knowledge gathered from a past generation
may happen TO have grown into his habit of
practice, all the disease he sees; now and then
turns TO a book when he is puzzled, but more
commonly dozes after dinner. Yet very glad
ly does the doctor hear the talk about i'm
mense strain on his mind, large practice, great
responsibility, and the wondering that one
poor head can carry all he knows. He seldom
passes day without having taken care to con-
fide to somebody that he Is overworked. Once
week, indeed, if his practice be large, he
may be forced into some effort TO use his
brains but that he does really exercise them
once week, / am not certain. The lawyer
elevateS his routine into 4 crush of brain
work. The author and the merchant flatfer
themselves, or account themselves hattered,
by an application to their labors also of the
same complimentary coincidence. The truth
is, that hard work of the brain, taken alone
apart from grief and fears. from forced orvol-
untary stinting of the body's need of food OF
sleep, and the minds need of social inter-
course-does infinitely more TO prolong life
and strengthen reason in the workers than to
cut or fray the thread of either. Men break
down under the grind of want, under the strain
of continuous denial to the body OF its half
a-doZen hours a day of sleep, its few necessary
| pounds of wholesome food, and its occasional
exercise of tongue and legs. If an author
| spends his whole life in his study, his mind
fails under the pressure of the solitary system.
/ If great lawyer refuses himself month after
month the necessary fourth part of the day
for sleep, he wears his brain out, not by replc-
| tion OF study, but by priyation OF something
| else. Under all ordinary circumstances no
man who performs work tor which he is COM
| petent is called upon to deny himself the first
necessaries of life, except during short periods
| of encroachment which occur to men in every
occupation, and which seldom are OF long du-
ration, and can almost invariably be followed
by period of ease sufficient for recovery.
Healthy men, who have bed and board assured
them, while they can eat, sleep, stir, and be
merry, Will have sound minds, though they
work their brains all day, and provide them
for the other five or six hours with that light
employment which is the chief toll of DR..
Porpice or the Rev. Onesimus.