Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-10-20
THE ABUSE OF BODILY STRENGTH

Inc question Of discovering and applying
correc i've for the unhealthy strain upon the
nerves and brain by oyer-work has been dis
Cussed with no little earnestness in our news
PaperS and magazines, but the exact remedy
haS not vet been settled upon. The quaiisea-
tive of bead work width has been ami stiIl il
IN highest popular esteem. which is insisted
upon with the greatest urgency, which is put
IN largest Tequistion at the most liberal ex-
pendituTe OF time and money. and whose ALI
Sufficient efficacy IL celebrated IT, the elCruau-
tary Psychologists and ia the columns of the
ITess, L. ply seal exercise.
writer in Liprinco-t's Hryr.ine takes issue
with this theory, and maintains that as actu-
ally put in practice In thousands OF cases,
without discrimination, ii becomes an actuaI
agent OF destruction. IL Is undoubtedly true
as he contends, that exerc Ise becomes posl;I We.
iy injurious unless IL be conducted upon the
basis Of strength reserved for that purpose and
rescued from the expenditure of care, business
and labor. Unless there is food material saved
from the waste of work, to he by its means
wrought INTO the muscular structure and the
general fabric Of the body, exercise simply ac-
eelerates the combustion of matter and hastsns
the enfeeblemert and exhaustion of the whole
working organism. This Is precisely the point
toat Is, IN the large majority of cases, the
CRITICALLY and practically lsft out of sight.
Young men are set to taking long walks
before breakfast, OF 10 rowing five miles in
a boat, or 70 chm hing ladders, or running
Up ropes hand over hand, or swinging thIrty-
pound dumb bells, OF are put through a most
exhaustive series of exercises with the slight
weights" of the gymnasium, in the greater
number Of instances without estimating their
basis of Unborn physieal qualification tor such
drafts-withOCt considering whether or not all
this, added to the burden of their studies or
business labors, will serve only to break them
down the faster. and without constant in unc-
tior upon them OF The duty of avoiding any
thing Ike WEAKNESS from their hygienic per-
fcrmanccs- The real and eiTe, tive working
men Of the world are not the men of the strong
est muscle, but the men of good digestion and
sound nerves; and physical exei else is of adj
vantage only SO far as 1t contributes 10 their
Constitutional condition.
Above every thing else, BRAIN workers need
sleep. early sleep and late sleep, and enough In
the middle to feel ssreal stupid" az the eud of
IL. STUPIDITY Is precisely the condition into
v hIcn this class Of tOilsrs should manage and
devise ard strive u get themselves for a time,
longer OF shorter, each twenty-four hours.
Nothing rests tn, brain and the whole work
icg system like it. Narcotic stupidity, the pro-
duct of ale, tobacco or wine, is not the thi ng
referred te-though in emergencies this nav
perhaps be had recourse to as q medicine-but
the quiet, repOseful adjustment of the Der-
vous conditions and the recharging with vital
force of the nerve batteries, the contacts not
yet closed, the galvanic currents therefore not
vet set in motion, but only filling up the sys-
tenn W eth blind. difTused feeling Of healthy
sensations and reserved efficiency.
It's recommended in the article In Lippin-
colt that all workers should lie down for 4
time longer or shorter. during the day, prefer
ence being given TO the hour after dinner and
10 lie long enough, If possible, to Just fall
asleep. Every other working animal than
man, if left free, WILL after having eaten at
noon, lie down for nap, or, If from any cause
IT tails to get IL, shows decided abatement OF
efficiency for the rest of the day. Judicious
teamsters teach their horses to lie down in
their stalls, or compel them 10, and many have
10 be compelled 10 II in such narrow quarters
that they are liable TO ehafe or wound them
selves in getting down or up. In 4 recumben.
posture the pulse Is slower by eight or ten
beats q minute than in standing, and four or
i've slower than in sitting; the breathing also is
less rapid and is deeper; digestion begins
sooner and progresses more rapidly. Accord
ingly. the worker can recuperate faster in the
recumbent than in any other position; and if
In a quiet place his nerves get composed more
speedily and thoroughly in a given time