Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1870-04-08
Scientific.
tFrom Good iiesllh.I
THE BRlIN LtO NERVES.

We select the following from n very
able article on the Brain and nerves"
in the February No. of Good Heath,
the most truly valuable exchange OH
our table. We are sorry our space will
not admit the article entire (EDs.
NEws.)
We sec evidence, again, of the ben
eficial physical influence OF n due ex-
ercise of the moral and intellectual fac
ulties in the improvement which ell
sues even in the bodily conformation
of a race under the influence of good
mental culture continued through
few generations. Not only does the
contour of skull and features becomes
more noble, but the organs universal
~ respond TO the stimulus; and the
whole frame gains in elegance, dclica-
cy, and even in comparative vigor
Nor IL the cause of this benefit arising
iiom high mental exercise hard to dis
cover. All action within the body Is
is attended with the production of
force, and no action more abundantly
than that of the convolutions of the
brain. This force radiates from the
convolutions to the nerves throughout
the body, Supplying them with the
healthiest of all Stimuli, and one which
the very structure of the nervous sys-
tenn proves that they We're designed to
receive, II cannot be withheld from
them, AS 1t Is by Indecent or grovel-
ling thought, t,-but To their detriment.
1t il no argument against this state
ment that Overtaxing of the brain, or
| a life passed in sedcntary study, Injuries
the health. Rather these are confirm
atory facts; for the first proves the
| influence of brain-action over the
whole body, and the second, while 1t
shows indeed that exercise OF other
organs besides the brain Is needed,
proves at the same time that BRAIN
exercise is good. For, however muth
| n scdentary life OF study may tehd to
| debilitate land, with gbSd manage
mcnt, this Ii less than Is often suppos-
ed, n sedentary life of mental Incidence
| tends TO debilitate much more. Men
| tai Incidence is bad even when COM
bined with bodily cxertion, but with
| body Incidence as well, 1t is ten times
worse. No constitutions are so NOR
bid as those by which no ,cOrk IL done.
AT the same time, mental Is apt to be
overstaincd, especially by those who
who most intensely feel its charms:
One of the most frequent signs of this,
when carried to great extreme, Is a
morbid desire for suicide, which per-
haps is really, at bottom, an unappeas-
able craving for rest Some melan-
choly cases of self-dis,ruetion, which
have excited the liveliest public regret
are clearly traceable to their ciluse In
mental ovtrwork: IL Is enough Il
mention Hugh Miller aud the great
meteUrullst, Admiral Fitzroy. The
first indication of any such tempta'
ton should be carefully observed, anC
rest taken i'm time. But rest for an
overtaxed brain Is not always easy tC
procure, even when no external cir
cumstances render il difficult. An ex
cited and over-stiniulAted mind rit
not rest, and to insist on resting IL II
often AS futile as trying to go to sleei
when we are not sleepy. "A merel,
! passive condition cannot at once be sub
stituted for one OF nervous Tcstlcssness
, The true rest for "a wearied bruin i
change TO some unCxciting yet usctt'
occupation with as much of a sense q
| duty in IL as possible, and the neare
IL approaches to manual labor the bet
: ter. Often a strong Effort and grea
self-sacrifice are required to Rehiev
l the change, but they are well rewiir
' dcd. But. of course, such cases med
cal advice should be taken.
, One caution, in respect to mcnta
> exertion, ID Is well to remember,-an
i that Il, that II cannot he safely carrie
> on, 10 any great degree, at the sam
q time with very severe bodily exertior
Al least this Is true of many person:
II not of all. The double tax upon tn
system Is too great. And this shoul
! he remembered hi respect to the cond
: tion of the laboring people. 1: is
J. doubly cruel wrong to infiict upo
!, them an oVertask: IL condems thei
minds, their hearts, To loss.
But much less injury 10 health
;, done by ovcr-exertion of the nervou
/" system In any legitimate occupation
y than hy the waste of nerve-p0wer 1
the form of worry and uesles vevatioT
All feelings of this Kind consum
force, and In addition propagate a d'
terioratitg influence wherever nerv'
n fibre goes. But here Physiology ca
II but proclaim the want: Religion mui
}. supply the remedy. Contentment mui
:, be learnt from other pages than thos
n which prove TO lis that the indHlgenC
A, of vain desire Is hurtful 10 our bodie
> Yet even this lesson may not BE- |
is vain II IL adds 10 our assurance thi
He who has thus made us incapable
.0 too great "A weight of care, makes n
* vain promise when He bids us cast OF
10 care on Him.
Of But there are also Physiological n
it liefs 20 worry. One Is a full absorI
Z. tion OF the mind on objects Of who'll