Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1871-10-12
QverwOrk.

IT is favorable sign Of the times that
We are beginning to pay more attention to
the reiati onship existing between the body
and the braiu. 1t is another sign hardly
as favorable, that in spite If the attention
that we give TO the subject, and the in
creased knowledge of ourselves which
that attention gives, we are continually
adding to the amount If the hurry and
drive element which We mix with our
daily life.
Cruelty to animals is deservedly before
the public for merited reprobation. The
man who abuses his mule, his OK, his
horse, or his dog, can hardly hope long TO
continue in such practices without beirg
| punished as we'll as censured. The engine
driver who Iattles his train along at such
a rate of speed as to injure either the roll
ling stock or the roadway is apt to lose his
situation. The keeper OF the Oldest second
hand stationary ingine, who runs it under
too great pressure of steam meets the in
dignation of its proprietor, if he racks and
trains it by his injudicious efforts t. get
from it more power than it is capable Of
yielding
Although we know all this so we'll that
it needs no proof; although we well I'M
derstand that a certain amount of brain
power can produce no more than CORES
ponding amount of physical result, yet we
drive the human engine to its utmost Ca
pacity. Not even satisfied with this, we
crowd on steam, shut down the safety.
VALVE, and push on as Mississippi steam
boats push when they race. AS steam
boat men of that region, who love
10 race, consider the explosion of
their boats as matter OF sec.
ondary Importance, so are our over.
worked man Of business races or, deter
mined to accomplish what he has planned,
even at the risk of wrecking his whole
mental and physical oIganiza ion. We
may not with impunity, as concerns our
re alton with society, abuse horse, mule
or engine, but we may tamper with the
noblest organism ever constructed, and
rim body and mind without even suffering
the penalty of losing our life insur-
ance. In the continual attempt TO get, as
1t were, thirty horse power from twenty
five horsepower engine, we drive the
machine TO wreck, ruin, paralysis, and sud
den death or premature old age.
The oyer.taxed brain and over wrought
body worry and weary each other out Of
all comfort and prosperity. Whatever
business or profession man may follow,
more than 10 cut his throat or explode his
brains.
The habit of over-woIk should justly be
classei by insurance men among The per
picioug habits whose tendency is 10 cut
short mans existence. 1t is slow sui
eide, and not always as slow as would ap
pear Especially when considered IN con
nection with the habit Of taking sedative |
drugs, habit which too frequently accom- |
panies II, or Of securing sleep, otherwise |
difficult or impossible 10 obtain, by the |
use Of stimulating drinks, over work leads |
to irretrieyable ruiz Of mind, body and es
tate
The man who indus'riously does a fair |
amount of work, who eats well, sleeps |
comfortably and regularly, and cheerfully |
possesses his soul in patience, is much |
better risk for an insurance company than |
he who works hurriedly and beyond his /
CAPACITY, eats without digestion, sleeps |
without refreshment and Dervously irets
himself into continual worriment and |
anxious care.
Ii prevention better than curet In the
matter of over work prevention Is prac-
ticable, while cure Is impossible. We may
ouench the fire under the boiler OF the
strained old engine, and take the whole
mechanism apart for reconstruction. Even
after reconstruction IL will hardly be as
good as when new. But the fire must keep
burning in the case Of the human engine.
We must do our repairs while 1t Is in busy
motion. Let the fire 60 Ou', and 1t can
never be rekindled. Let the nerves be |
shattered, the brain exhausted, the sys- |
tenn unstrung, and the man 10 hopeless
wreck. Let him be wise In time and PEE
serve his powers for . possible old age
Erctange.