The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1865-10-30
The AurfoIk gust.
MONDAY, OCTOBER 80, 1865.
EXERCISE AND REST.

The popular notion that, in order to
give rest to brain overtasked with
thoughtand anxiety, tits only necessary
to give plenty of work to ones legs and
arms and all the bones and sinews in
ones body, is the result of funda-
mental misconception of the functions
of the brain itself. There is no such
thing as work Of any description,
whether of head or body, which is not
actually FRAMEWORK. The brain is the
instrument with which the whole econ
omy of life is carried on; and when we
take to excessive walking and climbing
after hard reading and writing, we are
simply exchanging one form of exhaust
ing labor for another, and the brain sdf-
fers STILL The details of life may be
classed under three divisions-we have
to think and feel; we have to digest and
exercise all other animal functions; and
we have to use voluntary muscular mo-
ton. And the brain does it all. Brain
power is employed-that is, brain-power
is eapended-in each of these three pro-
cesses; and whatever power is expended
in any oneof the three is just SO much ia
ken away from thevital powerofworking
in either of the othertwo. tits obviously,
therefore, madness to attempt to recruit
an exhausted brain by violently taxing
its energies in some other form of
toll. There is but one remedy, and
that is rest not stagnati0n, which is
impossible /; but such repose from every
sort of exhausting work as will allow
nature to recover her energies and res
tore to the brain sufficiency of vital
strength to resume its more active duties.
In the youth and hey-day of life a good
natural constitution will stand almost
any amount of wear and tear with ease,
and without apparent mischief. But
the necessity for outstanding the resour-
ces of the brain rapidly begins to force
itself upon the attention; and we learn
that the brain can only do one thing a,
a time with any special direction of its
energies. 1t can only work hard, in
other words, in one wayat once. Hence
the mischief Of taking bodily exercise
Immediately after dinner. The simple
factis that the brain is hard at work,
directing its nervous energy to the ope-
rations of digestion, and it has no
strength left to be expended in muscu-
lar movements. For the same reason it
requires light and easy talk during din
ner and for some time afterward. In
sleep only does the brain get its perfect
rest. 1t ceases to think it ceases to set
up voluntary muscular action; and it
carries on the animal economy of diges-
ton and its accomplishments with far
less activity than during the waking
hours. Hence the dyspeptic effects of a
heavy supper just before going to bed.
1t is more than the brain can bear. Peo-
pie talk as lift was more than the stomach
would bear;whereas the stomach isamere
mOtionless apparatus until set to work by
the nervous power communicated to it
by the brain. 1t is a striking thing
again, that persons who are recovering
from Illness experience a sense of fatigue
from simply being in the fresh air when
they first leave the house, though max
ing absolutely no bodily eXertion, and
though the fresh air'is the best and all
health giving restoratives. No doubt
this is because the brain is at full work
receiving its accustomed supplies, and,
being in highly reduced condition Of
NISOT, LINUS btido VIC HbinllluS ID DIS III uCu
az ii can bear, and that even a fresh
breeze must be taken in moderation
For men who use their brains hard in
the way of thought the best possible re-
storative exercise is an easy ride on
horseback. The saddle is the seat Of
health. The muscles of the body are
called into easy play the mind isagree-
ably occupied, but not excited !; and the
nervous system is refreshed and fed by
the rapid passage through the fresh air.
Unfortunately, riding is an expensive
amusement, and utterly out Of the reach
of tens of thousands to whom it would
simply be the gift of health and life.-
But whether we can afford to keep
horses or not, there can be no doubt that
a little knowledge of, and attention to,
the simple law Of life to which we have
briefly pointed, would be of infinite SER
vice in preventing Woodworking men
from ruinsng their constitutions by the
very means which they take to be infal-
lible restoratives. ,,tI. s t.-