Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1870-12-08
Miscellaneous.
Human Force.

Regarded simply as a piece of ma
chinery. the human body is the most
interesting study that can attract the
attention Of a human being. Accord
ing 10 the latest Developments OF scien-
tiiic analysis, the average healthy man
generates force sufficient every twenty
four hours to lift 1000 tons of matter
through a distance Of one foot, provid-
ing the work is done with no waste OF
strength or to vary the statement, to
liit one ton 1000 feet. On inquiring
Of the Psychologist what becomes Of all
this power. he figures out for us the
following rude statement:
Spent in generating heat with which
to keep the body warm, power sufficient
TO raise 3,41j tons of matter one foot
high.
Spent in digesting our food, circu-
iating the blood through the body from
the heart, in its course back TO the
heart again, and in the movements Of
the lungs in respiration, power to raise
$50 tons one foot high.
Left for profitable employments in
the torn Of brain and body labor, pow
er sufficient to raise only l75 tons one
foot high.
Total-4 900 tons one foot high.
From the foregoing statement, which
Of course Is only an approximation to
the truth. and would vary materially
in different persons, the available work
ing power Of an adult healthy man is
only one twenty-fourth part of the
force generated by the food he eats, or,
as before stated, sufficient to raise l7J
tons Of dead matter one foot in height.
But we prefer not TO spend our
strength in that way, and 50 a certain
per cent. of it goes in muscular labor,
some in business, q portion in thinking,
loving, hating. in invention, philan-
thropic action, &C., and, no doubt in
majority Of human beings, lsrge por-
ton Of their available power is in dis
sipation, riotous living, gambling or
perhaps in uneasy, fretful fault-fnaing,
because their lot is not one that pleases
them, or because they are obliged to
labor for the bread they eat and the
clothes they wear.
A very curious and interesting table
might be made by thoughtful physi-
ologist and hygienist, showing each
person where his strength goes, and !
am not sure that a young man could
do better service for himself than to
seek the counsel Of some wise physi-
ologist, tell him frankly all his habits,
and have such table prepared, not
only to guard against excess. but to
show him his weak places, and point
out where he will be most likely to fail.
Some of these tables would, no doubt,
read very much as follows:
Spent in digesting big dinner,
which the body did not need, sufficient
force to raise thirty tons Of matter one
foot high.
Spent in getting rid of several drinks
OF wine and brandy, force sufficient to
raise twenty tons one foot high.
spent in smoking six cigars, force
sufficient to raise ten tons one foot
high.
Spent in keeping awake all night at
spree, force sufficient to raise twenty
tons one foot high.
Spent in breathing bad air, force
sufficient to raise fifteen tons one foot
high.
spent in reading worthless books
and newspapers, force sufficient to
RAISE tive tons one foot high.
spent In cheating 4 neighbor out Of
$50 in business transaction, force
sufficient to raise fifteen tons one foot
high.
Spent in hesitation, doubt and un-
certsinty, force to raise five tons one
foot high.
Total-12O tons one foot high.
Lett for practical and useful labor,
only enough to raise fifty-fye tons one
foot high, or to do less than one-third
! Of days work.